Bed stained from "coolant"

[WilliamD]

This is kind of weird to me, so I'll do my best to explain. In my excitement to use my new mill, I used some really soapy water as a coolant. It worked just fine for what I was doing, but it seemed to have stained the cast iron mill bed. I tried a scotch brite pad, wd-40, even brake cleaner. The brake cleaner really cleans up the unstained bed, but does nothing for the stain. I've even tried oven cleaner. Any clues on what I can do. Just to get the obvious out of the way, I don't think it's rust, it's more of a stain. I really don't want to live with it, nor do I want to sand and buff it out. Any suggestions would be grealy appreciated.

[Kipper]

I thought I was at another forum from the title I think you'll have to live with it, Metals are strange things... they can be modified chemically all too easily. Oh and as my manager says "try not to do it again"

[widgitmaster]

Mills get lots of abuse, and a stain is the least annoying!
It the sloppy workers who drill holes in the table, and mill tracks and gouges that really tick me off!

My new mill lasted about 3 months with a pristine scrapped finish, but after leaving the vise on for a month, it was stained from rust underneath!
So every once in a while I clean the mill, stone the table, oil it up and its ready for more projects!

Eric

[CarbideBob]

Try toliet bowl cleaner or Zep industrial purple. Be sure to oil it after cleaning to prevent rusting.

[Fourkabe]

I sell machinery, whenever a machine comes in i used a product called "A Must for Rust", works like nothing else i've ever seen. It has a strong odor to it, but it works.

[ImanCarrot]

I know you say it may not be rust, but this link has excellent tips on all stuff, specialy the reverse electrolysis for rust (it may work on your stain too), might be worth a look...

Check under Quick Tricks/ Killing Rust While it Sleeps.

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Machining/index.html