Thread: Fixing up an older table saw questions

As the pulleys on a table saw are a small diameter old belts tend to develop a set which, unless you are using it a lot, will always result in vibration. The link belts don't do this so they result in a smoother running machine.

The link belts cannot transfer the same horsepower as the normal V belt but this is rarely an issue on those small saws.

I wouldn't use rust remover on a saw table as it is easier to just hit the top with a sander and work your way thru the grits just like you would on a piece of wood. Once the top is clean give it a heavy coating of wax, let it harden and then polish off.

For rust removal, I recommend against sanding back to bright metal; scrub the rust off with a kitchen scouring ball, but leave the dark patina on the casting. I have found it to be more naturally resistant to re-rusting than bright iron.

Thanks for the advice.

I have ordered a link belt and did a bit more research on removing the rust from the table top.

Once the rust is gone I will put a layer of boeshield on and then wax over the top of that.

I just use Ubeaut Natural Wax on all my cast iron surfaces and it keeps the rust at bay for months. Most of the time I will put a cloth cover of some sort over the surface and this helps to extend the life of the wax effectiveness.