From Rust to Lust, can I bring it back? #1: The Day I got it

I have already posted in forums on this topic but I had a suggestion that this may be a good idea to update my restoration status as I go.

So I found this Rockwell/Delta 37-220 6” Jointer on CL the other day, asking $150, I drove 40 miles to look at it. Talked him down to $100 rather easily being it was missing the table out lock knob, the back door for the enclosed baseis also missing, as well as the beds being coated in rust, and the end of the cord has cardboard and electrical tape on it…

I have the beds shining real nice and bright right now and the whole thing is disassembled. I put the beds in garbage bags with some oil right now. Now I either have to sand the base or find someone to sand blast it for me, which would be so much quicker. I also have to clean up the painted areas of the cast iron on the beds and what not. I’ll also probably have to fabricate a door (of wood?) for the back of the enclosure to keep the motor running for the rest of my life by protecting it. The switch plate seems to be upside down since it is easier to turn it off and harder to turn it off.

Knives don’t feel to bad or cut to bad but I’d like to start out with sharp ones, so I’ll probably attempt to do them myself. I don’t have much experience with this kind of sharpening, I was thinking of getting a whetstone? Any input is helpful.

I found a manual online that is for an older model but I think everything is the same except for the base. I know the motor is the original because it still had the factory Rockwell tag wired to it! I called Delta and they told me that this jointer was manufactured in April of 1969.

Any hints or help is much Welcomed, I’ll try to get some pictures of the beds on here shortly and continue updating this blog. It’ll be awhile as my mind strays to random scraps of wood sometimes. But there have already been countless times I wish it was all together and running.

Thanks for looking!

-- Grant - S/N Dakota