Burns
Golden Baronet of the Realm
- 6,105
- 12,291
If you want something to watch, Wes has some good kitchen cabinet making videos (found this video when looking at pillars/columns):
- 3
Woodworking
- Thread starter Intrinsic
- Start date
If you want something to watch, Wes has some good kitchen cabinet making videos (found this video when looking at pillars/columns):
phisey
Buzzfeed Editor
- 1,917
- -4,658
Every tried making patterned plywood stuff from Michael Alm? Super easy to do, just repetitive and kinda tedious. I made a couple nightstands with it that have held up.
Baltic Birch edges would probably warp too much as a tabletop/countertop unless you pour epoxy over it though. He made some bowl with it that looks great.
- 2
- 1
- 1
Soygen
The Dirty Dozen For the Price of One
- 28,325
- 43,163
I haven't tried making any yet, but I've seen the videos and really love the look. Will definitely putz around with it at some point.
- 1
o I got my grandfathers old '47 delta unisaw and it runs still. I really want to restore it though now. Paints still good but plenty of rust to remove. Any of you guys happen to have one of these? I don't know anyone who does.
Zapatta
Krugman's Fax Machine
- 76,330
- 397,047
Start by buying some Kroil and soaking all the corroded machined surfaces, then gently shave the rust from the mating surfaces with a single edge razor.
Old electric motors get corrosion on their brushes. You can try and look for replacement brushes or just change the entire motor. Find the tag on the motor that has volts, amps, rpms etc and go to a motor rewinder and get a price to replace.
Basically you want to unfreeze all the moving parts, Kroll makes fast work on a lot of that.
I have restored saws that have sat outside in the sea air for a decade with a couple cans of Kroil and 6 hrs of elbow grease.
There really is nothing better than Kroil, it ain't cheap.
- 3
Zapatta
Krugman's Fax Machine
- 76,330
- 397,047
When you do find a motor rewinder than can get you a replacement motor take to old motor down and have them swap the pulley off the shaft to the new motor. Probably want charge you much to do it. Worth ot because it takes a couple special tools to do it easily.
Last edited:
- 1,132
- 5,150
In addition to
Zapatta
's advice, you should be able to find a manual online. Delta stuff was everywhere and their tools made in that era lasted forever. Many are still running today. Not sure of that model specifically, but many of the manuals had exploded parts diagrams and drawings. Should be able to tell if it's missing components. You might also find a junker on ebay for parts.Edit: a small amount of gargling turns up tons of forum posts and youtube content on restoring vintage Unisaws. Some even specifically about the 1947. It looks like Delta is still making a "unisaw" (www.deltamachinery.com), so you may try calling them for a manual or parts list
Last edited:
Zapatta
Krugman's Fax Machine
- 76,330
- 397,047
The thing about post WW2 era stuff is every nut and bolt was built to last 3 lifetimes. Being gentle with the right penetrating oils, a heat gun to unfreeze stuck nuts / bolts with a lot of patience makes 100% of it salvageable. The electric motors will never be as efficient as modern and the parts inside (insulation etc) rot, no shame replacing them with a modern one you can get 7-8 yrs out of. It is literally the only moving part.
Last edited:
- 1,132
- 5,150
I agree, assuming all the parts are there... Even the wax paper/cloth wrapped wiring was robust if it didn't get too hot or have critters eat it. The varnish they used on the motor windings can get iffy after 70 years though
- 1
Zapatta
Krugman's Fax Machine
- 76,330
- 397,047
I agree, assuming all the parts are there... Even the wax paper/cloth wrapped wiring was robust if it didn't get too hot or have critters eat it. The varnish they used on the motor windings can get iffy after 70 years though
There is a special smell of trying to run old electric motors, it's a hot smell that makes people nervous. And probably rightfully so. Just change it, a complete Delta saw that runs is worth its weight in inflated Biden dollars. Watch your fingers those old saws take no prisoners.
Zapatta
Krugman's Fax Machine
- 76,330
- 397,047
Full disclosure I have 3 dedicated Delta table saws. Dating from the 50s to the 80s. Each set to cut a different kind of material. I also have a bunch of old Rockwell radial arm saws. Every single one was a broken salvage when I got it. They will all outlive me.
- 1
BrutulTM
Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
- 14,433
- 2,219
My brother and I were cleaning out one of the outbuildings when we were kids and found an old drill. Of course we plugged it in and tried to drill something to see if it worked and it did, but while we were drilling there was like a globe of sparks coming out of the sides of the drill. We went and asked my grandfather about it and it turned out before rural electrification, they had used a windcharger (windmill driven generator) for electricity and it produced 32 volts DC and that's what that drill was made to run on. Pretty interesting that it (sort of) worked with 120V AC and luckily we didn't get electrocuted.
- 3
Soygen
The Dirty Dozen For the Price of One
- 28,325
- 43,163
There's a Facebook group that's all about woodworking machines made pre 1980. Some really awesome gear and restoration stuff in there.
www.facebook.com
Log into Facebook
Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
www.facebook.com
- 1
- 3
Intrinsic
Person of Whiteness
- 14,241
- 11,685
Pretty much finished my end table present for my mom today. There’s a couple things I would like to do but may not bother. Chamfer the feet of the legs for one. Otherwise I’m pretty happy. Only finished the top and left the rest unfinished poplar bc they want to stain / paint it to match their sunroom furniture color. I swear the lighting in my shop sucks so I turned up the brightness a little on the picture
Next project is going to be a small jewelry box I think.
Next project is going to be a small jewelry box I think.
- 12
- 1
- 1,132
- 5,150
This looks great. Please do add small (1/8" / 3mm) chamfers around the base of the legs or the ends will splinter as the table is moved. As soon as someone drags it, it will snag fibers. Even with nylon gliders if it's on carpet you'll get splintering. It's worth the 5 mins to sand/file/plane the chamfer
- 4
Bandwagon
Kolohe
- 22,725
- 59,581
BrutulTM
Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun.
- 14,433
- 2,219
Intrinsic
Person of Whiteness
- 14,241
- 11,685
Pocket hole and glue on the inside for most everything, hidden by the drawer so didn’t mind. Was going to plug them but since you can’t see them haven’t done it. That was another finishing thing I was talking about getting around to. Top is figure 8s which, now that I’ve learned, screwing in to sapele sucks with the cheap ass screws from Everbilt. Even with 1/8” pilot holes I still broke screw heads off using a manual screw driver and barely any torque. Was going to go up a size on the pilot but tried out some of the “higher end” screws and they went right in no pilot hole on my scrap piece I was testing on.
- 1
- 1,132
- 5,150
Try using paste wax or a soft beeswax candle to lubricate your screws before driving them in.
- 2