Table Saw Parts

If you get a lot of mileage out of your table saw, sooner or later you may need to replace some parts.  Before talking about parts replacement for table saws, let’s spend a moment talking about maintaining your table saw in top condition, so you can reduce the possibility of needing parts.

Table Saw Maintenance

First, make a “Maintenance Schedule” cheat sheet for yourself, on paper and posted near your saw.  For safekeeping, scanning it into your computer is a good idea as well.  Record the name of your table saw’s manufacturer, the model and serial numbers, contact information, and date of purchase.  Then study the manual and record their maintenance suggestions, including what needs to be oiled and how often, what needs to be realigned and when, and what needs to be replaced and when.  For parts that need to be replaced or checked, be aware that if you are an extra heavy duty user you will probably want to do these things a little sooner than they suggest.  This is especially true for saws using single belt drive systems.

Parts Diagrams

When you find that you need a part you will be very happy if you were wise enough to store your owner’s manual in a safe place.  They all have parts diagrams you will need to identify the exact part and its description and number.  In the not so distant past, Craftsman was a favorite of many due to their extensive parts data base which allowed you to walk into a Sears parts outlet and get anything you needed.  The process was always easier if you could identify the part from your owner’s manual.  The Internet has changed all that but it still can be difficult to find an owner’s manual for some older models of table saws.

When shopping for a table saw sticking with a major brand name has the distinct advantage of easier parts availability down the line.  Some regional home improvement centers like Menards offer table saws under store brand names that can be of acceptable quality but replacing parts for these generics can be a nightmare.  It’s going to be a lot easier if you’re looking for Delta parts or Makita parts or Ryobi parts or Bosch parts or Dewalt parts or Hitachi parts or Ridgid parts.  As an example, Delta maintains a parts and schematics data base for its table saws dating back as far as 70 and 80 years!  While not all of these parts may be available, with the appropriate schematic you can go to a local machine shop where they can use Computer Aided Design (CAD) technology to recreate the part.

Sources for Table Saw Parts

Some manufacturers allow you to order replacement parts directly from their web sites.  But with the rise of Internet ecommerce, there are more and more parts suppliers available online.  Many of the better ones include parts schematic diagrams for the more popular models from the more popular manufacturers.  But you’ll need to know your model number, and in some cases the serial number as well.  Other sites offer troubleshooting features where you can diagnose what’s wrong with your saw.  Internet woodworking discussion forums are another great place to go for help.  If you’ve never visited one of those sites before, give it a try.  You’ll find they’re made up of two types of visitors:  those who need help and advice and those who love to give help and advice.  Many users who thought they would need to replace their saw’s motor have learned they only needed to replace the brushes. If all else fails, you can often find great deals on new and reconditioned table saws at  Tools-Plus.com.