The Topsaver System is effective, easy to use and goes a very long way. Click image to enlarge

   Caring for the metal tabletops on our woodworking tools has become something of a black art. The number of ideas on how to handle this task is endless but nearly all involve lots of elbow grease followed by the application of some kind of wax. While many of these techniques do work, they seldom work for long.
   In many cases, the wax used to protect the surface and make it slippery can create a significant problem. Most waxes were designed for other uses and may contain silicone or Teflon compounds that can transfer to wood. When this happens, applying a finish can be very difficult.
   I have long been an advocate of Johnson's Paste Wax, designed for polishing floors. Thought it works reasonably well, finding it can be difficult. As exposed (real) wooden floors decline in popularity so does the number of stores carrying the wax to polish them.

After spraying TopSaverTM onto the surface, the instructions say to "massage" it in. I found that light pressure on the abrasive pad is all that is needed as TopSaverTM really does dissolve the rust and corrosion. Click image to enlarge

All-In-One Product
   The TopSaver^TM System (Empire Manufacturing) reviewed here is a single product that claims to remove rust and corrosion from the metal surface down to the pores, inhibit their return, seal the metal (including the pores) and lubricate the surface. It also claims to repel dust and moisture.
   Whenever I see such lofty claims, my BS sensors go on high alert. To see for myself how well the TopSaver^TM System works in the shop I decided to give it a try. The results of this real-world testing showed the BS alert was unnecessary.
   Anyone need a half used can of floor wax?
   Since I am not a chemist and suspect neither are most of you, we will skip the mind-numbing discussion of the chemical properties behind TopSaver^TM. The most important question to woodworkers is, "Does it work?" To find out, I used TopSaver^TM according to the instructions, in my garage-based shop that is subject to the wild Charlotte, North Carolina variations in humidity and temperature.

Use a cotton shop towel to wipe away the dirty residue and then let dry for about five minutes. Follow that by a quick buffing with a clean shop towel and you are done. I found following this treatment with a fine mist of the TopSaverTM liquid lightly rubbed in with a towel and then buffed out after five minutes leaves a very clean, slick surface. Click image to enlarge

In the Shop
   I chose my five-year-old Jet contractor saw for the first test subject mainly because a family emergency nearly a month ago forced me to unplug everything and leave town. The last time the saw was used temperatures were in the 90's and a couple drops of sweat had splattered on the cast iron, going unnoticed until I returned over three weeks later. During that span, those drops of sweat had turned into ugly looking rust spots.

Even the portions of my cast iron top that did not appear to be corroded showed a marked difference after applying TopSaverTM the first time. Click image to enlarge

As you can see in the "Before" and "After" photo, the difference was dramatic. The surface treated with TopSaver^TM was visibly brighter. In fact, notice the difference in the "Before" and "After" shots of the rust spot elsewhere in this story. The "After" shot is noticeably brighter despite being taken from the same position, using the identical exposure settings used to take the "Before" version.

(Top) This rust spot, a drop of sweat I failed to notice after the last use of the saw, worried me as it had nearly a month to eat into the cast iron surface. (Bottom) After one treatment with TopSaverTM the rust spot is all but invisible. There remains a small amount of pitting but it is difficult to feel and even harder to see. Click images to enlarge

   

Conclusions
   After applying the TopSaver^TM System to all appropriate tables in my shop, I have to say it works at least as well as advertised. The TopSaver^TM liquid really does dissolve rust and appears to prevent its return exceptionally well. The surface TopSaver^TM creates is very slick and seems to stay that way longer than wax.
   While the $19.99 price tag for the TopSaver^TM System kit may sound a little steep, it is important to remember that it goes a very long way. I treated my table saw, lathe, bandsaw, drill press and jointer tables according to the instructions and then gave them all a light second coat. The 8 oz bottle looks nearly as full as it was before starting. The actual cost-per-use is very small.
   It should be noted that rust actually eats away the metal. TopSaver^TM does a very good job of getting rid of the rust but does not magically replace the metal. Some amount of pitting will remain. However, on my table saw, after applying the TopSaver^TM System as described above, the pitting that remained is difficult to see or feel and has no effect on the wood sliding over it.
   The TopSaver^TM System is a bit of modern technology that should be seriously considered for protecting your machinery investment. TopSaver^TM does an exceptional job, is easy to apply and is very economical to use.
   Since testing the TopSaver^TM System, paste wax will be applied only to wood in the NewWoodworker.com shop. For protecting metal surfaces, the TopSaver^TM System is the only product on the shelf.

   Visit the Empire Mfg. web site for more information on TopSaver^TM and their other products.

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