How to Prevent Your Table Saw From Rusting

Table saws are commonly used in woodworking applications. Consisting of a circular saw that's mounted to the top of a table or workbench, they make it easy to cut wooden workpieces. You can use a table saw to cut through most wooden workpieces. To make your table saw last, though, you'll need to prevent it from rusting.

While there are different types of table saws, they all contain metal. The table itself it typically made of metal, and all table saws use a metal blade. Over time, oxidation may occur with these metal surfaces that manifests in the form of rust. Rust will shorten the lifespan of your table saw, and it may even pose a safety hazard. How do you prevent your table saw from rusting exactly?

Keep It Dry

You can prevent your table saw from rusting by keeping it dry. Rust is iron oxide. When iron undergoes the chemical process known as oxidation, it will rust. Oxidation, of course, requires oxygen. Iron and iron alloys will only rust when exposed to oxygen.

Water contains oxygen. Most instances of rusting involve water-based oxidation. If your table saw is constantly wet, it may undergo oxidation that causes it to rust. Therefore, you should keep it dry. Keeping your table saw dry will prevent it from rusting.

Apply a Lubricating Oil

For greater protection against rusting, apply a lubricating oil to your table saw. Most table saws support the use of a lubricating oil. You can read the instruction manual for more information on what type of lubricating oil to use and where to apply it. Regardless, applying a lubricating oil will lower the risk of rusting.

Lubricating oil will coat the bearings and other parts of your table saw with a protective substance. It will reduce friction while subsequently allowing your table saw to operate more smoothly. At the same, the lubricating oil will protect your table saw from rusting.

Change the Blade

Blades will inevitably rust. Blades, in fact, typically rust more quickly than the other parts of a table saw. This is because they consist of relatively thin pieces of metal. Even if you keep the blades dry, they may rust from the oxygen in the air.

If you discover that your table saw has a rusted blade, don't hesitate to replace it. You should replace the rusted blade with a new blade. Using a rusted blade is a safety hazard. It may chip off during use, thereby creating dangerous projectiles.