That old timer who told me to never buy a used table saw was right

Picked up a vintage Craftsman off Craigslist for $150 two months ago and the arbor wobble is so bad I can't cut straight even after shimming. Should I try to fix the bearing or just save for a new Delta like he said?

2 comments

2 Comments

hannah2403d ago

Sounds like the same spot I was in last year. Got an old Delta off FB marketplace for cheap and the bearings were shot. I ended up tearing it down and replacing the bearings myself. Cost me about $20 and a couple hours watching youtube videos. If you're halfway handy with tools it's not that hard. Just gotta be careful pulling the arbor out, those old castings can crack if you get too rough. But honestly man, if you're already frustrated and you've got the budget, that new Delta will save you a ton of headaches. I fixed mine but it's still not perfect, the table's not level across the wings. I should've just saved the cash and bought new.

kelly613d ago

Try fixing the bearings if you enjoy spending a Saturday with a spray can of WD-40 and a growing sense of regret. I went the cheap route on an old Rockwell and now my push stick doubles as a level for the table wings. Shimming is just a fancy term for "hoping the wood gods smile on you." That said, dropping money on a new Delta beats dropping money on band-aids for a wobble that's probably older than most of the people on this forum.

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