Old cast iron Dewalt RAS model MBF - needs key

[ShawnE Curry]

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This was my grandfather's saw, given to him for Christmas from my grandmother in 1958. I even have the companion book, "Easy Ways to Expert Woodworking", dedicated to "A deserving husband - Christmas 1958". I have all the parts, including the original auxiliary sanding attachment. The saw was in storage for a couple years in my parent's barn. Now that I finally have a workshop to put it in, I brought it home. It's in great shape, and after soaking a couple days in WD40, everything is moving smoothly, and the motor runs nearly silently (rear bearing whines a bit when the motor is shut off).

I even had the key until very recently. It likely fell onto my shop floor and got covered in sawdust and thrown away. I rewired it to a light switch in order to test out the motor, and I also ordered an equipment start/stop switch to hook it to more permanently, assuming I can't get another key.

Anybody know where I can get a new key?

[david brum]

Wow. That's a beauty. You don't see those saws very often with the original table and even the original base. Nice!

[eugene thomas]

Would talk to lock smith.

[Rick Potter]

Yup,
remove the switch and take it to any locksmith. Reinstall, and then you will find the original, too.

Rick Potter

PS: A definite family heirloom. I still regret giving away my dad's 1946 table saw years ago.

[John Lanciani]

Hi Shawn,

I just had the same exact dilemma a few weeks ago with the twin brother to your saw. I posted a "Wanted to Buy" ad on the old woodworking machines forum and within a half hour a member there had responded and we struck a deal ($12) The key is very simple but I'm not sure if a locksmith would be able to come up with a blank that would work. If you PM me your e-mail I can send you pics of the original key that I bought if you'd like.

[ShawnE Curry]

Turns out there was a spare key for it; my dad found it in the snow outside the barn. Must have been in the cabinet and fell out when I was loading it in the truck. So I can leave the old key switch in place and use it as a lockout and route the original power cord to the equipment switch.

[Dennis Hawkins]

If you need the key to the power switch then McMaster Carr has what you need. About $3.00 each.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-key-pilot-switches/=qvk7rl

http://www.mcmaster.com/#5049T1

[HANK METZ]

Very rare tool, especially as an heirloom piece. Right away, brad nail a new sacrificial top right onto the original maple using 1/4" Luan or Hardboard, this will preserve it too. Also, here's a link on how to replace that noisy bearing, and you might as well replace the start capacitor while you're at it too. On the page top are links to a restoration of an MBF which you should find most instructive. I envy your acquisition, good luck.

http://people.delphiforums.com/perristalsis/MBF_Motor_Bearings/MBF_Motor_Rebuild.html

[Myk Rian]

Take the key switch out, and replace it with a 20 amp toggle switch.
Heck of a lot easier turning it off in an emergency.

[ShawnE Curry]

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Found it! Apparently there was a spare, my dad found it in the snow outside the barn. Must have fallen out of the cabinet when I was loading it in the truck. So I'm going to leave that original key switch in place so I don't need to rewire it. I will still use the green/red start/stop switch I bought as well - I can simply butcher the end of the power cord, and another extension cord, to hook up that switch. Then I can just leave the key in the "on" position and control it with the button, and still use the original key switch as a lockout.

Regarding the bearings, I took the advice of folks here and over at OWWM and decided to replace them. Just got those out tonight - just waiting on the new ones now.

[ShawnE Curry]

Oh yeah, built a Mr Sawdust table for it too - but it's not set up yet. The original maple top was bowing about 1/8" towards the front. I'll post some pics when I'm finished.

[Mike OMelia]

That is such an awesome machine and a great piece of your family history. Keep us posted as u restore it.