50's Era Craftsman Jointer Restoration

[CubbyChowder]

I'm at a point where I need to start investing in wood working tools. I mostly do metal work, but I really like to incorporate wood into as many projects as I can. I've always bought pre-cut wood from Home Depot, but I'm ready to step it up and start milling my own rough cut lumber so I can start getting into nicer hardwoods and not break the bank.

Lately I've been on the hunt for a jointer, planer and table saw. A few days ago I scored this cool Craftsman jointer from the 1950's-60's on craigslist for $60. I had a weird desire to restore it, so as soon as I got it into my shop, I started tearing it apart. Here are a couple photo's from the sale ad:





Completely disassembled it with the exception of removing the feed table. I also sanded the top with 240 grit to get any surface rust off:





Cleaned up the cutter head and shaft:



After cleaning and prepping it for paint, I decided to go with a seafoam green color for the jointer. These pictures don't really represent the color very well, I think it looks much better in person:





I gave the adjustment knob a brushed steel look:



I'll be doing light brown accents to give it a Mint Chip style color scheme. The raised surface on the cutter guard will get sanded down to bare metal to add some contrast, haven't done that yet:



I'll be replacing the shaft bearings, blades and pulley belt. Everything is ordered and now I'm just waiting for parts to come in. More updates soon!

 

[nine4gmc]

The color is nice!! Great job and color choice!

 

[Outlawmws]

That's looking to be a real nice restore. Now you will have to raise the bar for a stand that it deserves!

 

[jakemac]

Subscribed.

I have an earlier 4 1/2" version of that jointer buried in storage (mod# 103.23340). Someday I'll be able drag it out and get it into my shop so I can make it pretty too.

Nice job so far.

 

[CubbyChowder]

Thanks guys, I plan on building a stand for both the jointer and planer to mount on, so that will come a bit later seeing as I don't even have a planer yet haha.

 

[oldldh]

You'll be making wood chips pretty soon...


Nice job.....

 

[Spinaker01]

Very nice resto. I really like the color too!

 

[CubbyChowder]

Made a little more progress today and took some higher quality photos of how it currently sits:

 

[yaidunno]

That looks great! Color is perfect.

 

[zkling]

Anyone else craving mint chocolate chip ice cream right now?
Great job. I too like the color. Very clean looking.

 

[Radio Ron w4ron]

Very nice work, it's very inspiring.
I have a very similar Craftsman King Seeley joiner that I'm going
to restore as soon as it gets warm enough to spray paint.

I'm looking at replacement blades, I've seen some on ebay
I may give a try.


.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Man, that is AWESOME!

I jumped on CL looking for one, and found the same one. But the 2nd to last sentence totally made me laugh:

Cast iron jointer, unknown manufacture date. As depicted in photos. Includes large cabinet with motor. Tool and cabinet are 42" overall in height, 24" in width. Table is 36" long, 8" wide, the fence is 3.5" tall. It runs, needs adjustments. Currently located in RPV near Mira Catalina ES; can relocate to HB if needed. As is, no shipping, no tales of woe, no ******** endless emails. It is what it is.

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/tls/4347062474.html

 

[nine4gmc]

Looks great assembled

 

[Trey T]

Man you're lucky with getting the cutter head off. Mine has a stuck shaft

 

[bisley45]

Well done sir.

 

[CubbyChowder]

Thanks everyone! I'm excited to get it all dialed once parts show up

But the 2nd to last sentence totally made me laugh:

haha that's awesome

 

[CubbyChowder]

Man you're lucky with getting the cutter head off. Mine has a stuck shaft

That was definitely a task for me as well. Although I didn't need it, try heating yours up a bit with a torch, that might loosen things up a bit.

 

[jakemac]

That was definitely a task for me as well. Although I didn't need it, try heating yours up a bit with a torch, that might loosen things up a bit.

Remember to take the blades out first. You don't want to risk annealing the blades if you use a torch.

 

[Bill Ramsey]

Very nice! Gotta love the simplicity of a jointer.

 

[tapered-pin]

LOVE IT!!

I picked one up off a CL ad this past weekend.. (it's in good shape, but certainly not "restored").


great to see..

 

[landlord30]

Can you provide more details on how you cleaned the table up? You mentioned you sanded with 240 grit, what else?

thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

you guys know this thread has been dormant for over 3-1/2 years, don't you?

 

[Fender1325]

Made a little more progress today and took some higher quality photos of how it currently sits:

Man that looks great. How'd you get your masked lines so crisp? What paint did you use? Aerosol or in a gun? Inspiring me to restore my original shop Smith.

 

[Fender1325]

you guys know this thread has been dormant for over 3-1/2 years, don't you?

Hahaha. Woops. Guess we'll never get those answers

 

[landlord30]

ah, ****! sorry didnt realize it was an old thread. So excited to find out how he got the table so clean.

 

[tapered-pin]

you guys know this thread has been dormant for over 3-1/2 years, don't you?

and? it's about a jointer that's over 60 years old..

ah, ****! sorry didnt realize it was an old thread. So excited to find out how he got the table so clean.

WD-40 sprayed liberally and wet sand with an electric sander and 240grit paper.
wipe it off after 15 minutes of sanding and repeat (about 6 times)..

then use 660 for a couple times

then use 800 for a couple times

use any paste car wax to seal the table..