Yates American J-120 Band Saw – Standing Up and Cleaning

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After completing all of the other work on the saw, I was down to the wire and my buddy was in town. We got the saw stood up, and I was then busy getting things cleaned up on the outside.


First thing I did was a trial run. With the casters having already been removed at the base end, the fixed casters in the middle were just beyond the tipping point. A floor jack very easily fit under the skid and lifted it up on the top end. Once all the jack was maxed out, all the wheels were well off the ground. The end of my skid matched with the wheels of the mobile base, so all seemed like it would be good to go. I could lift the saw from here to keep tipping it up, so I knew we’d have no issues with two of us.


After I knew we’d be good with the jack and lift approach, I tested out a cleaning regiment on the upper door. I used simple green and a nylon cup brush in the drill. Then I just wiped it clean with cotton rags, and then wiped it down with some WD40 afterwards. It’s been repainted before, and the last time it was painted they did some tan speckle coat on top. I don’t think it would have been my first choice, but I don’t hate it.


When my buddy was in town and we were ready to tip it up, I ratchet strapped the mobile base on to the saw, and screwed a piece to the skid so the mobile base rested on it, and it brought it to the same plane as the wheels of the mobile base. I was ready.


We proceeded as I had planned. I explained what my intentions were, to jack it up as far as the jack would go, then we’d both lift until just before it started to tip all the way vertical. I would let go of the pushing side, and go around to the other side of the saw. I’d start to push back and hold the saw from tipping down on to the mobile base too hard. Then we executed under the watchful eye of my son (who did an excellent job of watching from by his workbench as instructed).


It really wasn’t bad, but I am glad I didn’t try to do it by myself. I don’t think it would have gone poorly, I just think it would have landed on the mobile base a little harder. I was excited for it to be upright and taking up less floor space.


With the saw upright, I started to focus my efforts on cleaning. The success with the door was encouraging. Again, I’m not going for a repaint, just trying to get rid of some surface rust and preserve what’s there. I started with the side spine around the motor starter, and also did the upper base casting.


I continued on with the other side of the upper half. I got the rear cover and the other side spine, as well as the other upper base casting done as well. Interestingly, some more paint loss on this side, but still nothing horribly offensive.


I don’t know the story behind this note, but it stayed when I cleaned the front of it, so it gets to live on.


I knocked out the rest of the saw I couldn’t reach while I had the ladder out, so the top and rear of the spine got cleaned up next, all the way down.


With my feet (and knees) now firmly planted back on the ground, I turned to cleaning up the rest of the base cabinet. There was a fair bit of paint loss in this section of the base. I imagine quite a few legs and knees rubbing up against the base cabinet stepping on the brake.


Before I was done for the night, I rounded the front and had just enough time to clean the rear door. It provides a decent “before and after” look at it.


Finishing up the base made things look much better. I might try to do the very bottom plinth a little more down the road, but for now I’m happy with it.


This saw is really starting to look good now! Looking a lot less neglected, it’s nearing being ready to put back in service. I’ve still got a fair bit to get done on it, though, so stay tuned for more progress!

Thanks for checking it out.

Series Navigation<< Part 4: Upper Wheel Assembly and Guide PostPart 6: Electricals and Starter >>
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