Q & A: Silencing a Squeaky Tablesaw

Q & A: Silencing a Squeaky Tablesaw

Q:

My tablesaw screeches like nails on a chalkboard whenever
I adjust the blade.WD-40 made the noise go away for a while, but
now it’s back. What do I do?

A:

That sound can drive you crazy! It’s a clear sign that
the gears under your saw are due for lubrication.The original
lubricant has either hardened or worn off, so now
you’re hearing the bare steel of the worm gears scrape the
bare cast iron of the tilting trunnion and raising gear.
You’re unlikely to wear out the gears this way, so it’s not a
cause for alarm, but the noise will continue to get worse.

The best fix is to lubricate the gears with lithium grease,
the same stuff they use at the factory.You can buy a lifetime’s
supply ($6 for a 1-lb. tub) at an auto supply store.An
alternative is powdered graphite, available at a hardware
store or a locksmith’s shop for about $2 a tube.One advantage:
it won’t attract dust and chips the way grease does.

Clean the gears with a small brass brush or an old
toothbrush and WD-40, which helps soften the grease.
Apply a thin layer of new grease to the teeth of the raising
gear and the trunnion.Turn the handles a few cranks
to transfer the grease to the worm gears and enjoy the
sound of silence.