![]() We started by wetting the surfaces with kerosene, which acted as a cutting lubricant. Now it was time to remove rust from the saw's table and extension wings. We used compressed air to quickly clear out of the saw’s cavity and undercarriage. The motor’s shaft and pulley were all in good shape, but everything was caked in dust and cobwebs. We were pleasantly surprised to discover that the saw had a commercial-duty motor with twin capacitors-one to start the motor turning and another to provide extra kick to the run winding. That’ll make it easier to reassemble everything later. Tip: Take photos of the saw and label each part prior to disassembly. Next came the tedious disassembly process: We unbolted the cast-iron wings from each side of the saw table and then removed the motor. We knew we had to move the saw to a warm, dry location, so we unbolted it from its rolling stand, hoisted it into a Ford F-150, and drove it down the street to Romanski’s studio workshop. But it only cost $80 and we knew we could restore it to good working order. Its table was badly rusty and its parts had been thrown out of alignment. ![]() We found the circa-1980 Craftsman table saw shown above at a church auction. And rust can affect adjustable mechanisms, too, making it hard to raise and lower the blade or tilt the blade for executing bevel cuts. The rust isn’t only unsightly, it also makes it difficult to slide wood across the table, which should be perfectly smooth. Then it’s only a matter of time before you start to see rusting and pitting. ![]() Moisture condenses on its steel and cast-iron parts because they’re cooler than the surrounding air. Ben StechschulteĪ table saw that’s kept in an unheated garage, shop, or barn will soon rust. Here’s a detailed account of how we removed years of rust from a table saw, some corroded hand tools, and a few dull precision-cutting tools.Ĭraftsman table saw, circa 1980s, purchased at a church auction for $80. And we discovered that all it takes is some basic chemistry, a little patience, and some elbow grease to restore old, rusted tools to like-new condition. ![]() We gathered a bunch of forlorn rusted tools and went to work in his studio, a cavernous former church in North Salem, New York. Or, had you borrowed it from a neighbor and forgot to return it? “Everybody has them, these little hidden jewels,” says contributing editor Richard Romanski, a fine woodworker and unrepentant tool collector. Perhaps you got it at a tag sale or maybe your father passed it down to you. The next thing you know, you're scraping away rust with your thumbnail, trying to make out the manufacturer’s name.Īs foggy memories flood back, you try to recall how exactly you came to own this neglected tool. They capture your attention and pull you in. If you love tools, you’ve probably experienced the odd, magnetic power that old, rusted tools possess. ![]()
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