let's see your craftsman block grinders

Bill Ramsey · Feb 14, 2017

Me like orange.

MercLSU · Feb 14, 2017

I've loved me some orange as long as I can remember. When I was a kid my favorite show was the Dukes of Hazzard, there were always a few chebbies in the yard (orange blocks, intakes, etc), and the first thing I ever drove was a Kubota L285. As a result I tended to want to paint everything orange. I mostly grew out of that but am now possibly reverting to a child-like state?

Plus, it addresses a serious safety issue. After frequenting this thread for a year or so, I find myself tripping over these things... :willy_nil

smalltown · Feb 16, 2017

I wanted a descent quality bench grinder, but almost succumbed to buying the Ryobi at Home Depot. Anytime I had seen a Craftsman or Baldor they either were to far away to be practical or the cost was out of my range or both.

Well yesterday I finally found what I was searching for: It's a Craftsman block grinder. I had imagined it would have been in "so so" condition needing repainting etc., but the seller described it to me (no pictures) as being in excellent condition.

I hopped in the car, and immediately drove there. It wasn't at all what I had imagined it was so much better. You can see that it hasn't been used much, and has led a pampered life. It had only been used to sharpen the sellers lawn mower blade.

I haven't tried yet, but I would like to locate a copy of the owners manual. Not sure what if any PM I should do such as drops of oil etc.
Next on the list is to purchase a wire wheel, and make or buy a stand.
Lastly I just cannot get over just how beefy these things are !

Tonellin · Feb 16, 2017

Beauty. Nice to see those cutting guards and quench tray in such good shape...what did you snag it for?

EOC_Jason · Feb 16, 2017

Nice... No PM that I know of... Maybe remove the cover off the bottom and inspect the wiring make sure nothing is rubbing or coming out of their plugs. Also spider webs...

cajunfirehawk · Feb 16, 2017

Anyone here snag the NOS Craftsman block grinder on ebay recently in the original box? It went for $380, this item 332117975825

exmaxima1 · Feb 16, 2017

cajunfirehawk said:
Anyone here snag the NOS Craftsman block grinder on ebay recently in the original box? It went for $380, this item 332117975825

Nuts

smalltown · Feb 16, 2017

Timeline the seller was asking $25. I had initially thought about not posting it as it was such a good price.

torqueman2002 · Feb 18, 2017

That's a great round top Block!

I'm glad I did not see it, I'd have been tempted to bid. Then, if I won I'd be - do I leave it as NIB or use it? ! ?

Anyway, thanks for posting. I did some shopping and bought some hard to find CM drill press (Vari-Slo) and Block parts.

Pictures of NIB Block, for future reference.

mikegt4 · Feb 18, 2017

I have been watching this thread for a while which caused me to keep an eye out for a block.

Today I picked up a CL find, 397-19460, 1/2 hp, 115/230V. It is a bit dirty as it was sitting in a backyard shed for what seems a while. It runs smooth and quiet, no shaft end play, spools down at the expected glacial rate. Every nut, bolt and screw is in place and they all look original. Build date is Aug. 13, 1975. I happily gave them the $40 asking price.

I guess it has been a good couple of days. Yesterday my grand daughter had great grandchild #4, maybe I should invest in some lottery tickets.

M_George · Feb 18, 2017

I've been watching this post for a while. So not to be left out, I found this vintage Craftsman 397-19340, 1/2 HP mid 1970's block grinder on CL for $20.
I love it, runs way smother the my Chinese clunker. I plan to upgrade the stones and install an upgraded tool rest and use it to sharpen my chisels and plane irons.

rrich1 · Feb 19, 2017

Any recommendations on brands for grinding stones and wire wheels?

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EOC_Jason · Feb 19, 2017

Norton stones, Osborn or Weiler wire wheels... Well, USA or Germany made wire wheels... I think some cheap new Weiler might be china so pay attention.

Cheap stones will wobble side-to-side and also can be egg shaped... Cheap wire wheels will break apart and fling wires everywhere while you are working. It's worth spending the extra money for quality.

One thing I read recently was to flip your wire wheel around every now and then. I just tried that on my buffer and I was pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference it made! Like night & day cleaning difference.

rrich1 · Feb 19, 2017

EOC_Jason said:
Norton stones, Osborn or Weiler wire wheels... Well, USA or Germany made wire wheels... I think some cheap new Weiler might be china so pay attention.

Cheap stones will wobble side-to-side and also can be egg shaped... Cheap wire wheels will break apart and fling wires everywhere while you are working. It's worth spending the extra money for quality.

One thing I read recently was to flip your wire wheel around every now and then. I just tried that on my buffer and I was pleasantly surprised at how much of a difference it made! Like night & day cleaning difference.

Awesome. Thanks.

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torqueman2002 · Feb 22, 2017

What is going on!?!! :headscrat

For weeks, no for months nothing much happening, Block wise.

Then, in a little more than a week:
Tool_Master posts a 1-HP Wide Body (2-12-17)
MercLSU posts a screaming Orange Block (Wide Body ??) (2-14-17)
cajunfirehawk posts about a NIB 1/2-HP Block m-397.19590 selling for $380 (2-16-17)

And now this!!
A 3/4-HP m-257-192189 208V 3-Phase Wide Body Block for $120. :shocking:

CM%200.75%20HP%20257.192189%20208V%203-Phase%20a.jpg

CM%200.75%20HP%20257.192189%20208V%203-Phase%20b.jpg

https://annarbor.craigslist.org/tls/6015303529.html

I have never seen a 3/4-HP 3-Phase for sale; I have seen pictures of a 1-HP 3-Phase.

Somebody please buy this.

PM me if you want more information.

MercLSU · Feb 23, 2017

Big Ernge is coming along. Not much to report yet but a few more coats of paint have gone on, some wiring has been replaced, and bearings have arrived. Let's hope it works as well after I mess with it as it did before

mikegt4 · Feb 27, 2017

I decided that my 1/2 hp block needs a Craftsman stand so I got on CL and immediately came across a 1/3 hp 397.19580 grinder w/stand that had been listed only 1 hour before. The next day go to the sellers place and pick it up for $35. He had bought the inventory of a small sheet metal shop that was closing to build his own home SM shop to go along with his machine shop. He had several breaks, shears, bandsaws and one too many grinders. We had a lot in common and spent over an hour talking shop.

I will be using the stand under my grinder and donated the 1/3 hp grinder to my son. He is going to clean and paint it. It is missing a eye shield and a side guard but it runs great. It came with an odd 1.5" wide wheel (hence the missing side shield) and a knotted wire wheel. Build date is Feb 1967 and upon removing the grinder from the stand we found the original Sears price tag on the top plate of the stand.

Kaervak · Mar 1, 2017

Found a 1/3 HP for $45 on craigslist. Looks very clean. He has a modern one for sale too but, meh.

https://cleveland.craigslist.org/tls/6023832755.html

Rileysan · Mar 1, 2017

1/2HP block off CL for $30. It had been listed for a couple of weeks for $50. I texted him an offer and he accepted.he even met me on my route home!

Brian

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JZiggy · Mar 1, 2017

Rileysan said:
1/2HP block off CL for $30. It had been listed for a couple of weeks for $50. I texted him an offer and he accepted.he even met me on my route home!

Brian

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Killer find! I like those late 70's/early 80's "Coffee Creamer" colored ones. Got one in the herd myself too!

cajunfirehawk · Mar 3, 2017

Keeping up with post 9373; I recently became the owner of a 1/3hp Block and it is currently is "resto" status...We will call this one "Number 1"

IMG_4401 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

Then this beauty arrived today, another NOS in the original box, 7" 1/2 hp block grinder hidden away in Denver somewhere, and I paid no where near what the other guy did, in fact, 1/4 of his purchase price :willy_nil

See pics below;
Shipped in the original box without a shipping box! Don't people know us collectors value our original boxes :dunno:

We will call this one "Number 2"

20170303_155155 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155110 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155343 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155457 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155539 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155606 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr
Can't see any date stamp, maybe with a black light? Did they date stamp them all?

20170303_155952 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr
110 0r 220 volt

20170303_155751 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_155721 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr

20170303_161048 by Cajun Firehawk, on Flickr
Spin down video

Thrilled to find this one in this condition, but it IS missing one item, the lamp shade...these both arrived with in a 5 day time frame

and 1 more "resto" 1/3hp block "number 3" is due to land Monday

I blame it on Torqueman2002 for passing me this bug :thumbup:

torqueman2002 · Mar 3, 2017

cajunfirehawk - Man, oh man! You are so lucky.

I wouldn't know what to do with a NOS/NIB Block. Use it like it's intended or keep it new!?!??

I don't recall - have you taken the 'Pledge'?

If not, you better follow this link. ---> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4832270&postcount=5478

This is your one and only warning. :evil:

MercLSU · Mar 4, 2017

Some nice finds! cajunfirehawk, you ****!

I echo torqueman2002; with great power, comes great responsibility...

Made some progress on big ernge this evening.

cbacres · Mar 4, 2017

Orange? Is that the only color you could find at 3:00 AM? :lol_hitti

cajunfirehawk · Mar 4, 2017

cbacres said:
Orange? Is that the only color you could find at 3:00 AM?

And the kicker IS, he should have painted it PURPLE & GOLD :beer:

Go TIGERS!

EOC_Jason · Mar 4, 2017

MercLSU said:
Some nice finds! cajunfirehawk, you ****! I echo torqueman2002; with great power, comes great responsibility...

Made some progress on big ernge this evening.

Took to meaning of "Orange is the new black" literally, eh? lol...

torqueman2002 · Mar 4, 2017

MercLSU said:
Some nice finds! cajunfirehawk, you ****! I echo torqueman2002; with great power, comes great responsibility...

Made some progress on big ernge this evening.

Wow!

That is awsome!

I do like the wide-body/wide-track look.

I am resisting going for this one near me.

But, I'd need a 3-phase converter.

Then there's the color -- Orange is taken (my favorite Snap-On hard handle screwdriver color).

Anyways -- :beer:

Nice job!

ssharrell22 · Mar 4, 2017

Been lurking for a few few months but this is my first post. I can't see the hp on it but it looks great and seems like he would be willing to take less. 2 hour drive from me and I have already and a 1/4hp and a 1hp follow me home since hanging out here. I think I'm going to get scolded if I go get this one... https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/6012996883.html

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torqueman2002 · Mar 4, 2017

ssharrell22 - Welcome!

Congratulations on your Block collection. But, without pictures, some might think it's a 'fish' story.
:lol:

04chase · Mar 4, 2017

Finally got a stand for my 1hp .

ssharrell22 · Mar 4, 2017

Haha, understood. I will try to grab a couple of pics this evening. Just grabbed the 1hp for free it was my grandfather's and I spotted it back in the corner of an old shed. Thanks to you all I knew what it was as soon as I saw it. I haven't even had a chance to plug it in yet. Probably gonna be a full restore on it which I'm sure I will need some advice on once I get into it

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exmaxima1 · Mar 4, 2017

ssharrell22 said:
Been lurking for a few few months but this is my first post. I can't see the hp on it but it looks great and seems like he would be willing to take less. 2 hour drive from me and I have already and a 1/4hp and a 1hp follow me home since hanging out here. I think I'm going to get scolded if I go get this one... https://raleigh.craigslist.org/tls/6012996883.html

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Looks like a basic 1/3hp model to me. No light, no eyeshields, no quench tray. I'd offer $30 tops.

bagged89s10 · Mar 4, 2017

Don't need another one because I have too many to sell but $20 was too good to pass

ssharrell22 · Mar 4, 2017

Well they are nothing like some of the ones I have seen on here but here they are. I was plesently suprised the 1hp ran like a top when I plugged it in just now. Both need some tlc though.

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torqueman2002 · Mar 4, 2017

"Don't need another one ....."
:lol_hitti

That's funny, I don't care where you're from!

I can laugh, because I have heard myself say those same exact words.
:thumbup:

torqueman2002 · Mar 4, 2017

ssharrell22 said:
Well they are nothing like some of the ones I have seen on here but here they are. I was plesently suprised the 1hp ran like a top when I plugged it in just now. Both need some tlc though. ...

Well, you have the 1/4-HP and 1-HP.

Now you can begin filling in all the models in between. :beer:

Nice pair there.
:thumbup:

BTW - I toss any used stone I get. Even if they pass a ring test, the binding media can degrade if the stones are not kept in a dry place.

It's best practice to stand to the side, not in front, when powering up a grinder with stones. See CM stones below.

Grinding non-ferrous (aluminum) on the side. 2 rules broken.

The spark arrestors were mis-adjusted and the wheels jammed into them. Also, signs of more aluminum and even wood grinding!

These were destroyed and disposed of.

ssharrell22 · Mar 4, 2017

Nice one bagged!

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ssharrell22 · Mar 4, 2017

Thanks torqueman, I can see this becoming a problem...

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bubinga · Mar 4, 2017

bagged89s10 said:
Don't need another one because I have too many to sell but $20 was too good to pass

Noppe!1|
Nt. for $20.00

Tonellin · Mar 4, 2017

Picked this one up today for $50...little high on the price but the eye shields and quench tray are in excellent condition. He had about a dozen extra wheels, a wheel dresser and drill attachment that he was selling for an extra $40 but I didn't want to be into this for nearly $100...although I might be kicking myself later for not picking up all those original extra stones

let's see your craftsman block grinders

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