Saw Maintenance

[MikeDingas]

I've seen some posts about saws breaking and it got me to wondering. Does anyone do any preventive maintenance on their saws? If yes, how periodically and what is done?

My Craftsman has an access panel for the motor and another on top. Should these panels be removed every so often to check for wear and tear and maybe some type of corrective action?

[Minnesota scroller]

I've been wondering the same thing regarding my Dewalt. My Dremel requires removing 2 plugs on each side and oiling every 50 hours. However, I bought my Dewalt used, so of course there are no instructions. Any pointers or advice?

[Dragon]

My Mastercraft had the same maintenance. Oil each plug every 50 hour of usage which I did.
Diane

[lucky788scroller]

as far as i know, there is no service required on the yella saw, but a dab of lithium grease on any moving parts that are accessible cant hurt anything. And if a knocking sound starts appearing, go to Rick's site and read up on tuneup for the dewalt. I havent done diddly to either of mine, and got heaps of hours on them both. Dale

[thecopperfish]

I don't recall my DeWalt manual listing any scheduled maintenance. I also have a Delta SS350 back up saw and it lists the remove the plugs and oil it instructions also. I agree with Dale, I don't think a little dab of grease on moving parts ever hurts anything. I also think keeping switches free of sawdust is a good idea.

Chris

[Greenfield_Bob]

My P-20 has 2 oil cups that need oil every 20 hrs.
I spray lube into the clamps, dry them off with a rag and let run on high for a few minutes.
Check screws and bolts to make sure they are tight.
Make sure blade and table are square every time I use my saw.

Bob

[Mick Walker]

Mike I would suggest removing any panels that you can to get at the moving parts and either use oil or lithium grease anywhere there is metal to metal contact. My Delta P-20 calls for lubrication every 20 hrs of use.

[SharonW0111]

mIKE I too have a Craftsman and I can tell you there is nothing under those caps to oil. it is all circuts and wires under them both. I read my manual on my new saw and it said not to oil them. well as much oil as I use to poke down them thinking I was doing good may have been the cause for them to have only a years life span. By the way -the knob on top breaks off you can drill enough of a hole to set a screw into and use it that way -or order another knob- but when you take the knob cover off there is a thin plastic disk that is extreemly fragil- if you break that disk your saw won't run at all. Gues how I know that ..lol
Sharon

[unixpro]

I don't know if it counts as maintenance, exactly, but I wax my table a couple of times a year. Usually at the same time I wax my table saw.

[LouF]

My Craftsman has two rubber plugs on each side of the arm,the manual says to put 20 weight oil every 50 hours of operation. Don't know if this helps Mike.

Lou

[GrayBeard Phil]

I have an older 20 inch Delta scroll saw.

On the lower arm, the motor is attached with a small linkage that houses two small sealed ball bearing assemblies. One sealed bearing assembly is attached to counter weight on the motor shaft, the other bearing assembly is attached to the lower arm.

I have replaced both bearings twice over the last 4 or 5 years. About every 6 months of use, (well, maybe 8 to 9 months) I remove the bearings (not hard to do) and check them for ease of turning and to see if there is any noise when they turn. I think it was only about $24 or $26 USD to replace both of them from my local bearing store.

They are sealed bearings, and they have a protective housing in the linkage, but still every time I get them out, the sealed rims are still coated with very fine saw dust.

I don't know about other saws, but I am sure some of them also use sealed ball bearings somewhere. Does anyone else ever check their bearings?

Phil

[Buzz]

Sealed Bearings

Having been in foundry maintenance for 23 years I have a small working knowledge of bearings. Bearings that are sealed are normally lubricated for life. It's not how easy they turn, it depends on how much play you can feel. Of course if they turn hard or not at all, just give them a decent burial. On small bearings, if you can move the shaft up and down without turning it, that usually means the balls or rollers, usually balls, have worn slightly and the balls will start to spall and/or vibrate and should be changed. I doubt that any small bearing are a class C fit. That is when the balls are a tad bit smaller than normal because they would expand slightly with heat once they start moving. This is normally reserved for bigger, higher speed bearings. As far as the dust goes on the outside of the bearings, don't worry about it. They are sealed to keep lubrication in and contaminates out.