Before you try to remove the rust give the surface a good clean to make sure you don’t have any organic residue on it.  This would mask any chemical removal of the rust.  Simple Green, Scotchbrite pads and lots of elbow grease   

Rust removers can be dangerous to use as they sometimes contain hydroflouric acid in dilute amounts.  This is the secret sauce that dissolves rust without attacking the base metal.  HF is very dangerous to work with.

In theory phosphoric acid converts iron rust to a water soluable salt.  In practice it’s not that effective so “Naval Jelly” type products drop the pH and put some corrosion inhibitors to counter act the lower pH to help the Phosphoric acid work better.

What ever you use to go after the rust make sure you do a good job of rinsing the surface and nooks and crannies with water and then dry the surface carefully.  

Regards,

Mike Jolley

Thank you CJ and Mark. 

The rust is just small light spots on the jointer table caused by me spilling some water but the bandsaw table has a very light rust coating all over the table (I just bought the bandsaw and the table is the only part that still needs refurbished).

I keep reading to use automobile wax as last step. Minwax appears to be for wood.  CJ - Am I understanding this correctly that I put wood wax on the cast iron table as last step?  Thanks for clarity. 

Hi Becky!

A friend of mine showed me how he maintained those types of surfaces and now that's how I do it as well. I don't have a recommendation for heavily rusted surfaces... maybe navel jelly?

For light rust spots and general maintenance, I use green scotch-brite pads with Autosol metal polish: https://www.amazon.com/Autosol-Polish-Alumium-Polishing-Clothes/dp/B0783BDHJ4/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=autosol+metal+polish+liquid&qid=1641310862&sprefix=autosol%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1

Once I'm done with that, I wipe it clean with paper towels then use some Minwax Paste Wax: https://www.amazon.com/Minwax-785004444-Finishing-1-Pound-Natural/dp/B000LNOZAW

If you're out in the Scappoose area feel free to swing by and I could show you as well.

CJ