1940's vintage Delta machinery (esp unisaw)

**lombard** · 06-17-2012, 12:23 PM

Hey all, I've got a loaded post here, mostly dealing with my recently inherited Unisaw.

First, anybody have a good source for owners manuals? Just call Delta? I'm not sure about model numbers, but I do have serial numbers.

Unisaw 45-554
6" Jointer 44-1084
Drill Press 44-4507

Anyway, on to the Unisaw. It's got a 1 hp bullet motor wired for 120V. I want to rewire the saw anyway (get the motor and the cabinet grounded). I do have a single 240V circuit in my garage that I put in for my welder. Any value in wiring the saw for 240V?

I had to trailer all the equipment from MN to FL. I took the top off the saw to make it easier to handle, but during transport, the flange on the top of the cabinet got slightly bent upwards in the back right hand corner. I managed to flatten it out (actually it's bent a little down now). When I reassemble it, anything I should pay close attention to?

I'm not planning to do a full restoration since it's already in pretty good condition. I've pretty well cleaned up all the worm gears and other moving parts in the cabinet. Should I lube the gears with some dry film lube (graphite or molybdenum disulfide)? Related to that, the elevating crank has a bit of a squeak to it. Can I back off the collars that secure the shaft and spray some dry film lube it there without completely disassembling it?

Last but not least, I got the belts removed (saw had some vibrations when it was running). The arbor spins freely and the motor runs smoothly, so I'm assuming the vibrations came from the belts. I'm making a run to NAPA to get some new belts for everything. Any other thoughts about what could be causing some vibration?

Anyone have a good source for the arbor/blade wrench?

Final question, I'm going to need a mobile base. I really like Delta's own mobile base, but I don't think it fits this vintage of the saw. Guess I'm going to look at the Jet universal mobile base, but I just don't like the idea of having to tighten and loosen the jack screws to move and secure the saw. Any other good suggestions?

**SawSucker** · 06-17-2012, 02:48 PM

If the saw has a 3 belt pulley on it, you will want to order a matched set of belts. An automotive supply store is not a place to buy electric motor belts, the side pitch on an electric motor pulley is diifferent then an automotive pulley. If Delta doesn't make a premade mobile base that fits your saw, they do sell a Delta 50-345 Universal mobile base hardware kit that you can add either hardwood 2" x 2"s, or 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" square tubeing ( which I what I prefer for the stretchers ) The rest of your questions I'll let someone else take a stab at.

**hcbph** · 06-18-2012, 08:21 PM

Seeing they're all around 1940, you have one of the best sources available for manuals, maintenance info, parts and parts info: http://www.owwm.org/

There is a wealth of info available and plenty of people that probably both have and have rebuilt machines comparable to yours. And veryt likely any part you might need is probably findable.
Hope that helps

**FrankC** · 06-18-2012, 10:00 PM

Check this site, lots of great info about Unisaws:
http://www.sawcenter.com/

**lombard** · 06-20-2012, 08:05 AM

Thanks guys. I've done a little searching around on vintagemachinery.com as owwm.org seems to be down.

Expecting new drive belts and blade wrenches that I ordered from sawcenter.com to arrive Friday.

I'm lucky enough to have a coworker that is in to woodworking and metalworking, and he's loaning me his dial indicator so I can align the miter slots/table with the blade this weekend.