All Replies on Restoring Rockwell/Delta 4" Jointer - 37-290

Sounds like you got a 37-290 “Deluxe” Jointer :)

The serial number should give you the exact year, not a range. Most likely your tables are not moving just from lack of operation and need a bit of lubrication/persuasion to get them sliding again. If you don’t already have it, the manual for that machine can be found here, and there are are a couple of other documents over at the vintagemachinery site you may want to look at as well. That will give you the parts diagram so you can see how it all fits together.

Cheers,
Brad

-- Brad in FL - In Dog I trust... everything else is questionable

Figure on replacing the belt and it’s always a good idea to replace the bearings on old machines. The belt is likely the cause of vibration, so I’d do that first and check.

The tables might have gibs on the dovetail castings that are too tight. If your jointer has them, they’ll be 3 screws on the back of the jointer on either side of the pulley on the dovetail ways.

This manual has a section called Adjusting Table Gibs, for reference.
http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/1141/487.pdf

Replacement knives and bearings for these machines should be pretty cheap, and restoring it will be a good way of learning about jointers. I did my first old machine restore on a 1930s Craftsman 4” jointer.

-- ian | "You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity."

I have the same jointer, acquired under similar circumstances. The suggestions above are excellent. Also check the bolts that secure the cutter head bearings. As I recall there is a single bolt from the underside securing each bearing, and they do work loose. Reinstall with a lockwasher or other method. It can be a very useful machine for you.

-- Phil Allin - There are mountain climbers and people who talk about climbing mountains. The climbers have "selfies" at the summit! Likewise with woodworkers.

Good find. I’d clean it up, check all the nut bolts etc and a new belt. Beyond that including bearing I would’t fix it if it ain’t broke.

-- Alaskan's for Global warming!

awesome! thank you all for your replies. It looks like it is actually a 1970 machine, thanks for attaching that manual as well. In terms of a new belt, is there a specific brand that you guys prefer? I’d heard a notched V belt could help reduce vibration too, is this actually true? I also heard that there is a jig that helps you replace the knives safely and accurately, anyone ever used one of these?

Lastly, I was just going to buy some Boeshield and wipe this thing down to remove the rust. Would you say I just need to hit the areas that I can obviously see rust or are there areas of the machine I should specifically be targeting? It’s pretty cold here in Minneapolis, do I need to wait until it warms up to clean the rust off?

Ric

Re: rust removal – you may want to clean the dovetail ways of the infeed/outfeed tables. They need to slide!

-- Phil Allin - There are mountain climbers and people who talk about climbing mountains. The climbers have "selfies" at the summit! Likewise with woodworkers.

Where can you get replacement blades for the Delta Rockwell 37-290 4” Joiner? Found one in running condition, they are asking $100 but the blades have a chipped out place. https://www.toolpartsdirect.com/delta-37-290-4-jointer.html
and https://www.ereplacementparts.com/delta-37290-type-434-jointer-parts-c-3275_7655_13878.html
both say that the part is obsolete.

https://www.amazon.com/19-HSS-Planer-Blades-Walker-Turner/dp/B002O75HTG/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?keywords=4+jointer+knives&qid=1568772062&sprefix=4”+jointer&sr=8-6

I believe these were the ones I bought off amazon and they worked just fine.