cleaning up table saw

[sgimbel]

I have a cheap Craftsman table saw that I'm having trouble raising/lowering the blade and getting it to hold tilt or 90 degrees. I'm going to blow out the underneath mechanisms but what can I lube it with that won't attract all the saw dust and make things worse. Any ideas?

 

[workinforwood]

Everything will get dust in it. Trunnions should be cleaned with brush and greased

 

[randyrls]

I have a cheap Craftsman table saw that I'm having trouble raising/lowering the blade and getting it to hold tilt or 90 degrees. I'm going to blow out the underneath mechanisms but what can I lube it with that won't attract all the saw dust and make things worse. Any ideas?

Scott; Graphite Lube. Unplug the saw and take off the blade! Now you can reach under the saw with a bristle brush and clean it off good. I sometimes use Denatured Alcohol as it doesn't leave a residue. If your saw doesn't have dust collection, now would be a good time to add it. Several places make a DC plate that you can hook a DC hose to.

 

[Wood Butcher]

White Lithium grease comes in an aerisol can at auto stores or Wally World and does as good a job as any with no residue. shake the can a lot. I have a 36 year old Crapsman and have the same issue. The tilt mechanism to get to 45 deg. takes me, my wife two neighbors and a small child to get all the way over.
WB

 

[D.Oliver]

I have used both the graphite lube and the white Lithium grease with good results.

 

[StephenM]

There's a product called Tri-Flo lubricant that puts both graphite and white lithium grease to shame. It doesn't leave a residue and works on everything - keyholes, garage doors, noisy wives, etc.

 

[moke]

Scott,
I had a similar saw for years. The problem with it is the dust/chips pass right by the trunion on the way to the DC. I am not sure there is a good answer. I settled on graphite lube because it is dry. I felt a oil/grease type lube would work fine but get full of dust much quicker. I just "knuckled under" and cleaned it thoroughly every year at the beginning of the year. That tri-flo sounds VERY interesting!!! Try it and let us know.

The one big complaint I had is that the blade tilt was long and hard, esecially if you were going to cut 45's. I always worked alone, then one day someone was there and took the weight off the motor as I cranked and it was 75% easier!!!!