How to keep welding table top in good condition?

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Purchased my first welding table from a recycle center.  Top was rusty.Cleaned it good with wire brush attachment on side grinder.  Looks good now.My question is "How can I keep it in good condition?  Is there something that I could wipe on the top that would not interfer with welding or grounding.Thanks in advance..JRF
Reply:As soon as the local steel yard firms up enough to walk through without sinking up to my knees in mud, I'll be picking up a table top and will have to address this same issue.One of my co-workers suggested using the solution that gunsmiths apply to "blue" the gun parts.     If the coating didn't prevent conductivity, he suggested Perma-Blue but warned that I would probably have to reapply the solution where the welding current and spatter burned away the coating.  None the less, it should keep the bulk of the table top from rusting.I was also advised not to use WD-40 or any other spray oil unless I clean it off thoroughly before welding.There are no small projects
Reply:There's a product here called Penetrol. Not sure whether it's an Australian product or an imported one.It preserves steel. Here's some guff:Penetrol (from The Flood Company) is an air-drying, film forming, deeply penetrating mixture of natural oils. It does not contain linseed or fish oil, has a low odour and is non-toxic when dry. With a penetrating power 3 times that of water it goes deep into the substrate and forms a strong bond for subsequent topcoats. Penetrol also stops and prevents rust, corrosion and oxidisation. It can be used in confined and damp areas and reduces fire and fume hazards. Withstands temperatures of over 100C.
Reply:I guess I'm gonna have to be the guy that takes the beating here for reminding you guys what you got/get these tables for... ...... Beating on, banging on, clamping to, welding on, grinding on, cutting on and yes-------------even tacking to. They will accumulate considerable oil and grime over time from the new materials you slap on them, scarfs from all the sharp edges, crud from the insides of the scrap you bring home, the spatter from hades and sooner or later they will be initiated in a bath of blood. When they get too rusty or cruddy, take a flap wheel to 'em. Have fun.
Reply:What? You mean my beautiful table is going to get messed up?I think I'll use is as a dining table instead if that's the case.
Reply:Just curious...From what are you all protecting your table tops?  Is this common practice?  I don't have a problem with rust.  My problem is spatter and tack welds.  I occasionally spend time grinding tack and spatter.  Won't anything you coat your table with cause burning and smells?
Reply:Guess we were typing at the same time, Sandy.  Thougth I might be missing something.  I'll have to try the flap wheel.  I usually use old grinding wheel.
Reply:I'll have to try the flap wheel. I usually use old grinding wheel.
Reply:What? You mean my beautiful table is going to get messed up?
Reply:I'll take some of that heat Sandy.  I like paint on mine.........(ducking behind screen) A light dusting of semi-gloss or flat black wont really affect your grounding much, wont smoke, and shows layout lines real well. Just one reporters opinion.
Reply:Scratches, dents and spatter I don't mind. But a table kept outside here will start to rust. Just surface stuff, though.Scott
Reply:I agree with the tapwelder. the table is usually used for fitting, & tacking up , before the "production"welding . I occasionally wash mine with some gas soaked rag (outdoors -it's on wheels)&then some acetone . a sander or grinder makes it good enuff to use ,again. Only  trouble with mine is it's too small. (about 3 foot square) .Saw a nice one in a shop downtown about 5 footX10 Ft with about 1/2" thick steel top .Some day , maybe I stop being so cheap & make me one like that . Oh, i live in Napa, calif.
Reply:" the wine  country" - Roy
Reply:Originally Posted by scott brunsdonScratches, dents and spatter I don't mind. But a table kept outside here will start to rust. Just surface stuff, though.Scott
Reply:My table is "virgin", no paint, no nothing.  I modify it frequently to suit my needs and paint is just a PIA.  And the table top gets "cleaned" regularly with a 40 grit Aluminum Oxide 9" disk with tubber backing disk.  Makes quick work of left over tacks, weld spatter, soot, oil, rusty circles from sweating beverage cans, and so on...
Reply:My entire table is painted RustOleum Gray except the top, wich is bare 1/2" steel.  I use a wire brush on a drill to clean it every few months.  I like the top unpainted like many of you all do.  I have a 4 plug outlet on every side and a removeable mount for a vise/grinder on each left corner of the table and a rail for mounting magnets and clamps as well as a gringer holder and mig gun holder on every side.  Very handy items to have at the table and I bought an extra 4 1/2" HF grinder just to keep at the table so the metabo stays in the tool box for the heavy stuff and doesn't get beat to death.  Most of the ideas I got from you guys...  I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:You guys are way more fancy than I am. I have a 20ft by 12ft welding table. I clean it off with a pushbroom. It's made of concrete and normally has cars parked on it. In some areas they call it a driveway. hahahaha....
Reply:D***...is that why they call you Joker!  I weld just to keep my snow plows ready for next Winter!
Reply:BUMPS BANGS SPARKS AND GRITT hey its a    WORK table
Reply:Well, I have very little space, so when I really need table space, I pull out the sawhorses and span the metal across it. But for most stuff, sadly, yes, I do it on the concrete. I have the time, money and skills to make a great table, but nowhere to keep it. My garage is filled with tools. It's really a pain to drag everything out just to use the drill press. But I put everything on castors. EVERYTHING.
Reply:Well, I have very little space, so when I really need table space, I pull out the sawhorses and span the metal across it. But for most stuff, sadly, yes, I do it on the concrete. I have the time, money and skills to make a great table, but nowhere to keep it. My garage is filled with tools. It's really a pain to drag everything out just to use the drill press. But I put everything on castors. EVERYTHING
Reply:I have a welding table that is real handy. I took an old farm wagon running gear that the floor was rotted off of and welded a 5'x10' piece of 1/2" plate to. It is real handy for long jobs like gates or railing. When I get a concete truck or dumptruck in to repair I just roll it out the door. The big 7.00x 16 tires roll better than any caster wheel you can buy. Now to make the top not rust when its outside, I keep the top coated with anti spatter spray. It works great and I dont have all the splatter coated on my table when I have to layout new jobs like railings and such. Try it out you will like the results, a can will last a month or so, so its a cheap way to have a smooth rust free table.
Reply:They make an anti-spatter spray for mig machines and it obviously wont affect anything since it is used in your gun. Just spray a fairly light coat on it or it will get oily like and it might smoke. But if it is just a light spray then it should take care of your problem.
Reply:Vinyl slip covers!!! It works for everything else, right?Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Ive never seen a table with rust or spatter grease or oil....therefore it doesnt exist.IF it Catches...Let it BurnIt must be nice to be BLIND    (he  he   he )
Reply:for the nice tig stuff ..3/4 in alumimum jig plate 60"x60"for the rest of the junk and some is real bigwherever it fits ...zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:I use scrap sheet 1/4" aluminum for a tabletop. It takes out heat from the thin sheet stuff I do, and it doesn't let me tack to it. And, no rust, and cheap, as well as light. For a nice table, use 1/8 or 3/16 304ss. It is retarded, I know. But you will be a showoff for doing it, and it won't rust!
Reply:I built a table 3yrs ago at work for lay-out and welding. Its 3/4 Plate 6 ft x 10 ft. My co-workers and I use it every day, and we keep it clean from splatter and BBs by spraying it with Desplatt nozle spray. Hit it with a wire buffer wheel and its got sort of a blue hue on top with no rust visible.Ever so often I wipe it down with acetone, then reapply nozle spray.If it's HOT, Don't touch it
Reply:Jeez, how do you guys keep from burning the lacy skirting off of your tables!
Reply:Knuckle blood, it keeps mine from rusting...
Reply:Originally Posted by KRSKnuckle blood, it keeps mine from rusting...