Cleaning a new table saw

Tennwood: You pretty well hit the nail on the head. Yes- the best cleaner I’ve found for my machines is mineral spirits, or paint thinner. DON”T use WD-40. It’s waaaay too greasy, and will cling to sawdust. There are other cleaners out there that work, but MHO, all you need is m.s. I regularly wax my metal tops with Johnson’s Paste Wax. Good stuff, and works great. Makes the tops slick as the wood glides over it. That’s all you need, and you’re good to go. Hope this helps.

-- Remember--- one good turn-- gets most of the blanket!!!!

If it’s not painted I use lacquer thinner if it is I use Mineral spirits, auto wax or floor wax works fine

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

MS and regular old Johnson’s Paste wax works the best for me.

-- Chunk

when i got mine a few months back i used mineral spirits to clean the greese off and then coated with paste wax but i used a piece of steel wool to apply the wax and once the wood starts sliding theres no stoping it even if the wood is ruffly sawn the only difference is i have a delta saw not a powermatic but there the same in terms of the top unless u got it custom made where i think u can get a chrome top. ;)

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop,www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

Oh man, I can smell that new saw. I’m excited for you! I agree, MS then paste wax. I use the wax a few times during the year. Makes a big difference

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

I cleaned my PM2000 up with simple Green mostly but the fenve rail had a waxy sort of gunk on it that nothing would touch. I finally found out that Naptha worked on that waxy stuff. After that I protect the cast iron with Boeshiled T-9 and a little Johnsons Paste wax to keep it slick.
You are going to like the PM2000.

-- Tom Hintz, www.newwoodworker.com

Thanks for everyone’s input. I am excited about the new saw and can’t wait to get it here,wipe off the grease and make some saw dust.

-- Jim, SE Tennessee

Enjoy it, the only time I’ve been privileged to use a PM was the wood shop on military posts. A fine piece of equipment. Congrats, BTKS