Bostik 10220 Aerosol Top Cote :: Education by Design Store

Customer Reviews

Excellent stuff

2003-10-22
Top-cote is something I can live without, but why would I want to?? It does reduce friction amazingly (I don't understand the reviewers who say it doesn't). As for rust prevention, that's not what I use it for. The only real prevention for rust is to keep the tool dry, not spray something on it & then leave it out in the rain. And I notice a few people complaining that it "stains" the tool surface. The product is non-staining to *wood*, as advertised, which is what matters. That is, if you actually use your tools.

Offhand I'd say, ignore any review from some weekend warrior who tells you how great silicone-based products are. Silicone is something real woodworkers go to any lengths to avoid- any tool treated with it is ruined for good- that is, any wood run through them will pretty much have defects in the finish. And most auto 'waxes' are silicone-based.

...unfortuately Amazon seems to have stopped selling it. I'll just have to go to a *real* woodworking supplier- any one- from now on.

Paint it's not, all tools will rust unless they're stainless 2002-08-25
Bottom line up front: Don't expect miracles from this product, but most discerning consumers will already understand that.
In my experience, Topcote applied to a THOROUGHLY prepared surface (according to Bostik's instructions), in humidity below 60%, will create a very smooth surface, comparable to UHMW plastic.
Apply subsequent coats after you've run about 100 linear feet of wood over the surface (much better than car wax). Buff the application of Topcote only after it dries to a haze, if you work with it before it's dry (refer to my note about high humidity), start all over by preparing the surface. Otherwise you'll feel more friction.
If your tools are exposed to high humidity or rain/snow, well buy a non-porous cover (like one offered by HTC). If your tools do get wet and rust (as mine sometimes do), I've found that Topcote won't prevent rust, but rather it inhibits rust. What that means in short is the rust won't be as bad as if you hadn't put an application of anything on it.
Yes, wax may repel water a little better than topcote, but wax also keeps water bound to the surface of metals, once water comes into contact with the metal (this is why chrome pits if you wax it).
I'll stick with Topcote, thanks, at least until there's some tech breakthru of UHMW stainless steel that I know scientists are currently scurrying to produce.

Absolute garbage!!! 2002-03-29
My review will be consistent with several of the other reviews posted here. This product is absolute garbage. If you respect the money and time you put into buying and maintaining your tools, you won't touch this stuff. I would rate it with negative stars, if it were an option.

I'll start with stuff I was able to overlook. It does leave a waxy haze on the surface. Big deal, as long as it protects the surface. It also does not do a good job of reducing friction, as it claims (silicone is much, much better). Again, I can deal with this as long as it protects the surface.

I purchased a can of this about a month ago and have used it on my relatively new tablesaw (1 yr) and brand new 6" jointer (1 mo). Both started out without the closest hint of staining or rusting. I followed the directions and coated the tools after each use. After about a week, I noticed a few small rust stains and I figured I must have spattered something on them. I didn't plan on using my jointer for a while, so I applied 3 heavy coats to the top to ensure it would remain clean and rust-free. I looked at it 2 days later and it was covered (not spots, covered!) with rust. I have since cleaned it with a light polishing compound, but the stains remain. Bostik should be paying me for a new jointer top, but I don't expect they will. Better yet, remove the junk from the market.

Obviously I am extremely disappointed and upset with what this product has done to my clean tools. Like I said, read the other reviews and stay away from it, unless you like the look of rust.

BEWARE! 2002-01-24
I had just received my new 15" planer. I degreased it and put on two coats of Top Cote. I also did the tablesaw, jointer, bandsaw and Spindle sander. Imagine my horror when 4 days later my brand new planer had a coating of rust. So did the tablesaw, jointer, bandsaw, and spindle sander. The tools that I did not use Top Cote on did not have any rust (Mortiser, Drill press, etc). This product says it does not stain but it does. It leaves a milky stain behind. False advertising all around. Now I have to figure out how to remove the rust and then I'll use some type of paste wax. I'm calling Bostik tomorrow - wonder how far I will get?

Bostik's Top Cote 2000-12-11
I agree with Bradley Keller's review. I bought this product to treat the top of my table saw. I was shocked to see a milky-white haze appear after application (I went by the directions on the can verbatim). It smells and looks like wax, so I figured I needed to buff or polish the top cote in. I hand buffed my saw top for about an hour and this took care of the white haze. However, it did not leave my surface as slick as I had expected it to. I too will use a simple auto wax from now on.

does what it claims 2007-07-30
I've been using Top Cote for about 10 years now. I frequently leave the country for anywhere from six months to a year, so one of my priorities is to make sure my tools aren't covered with a coat of rust when I return. Normally if I know I'll be gone for a while I'll put a coat on everything steel in my shop, to include hand tools like saws and chisels. Occasionally there are some isolated rust spots, but for the most part this stuff saves me from having to steel wool everything twice a year. It's easier and quicker to apply than car wax and it won't contaminate finishes like silicone. The only down side is that it wears off my thickness planer bed pretty quickly when planing rough cut purpleheart, or similar abrasive woods. I'm not sure why some people get bothered by the white haze it leaves on the surface since that's the easiest way for me to see where I need to recoat.

better than car wax 2006-10-05
I am a professional cabinet maker, which means I use my tools day in and day out. I have applied top cote and car wax, top cote is definately better. As far as the bogus claims about surfaces rusting, that is due to someone's very irresponsible care of their tools. I have had mine for several years, and can tell you that if your tools are rusting it has nothing to do with top cote. As far as the "milkly" surface, this product leaves a white residue, which according to directions, you should rub lightly with a clean dry cloth. After this is done, I see nothing but the metal surface I started with. When following directions, this product performs as advertised, my only complaint is that it doesn't last long enough. But car wax does not last longer anyway. I will be trying the "table top lube" when it comes out.

You guys that are complaining about rust need to take better care of your tools! My tools are in a clean dry shop, and several of them have had nothing but top cote applied to them ever, and they don't have any rust in them, even after several years.

Don't bother if you live in California 2006-06-03
Cannot buy this product if you live in California due to environmental laws.

Product says nothing about it and states:

Shipping: This item can only be shipped to the 48 contiguous states. We regret it cannot be shipped to APO/FPO, Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico.

Caifornia isn't part of the 48 lower states!

Not as good as it once was! 2005-09-02
I have used TOPCOTE spray for several years on my table saw. This product does not seem to look or last like the old orange colored can or the real old pump spray bottle that I use to get. The current stuff now has a white flakey coating that flakes off and is sticky, the boards don't seem to slide like before. Now my new can is half full and won't spray any more! I checked the spray tip and it's not clogged but still nothing comes out when I push on the spray tip! It's like it lost its air! Don't waste your money it's not as good as it once was!

At the woodworkers guild meeting they recommended I use this new stuff called Table Top Lube from EMPIRE and they gave me a small sample. I tried it and it seems to work just like the old TopCote stuff!

Here on amazon Table-Top Lubricant sells for $14.99.
It cost more but I think it is work it.

I like this stuff.... 2004-11-21
I've been using top cote on my machine tops, metal fences and guides for about five years now. I live in western Washington and moisture here can be a problem. Especially when your shop is in the basement of a 80 year old house,on the shores of a lake.
I have never had a problem with rust on my machine surfaces when I prepared them properly. The last step, I take, before applying the top cote, is to wipe the surface with alcohol. This removes any residual moisture and cleans the pores of the metal. Using a quality car wax will import silicon to your metal surface which in turn will transfer it to your wood workpiece. This can really cause problems with a lot of finish's. Silicon is very difficult to remove from wood and will block penetration of most oil based finish's.It can also affect "natural" wax's, such as carnuba and bee's wax.
The top cote layer does provide a nice slick surface and I have no difficulty telling when a new treatment is needed, especially when ripping hardwoods.
I also use Dri Cote (seperate review) on my blades and cutters.
I recommend this product to everyone, follow the directions on the can and you won't be disappointed.