rockwell/delta bandsaw restoration, lead paint?
I was recently the receipient of a 1956 rockwell/delta bandsaw. If the box had any instructions they would say “All assembly required” since it is fully (100%) disassembled. There is rust on a bunch of the painted surfaces and before I do something like take a steel brush to it, I’m wondering if I should be concerned about lead paint. Anyone have a “best” way for prepping something like this for repainting? Can strippers intended for wood (like 3M’s safest stripper) be used on painted metal like this? That would seem to create less dust than a wire brush on a power drill.
Can’t wait to get this thing up and going. I’ve wanted a bandsaw since 7th grade shop class and that was 3+ decades ago! Should make cutting pen blanks be much much easier than using a handsaw.
Thanks
-Dan
Replies
It is unlikely that your tool has any lead paint on it. But, you can get a lead paint test kit at most big boxes or real hardware stores.
Let me suggest you google "old woodworking machines". There are a number of sites there that have info and forums relating to restoring old power tools.
don't sand it
I would bet that any tool painted in that era would have paint that exceeds current standards for lead content. Lead paint is best dealt with by stripping and containing the waste. Sanding or grinding makes it airborne, which is a hazard. Gloves and a must and a respirator where there is any chance of dust.
There are enviro-friendly strippers that will take the paint off in minutes.
get it tested
Congrats on the project. I'm a huge fand of old iron restoration. At a minimum, wear the proper resperator rated properly as you should do anyway. Wash well. If you realy want to know you can get cheap lead test kits if it does don't freak out. If you have small kids around ok then you have a situation(only while distrubing the paint i.e. dust), but if it does then watch the dust and then once you strip it down clean it and spray the new paint and seal it in. Of course don't chew on it afterwards. I don't think you will have an issue.
http://leadcheck.com/?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=SE_lcheck_leadcheck
Old Iron, Old Paint
As bones noted, you should be wearing proper masks -- if they're not NIOSH rated, they're not safe.
I suggest nitrile gloves as well, that's what I used when I rehabbed my old iron.
I used paint thinner and 0000 steel wool, wiped everything down with clean rags, wiped it again and let it set for a week before painting.
Make sure to cover every surface you don't want painted with masking tape.
Yes, I am. Moved down here from Occupied Virginia and haven't missed it since.
Hope you can wend your way back home soon.
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