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Restoring a Vintage Porter Cable Model 146B Circular Saw
I picked up this saw as part of my Craftsman tool box estate sale find and finally got the chance to get it ready to join the workforce. Sure, it looks rough now but let's see what we can do with it. Let's get busy! #portercable #vintagetools #circularsaw #toolrestoration #powertoolsrepairing #146 #146B
Пікірлер: 25
Nice job on that old Porter Cable.
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
Thanks! it's a great design and easy to work on.
Hello from Canada and thanks for making this thoroughly detailed video! Someone named Herrick Kimball recently posted a video on how to change blades on these classic Porter-Cable saws. They were meant to be removed with two wrenches working in concert. As you discovered, the other completely unique feature of the original Porter-Cable circular saws is the external grease cup located on the back side of the motor. This grease port allows the user to keep fresh grease supplied to the internal gears and greatly enhances the longevity of the tool. A long life is what Porter-Cable customers would have expected as they were buying the most expensive power tools on the market. By the mid-1960s, Porter-Cable had moved on to a new design and relabeled their 6 3/4" saws as model #346 so this 146B saw is over 60 years old. Lastly, I have a whole collection of Porter-Cable tools from this era and this video will be very helpful when the day arrives for me to finally do some maintenance. 😁
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
Thanks for the info and thanks for watching. The grease port is a fantastic feature in my opinion. In some very old saws I've seen an actual grease fitting but this was a better design. Still at the age of this saw it was likely time to dig out some old grease rather than just add it. :) Good luck when you go to work on yours. These are great tools!
@rightlanehog3151
5 ай бұрын
@@floridarusticrepairsOnce again, thank you for the time and effort expended in making this educational video. My collection started with a Porter-Cable model 168A 8 1/4" saw which belonged to my father and now includes a number of tools which is too embarrassing to admit. For the record, you installed the Diablo blade backwards. I suppose the reason they put the printing on that side of the blade relates to the number of saws in today's market which feature a blade to the left of the motor.
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
lol! You're correct. I think the blade that I removed initially may have been on backwards as well. I bet the previous owner was using it to cut metal sheets. @@rightlanehog3151
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
I've got some 8x8 beams to cut soon. Your 168A would be better for that than anything I've got. @@rightlanehog3151
@rightlanehog3151
5 ай бұрын
@@floridarusticrepairs For cutting 8X8s with real style, you might want to check out some of the monumental Porter-Cable saws featured on Josiah Hanna's KZread channel. In terms of quality, your saw is as good as anything ever made by the masters in Syracuse. I should know, I have four 146As and almost as many 346s. 🤩
For almost 50 years I dreamed of having a set of Porter Cable power tools but they were just a little beyond my reach. Their quality and durability were legendary but unfortunately the legend died when they were bought out by Black and Decker. Here in Michigan you can't find the old ones cheap unless they are totally clapped out. As usual you brought that one back to the jewel it once was.
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
Thanks! When I'm about to work on one of these I always have a worry that it may have bad bearings or just be burned out but so far I've been lucky. Either lucky or these old tools were meant to last for generations. :)
@rightlanehog3151
5 ай бұрын
As a fan and collector of Porter-Cable tools, I would suggest that with enough time and patience, you will be able to find a wide selection of genuine PC tools at fair prices. Just remember that Craigslist and private sales are your friends when it comes to good tools at good prices. On the other hand, Ebay is the place where too many daydreamers advertise tools at inflated prices. As you probably know, the brand name on the tools went from Porter-Cable to Rockwell before returning to Porter-Cable again. The high quality remained consistent until Stanley/ Black & Decker gutted the PC brand. Happy hunting!😁
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
I did not know that Porter Cable became Rockwell. Tool brands have a lot of interesting history. This saw came from a tool box that I had bought off of Marketlace. Most of the tools I work on come from the local flea markets. I have two nearby so I try to go every weekend. So far i've had good luck. i have one more Porter Cable saw waiting in the wings for maintenance but it's not nearly as old as this one. @@rightlanehog3151
@1northsparrow246
5 ай бұрын
@@floridarusticrepairs Rockwell purchased Porter-Cable in 1960 and the name Rockwell is visible on this tool's identification tag. In 1970 tool production was moved from Syracuse to Jackson, Tennessee and the name 'Rockwell' went on the tools. About a decade later Rockwell sold their portable power tools division to Pentair who restored the name Porter-Cable to the tools.
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
@@1northsparrow246That makes sense. I was looking up Rockwell last night and I saw some old power tools which were tagged Rockwell (in large letters) and then below that Porter Cable.
Good Job. Thanks for Sharing!
@floridarusticrepairs
5 ай бұрын
Thanks! I spent more time on that stripped screw than on the entire saw. 😄
The teeth on the original blade and the one you installed appear to be facing the wrong direction for the rotation of the motor. If I am seeing it correctly, if you flip the blade around (letters facing in) it should cut much better
@floridarusticrepairs
Ай бұрын
You are correct! I guess maybe it was being used to cut metal roofing or something.
What about using sandpaper to remove paint from the letters, should be a lot faster and wouldn't fall between the letters like steel wool. I know when the paint is fresh the sandpaper gets clogged up but if the paint has dried then it wouldn't be a problem
@floridarusticrepairs
4 ай бұрын
Thanks! That's an interesting idea. I'll give it a try. About the only advantage to the steel wool approach is that it gets a bit deeper around the edges so the letters have a rounded look. Sandpaper would be a lot faster though.
Use magnetic trays less likely to lose parts
@floridarusticrepairs
Ай бұрын
Yes, I've got some. I usually do have them out but I guess on this one I forgot. Usually I remember after things start to get complex.
Impact screwdriver
@floridarusticrepairs
Ай бұрын
Thanks! I'll have to try that next time I get in a similar situation.