momentarily...
why didn't you use a dry lube???
Delta 12.5" Planer
I've been remiss (OK, lazy). My planer hasn't had a proper maintenance job in, well, years. Sure, I keep it clean and blow the dust out regularly but it desperately needed a proper servicing.
So; went to swap the blades out and discovered that the idiots that designed this thing used button head screws with H4 Allen heads. The screws are M6 16mm.
They might as well have welded them in! The tool that Delta supplied now looks like a piece of wrought iron railing. Twelve screws. Two I couldn't budge, even after I picked up a socket with the H4 Allen bit included.
My retired machinist buddy gave me a hand and we drilled them, and pulled the screw portions out with a screw extractor.
Replaced ALL the screws with M6 16mm hexhead bolts. Should have been like that from the get-go.
A little Lithium grease in the drive chain and the thing is working like new. New blades were looooong overdue; what a difference.
If you have one of these puppies, it may be time...
So; went to swap the blades out and discovered that the idiots that designed this thing used button head screws with H4 Allen heads. The screws are M6 16mm.
They might as well have welded them in! The tool that Delta supplied now looks like a piece of wrought iron railing. Twelve screws. Two I couldn't budge, even after I picked up a socket with the H4 Allen bit included.
My retired machinist buddy gave me a hand and we drilled them, and pulled the screw portions out with a screw extractor.
Replaced ALL the screws with M6 16mm hexhead bolts. Should have been like that from the get-go.
A little Lithium grease in the drive chain and the thing is working like new. New blades were looooong overdue; what a difference.
If you have one of these puppies, it may be time...
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
why didn't you use a dry lube???
Because Delta explicitly stated in the manual that it req'd. high pressure Lithium. It's been working for 15 yrs. with the factory grease...who am I to argue? 
I learned many years ago to use an impact screwdriver when trying to get very tight screws out. Not the electric impact driver, because they are too fast. I have an impact screwdriver that I bought from an auto parts store. It has several replaceable bits and an adapter for socket wrench sockets with it. Place the correct bit in it, place it in the flat, Phillips, or whatever in the offending screw head, turn the body of the impact driver about 10 degrees in the direction that you want to turn the screw, and hit the back end of the handle part with a hammer. The impact forces the bit tightly into the screw head and at the same time imparts a twisting action in the direction of your choice. One or two hits is usually all it takes and the screw isn't even damaged in the process. It's one of the best $16 tool investments that I've ever made. I use it before I've beat up the screw head with other methods, so it has a better chance. I don't wait until I've effectively killed my chances of using the flat, Phillips, or other slot in the screw by trying and trying again to get it out other ways. It gets used on my woodworking tools, metal projects, printing presses, and about every other time that I have difficulty removing a screw or small bolt now.
Charley
Charley
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
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