What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

All topics related to smoke evacuation, ventilation, and water tables.
Post Reply
Mr Yuk
1/2 Star Member
1/2 Star Member
Posts: 3
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2021 10:05 am

What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by Mr Yuk »

So I recently became a high school welding instructor and am fortunate enough to have a Torchmate 4x4 table in my new shop. Unfortunately, the previous instructor didn't do much maintenance on it. As far as I can tell, they just used water instead of using an additive, didn't clean it at any point, and let the students quench their freshly welded coupons in the less frequently used side. Some students simply left their coupons in there instead so that combined with all of the bits of metal from using the table as it was intended for years has left me with a mess that I need to clean up.

With a little elbow grease, I removed some of the rust from the floor of the table. It looks like it's painted or is coated with something so I don't think it will need much work... at least until I get it cleaned up and see if there is damage underneath. It would make sense that the sidewalls and grate holders would be painted/coated if the floor is. The rust on the sidewalls is pretty caked on so even using a rust removing gel may not be enough.

Looking around online I've found suggestions of using vinegar and baking soda to remove the rust and that seems like the cheapest option, but will it damage the coating? Will it even work to break down the caked-on stuff on the sidewalls? Other products such as Evapo-Rust, Metal Rescue, etc. look like they would work, but filling the whole table with them would be a bit too expensive. Could I dilute them with water to cut costs and have them still be effective?

What would the fine people of Plasma Spider suggest my next steps should be?


Here's what it looked like after I started to clear it out
Image


Here's it is almost completely cleared out
Image
User avatar
SegoMan DeSigns
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 822
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:45 pm

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by SegoMan DeSigns »

Looking good, you could wire wheel the remaining areas if you want a cleaner look, then run rust additive to prevent future rust. I use laundry soda, 3 boxes will treat 350 gals and put the PH up to ten.
User avatar
acourtjester
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
6 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 7770
Joined: Sat Jun 02, 2012 6:04 pm
Location: Pensacola, Fla

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by acourtjester »

the former shop teacher should be shot, as an instructor he should teach good habits not lazy ones. After cleaning as you have done I would use rustoleum paint with a hardener added to protect the tank from rusting again. Then use a solution as SegoMan points out.
There are recipes for the rustoleum mixture online basic 3 ingredients it will last a long time.
DIY 4X4 Plasma/Router Table
Hypertherm PM65 Machine Torch
Drag Knife and Scribe
Miller Mig welder
13" metal lathe
Small Mill
Everlast PowerTig 255 EXT
thejaydog
1/2 Star Member
1/2 Star Member
Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2023 12:22 pm

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by thejaydog »

PLEASE, do not paint that tank. This is part of the grounding, especially the center spine use a wire wheel, then then using vinegar soaked rags to coat the slats and interior table. This will help restore the table...then use a biodegradable additive (plateguard) to control rust and reduce algae bloom
User avatar
djreiswig
4.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
4.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 1929
Joined: Thu Nov 19, 2015 10:02 pm
Location: SE Nebraska

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by djreiswig »

The work lead from the plasma cutter should be attached directly to the material and not the water pan, so you don't have to worry about "grounding".
2014 Bulltear (StarLab) 4x8
C&CNC EtherCut
Mach3, SheetCam, Draftsight
Hypertherm PM65
Oxy/Acetylene Flame Torch
Pneumatic Plate Marker, Ohmic, 10 inch Rotary Chuck (in progress)
TJS
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 707
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:22 pm
Location: Fairfield, CT.
Contact:

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by TJS »

Sorry, but the washing soda stuff does work if you want a white fuzzy growing residue everywhere. I think the commercial plasma quench solution does not do this. I have yet to try it after my clean out. I am holding off cause I want to make a new water table.
User avatar
SegoMan DeSigns
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 822
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 4:45 pm

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by SegoMan DeSigns »

Price out for the commercial plasma quench for 350 gallons and get back with me.. If you don't like the white stuff put cleaning the table on your weekly "Maintenance List" along with your linear rails that look a tad rusty.. There is also several different recipes posted on this forum for alternative anti-rust additives. Painting does not work well if you do dry cuts on Aluminum or other materials. The only time I use a ground / work cable is if the metal is painted or extremely rusty then I buff a spot and use the magnetic clamp on it.
Plasma Green Mark
1/2 Star Member
1/2 Star Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 3:33 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by Plasma Green Mark »

I know I'm late to the post, but an acid solution will remove the rust, and also address any hard water scale in your table. If the powdery mineral buildup is from a previous additive (there are many commercial additives & home-brews that will leave a powdery residue), that's a different story. A vinegar solution will work to remove rust & hard water scale, but is not as aggressive & efficient as chemical products formulated to do the job. Commercial plasma table additives will keep the rust away, but they are not formulated to remove rust once it is in your table. Hope that helps!
TJS
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
3.5 Star Elite Contributing Member
Posts: 707
Joined: Wed Nov 26, 2014 1:22 pm
Location: Fairfield, CT.
Contact:

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by TJS »

Got a question plasma Mark. Does your solution leave and growing white fuzzy stuff as well.
Plasma Green Mark
1/2 Star Member
1/2 Star Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Thu May 09, 2019 3:33 pm
Location: Chicago
Contact:

Re: What's the best way to clean up a VERY rust covered water table?

Post by Plasma Green Mark »

No sir, ours does not. Appearance of the white fuzzy stuff means the biological control component is not adequate in the table. Our product has a very robust biological control & rust protection package. DM me if you have any more questions.
Post Reply

Return to “Water Tables, Ventilation, Air Handling”