Welding Table - Needs Cleaning

[Steven DeMmars]

My brother just gave me a "welding table". It's 30" X 48" with a 5/8" thick steel top. Angle legs 2"X2". Underneath is rusty & top has primary rust.

Need suggestions as to best way to clean it up short of hauling to a sandblaster. Plan to put casters on it and paint the under side and legs.

P.S. I started my "FREE" welding class . . . maybe in the next 10 weeks I'll learn to weld . . .

Thanks,
Steve

[jjsjeff]

My brother just gave me a "welding table". It's 30" X 48" with a 5/8" thick steel top. Angle legs 2"X2". Underneath is rusty & top has primary rust.

Need suggestions as to best way to clean it up short of hauling to a sandblaster. Plan to put casters on it and paint the under side and legs.

P.S. I started my "FREE" welding class . . . maybe in the next 10 weeks I'll learn to weld . . .

Thanks,
Steve

Twisted wire brush and a 4-1/2" grinder so you can practice your grinding.

[littlefuzz]

I like to use a mop disc or a 7" grinder layed flat.

[HMW]

nice table, maybe the twisted wire wheel will clean it off if not to bad rusted, I'd hate to grind it if you dont have too, maybe a sanding disc or flap disc?? How about a belt sander?? If that rusty, post some pics when you get it fixed up

[dabeldesign]

A big grinder and a nice dust mask. I like my 7" grinder with the rubber backing pad and a 50 grit sanding disk. A wire wheel or flap disk works good too.

[welder_one]

a belt sander with a 60 grit belt has worked very, very well for me. it finishes more evenly than a grinder does.

[KEENAVV]

EYE PROTECTION! When a wire comes loose they go through leather gloves! I know!

[fun4now]

i have used all the above methods with good results, now i just touch up with a wire wheel or cup brush. and wipe it down with a little anti splatter gel to keep the rust from coming back.
wire cup or any wheel will throw the wires bad!! full face shield leather apron and gloves a definite must do.
a good respirator would be my recommendation for the rust removal but a suspect a dust mask is better then nothing. the $30 duel filter masks they have at all the LWS and tractor supply places is what i use, trust me you don't want to breath that crap.

[HMW]

I got a story about those cupped wire brushs. I was cleaning off some paint to weld a hinge on an enclosed trailer this past summer. I was sitting on a little stool made for mechanics and using a 4 1/2 " grinder with a cupped wire brush. wearing my normal, not too smart, summer attire, shorts. I happened to look down and one of those wires was sticking out of my leg. Of course I just pulled it out and it bleed like crazy. you wouldnt believe how far in it went. My point is the long pants would be safer, but ESPECIALLY the face shield. [I was wearing a face shield]Can you imagine what that would do to an eye if it stuck in my leg that much

Maybe this should have been under the not to smart topic

[Jolly Roger]

Painting doesn't make much sense to me as it is just going to get burned or banged off., and those fumes are toxic.

[ace4059]

EYE PROTECTION! When a wire comes loose they go through leather gloves! I know!

They also go through leather aprons, jeans, and under wear, and into ...... I had a friend's dad that this happened to (it took 4 hours in the emergency room to remove the wire). I always kid him about now being sterile, and he kids back that he still has a good one.

[fun4now]

They also go through leather aprons, jeans, and under wear, and into ...... I had a friend's dad that this happened to (it took 4 hours in the emergency room to remove the wire).
that hurts just reading about it.

i suppose its true they can go threw the leather too, but you are still better off with it then without. just think how much farther the piece of wire would have gone if the leather had not slowed it down a bit.
for me the apron gets worn, better too add a lil more protection, even if its not perfect.

[SundownIII]

Steven,

Good advice above regarding wire wheels and safety.

Think you'd be wasting your time trying to paint the underside of the table. Just wire brush it and let it go. Painting the legs would be OK.

Wire brushing the top to remove loose rust is where I'd begin. Then I'd go over the top with a 4" belt sander to really "clean up" the top. I've found the belt sander provides a better finished surface with less chance of gouging than a grinder.

Good Luck. Sounds like you've got the makings of a nice welding table.

[alha]

They also go through leather aprons, jeans, and under wear, and into ...... I had a friend's dad that this happened to (it took 4 hours in the emergency room to remove the wire). I always kid him about now being sterile, and he kids back that he still has a good one.

MAN, the things you learn in this forum! I Never knew I would need to wear a cup when using a grinder with a wire wheel... The things you don't know that you don't know.