Problem lowering table saw blade

[Randy C]

i bought one one the craftsman zip code saws about 10 years ago with the bies fence. It's been a great saw for the money.

I have a problem now when I lower the blade. When the top of th e blade is about 1" above the table, it gets hard to turn the crank and the blade doesn't want to go down. I can't get the blade to go all the way down and it stops about 1/2 " above the table. Any ideas what this could be?

Thanks

[Robert Adams]

Most likely something stuck in there. I make sure to blow out the grooves in the casting every so often as sawdust can get packed in and cause issues.

   The zipcode saws were a great bang for the buck. I have it and a 1023 griz in the shop and i find myself using rhe zipcode saw more. My only complaint is the cheap handwheels. I also have a dewalt sliding table on mine so that gets used as well...

[Cooler]

Most likely something stuck in there. I make sure to blow out the grooves in the casting every so often as sawdust can get packed in and cause issues.

   The zipcode saws were a great bang for the buck. I have it and a 1023 griz in the shop and i find myself using rhe zipcode saw more. My only complaint is the cheap handwheels. I also have a dewalt sliding table on mine so that gets used as well...

You can get all qualities of handwheels on line.  Graingers carries some.  Here are more:  https://industrialcomponentsgroup.com/pr...swodtCIC7w

[GeorgeV]

I have a 10" Craftsman TS that I bought in the 70s and every once in a while it is necessary to clean the shaft using a brass bristle brush and lubricate it as well as regularly cleaning out the sawdust  that accumulates. It has been a great saw and served me well all these years.

[Phil S.]

I agree with George.  Clean off the threads with a brass brush (I get a cheap one at the lumber yard, looks like a brass tooth brush) and lubricate the screw with some sort of dry lubricant that won't catch more dust.  I use Johnson's paste wax.  My saw also has a stop on the screw held in place by a gib screw.  If yours does, it may have come loose and moved, blocking free travel, but I suspect it is just an accumulation of dust.

[Arlin Eastman]

Randy

One thing to look at is the knob in the center of that wheel which tightens it up or loosens it up that maybe it is to tight.

[Steve N]

Use air, and spray lube to blow the crud out of the teeth, likely cause. Some no stick, non silicone spray is good for lube too, or canning wax.

[goaliedad]

I have a vintage Craftsman TS. Sawdust gets packed in some of the parts. Clear that out, much better. No idea how the zip codes are designed, but worth a look

[Robert Adams]

I have a vintage Craftsman TS. Sawdust gets packed in some of the parts. Clear that out, much better. No idea how the zip codes are designed, but worth a look

They are very similar to a regular cabinet saw which makes sence as the guys that designed it used to work for powermatic and delta.

[Harold O.]

I had the trunion gear go bad on my Rigid saw shortly after the one year point. They finally decided to fix it under warranty. But, yes, always check for something simple before getting carried away.

Our tools often work so well and degrade so slowly that we have to remind ourselves to perform regular maintenance. And any given pass through the saw can flip a chip into an unfortunate location.