25 - Special Table Saw Issue, страница 6

IN THE SHOP

Table Saw

Tune-Up

All it takes to keep a table saw in top condition is a little periodic maintenance and upkeep.

Just like any automobile, a table saw requires periodic maintenance and upkeep to keep it performing at its best. If kept clean, adjusted, and lubricated, a table saw will not only last longer, it'll also cut smoother and

with greater precision.

When it comes to routine maintenance on the table saw, I always do an in-depth tune-up once a year. And periodically throughout the year, I'll give the saw a quick checkup — just to make

sure everything is adjusted right and running smooth.

The following steps are what I recommend for a complete table saw tune-up. But for routine checkups, I only do the steps that are necessary.

Cleaning

To get at hard to reach places, heat the handle of a toothbrush and bend it at an angle.

Keeping your table saw clean, especially the trunnion, is the single most important step to a well-maintained saw. (The trunnion is located under the table top, refer to top drawing on next page.)

If sawdust, pitch, and resin are allowed to build up here it won't be long before wormdrives, gears, and cranks become difficult to operate when tilting, raising, or lowering the blade.

SAWDUST. To clean the saw, the first thing I do is use an air compressor or shop-vacuum to blow off sawdust trapped in and around the trunnion, below the

table top, and inside the saw cabinet, see bottom left drawing.

SOLVENT. Once the sawdust is out of the way, I go right to work on the trunnion with a toothbrush and solvent to scrub away the pitch and resin build-up, see bottom right drawing and margin tip.

Turpentine and mineral spirits work well here. As does paint thinner. In fact, just about any solvent you have in the shop will loosen the build-up to help get the job done. (Note: Avoid lacquer thinner because it can strip paint from metal.)

BRUSHES. For stubborn buildup, it may be necessary for you to

It may be necessary to soak pitch and resin build-up with solvent to help break it free.

saturate it with solvent and let it set a while. And if it's really stubborn and difficult to remove, try breaking it free with a brass or wire brush.

▼ Adjusting the 90° stop is just one of the simple steps you can do when tuning up your table saw.

brass

Just about any solvent you have in the shop will work to help break up pitch and resin build-up.

Clean Saw. To clean a table saw, the first step is blow away any trapped sawdust from inside the saw cabinet. Then scrub away the pitch and resin build-up.

ShopNotes No. 25