'56 Craftsman table saw rebuild

98TJ · Jun 7, 2011

This thing was given to me by a neighbor, which was given to him by his father-in-law. FIL bought this thing new, used it for years, then bought a replacement and gave this one to the neighbor who has had it since. He was going to scrap it so I picked it up for free.

Hey, couldn't beat the price. :thumbup:

Here's a few shots I took as I tore it down to bead blast.

toddmcdong · Jun 7, 2011

That's great! I picked one up the other day that is close in vintage and will rebuild it soon. How did you determine the exact year?

98TJ · Jun 7, 2011

The month and year were stamped on the data plate for the motor.

Making progress.

Should get primer on it tomorrow.

Stuart in MN · Jun 7, 2011

Those were pretty decent saws. See if you can find a couple extension tables, they bolt right on either side and make the saw a lot more useful.

If you haven't found it already, a good source for information is http://vintagemachinery.org/ You should be able to find the owner's manual there.

Gort the giant robot · Jun 7, 2011

I believe your saw was made by king Seeley. I have 3 just like yours. They are very common on CL around here. I also have a smaller one by Sears that is a tilt table model. My 3 bigger ones use 8 inch blades which can be hard to find sometimes.

Gort.

sscustom · Jun 7, 2011

looking good ,off to a good start

98TJ · Jun 7, 2011

Gort the giant robot said:
I believe your saw was made by king Seeley.

Yeah, it's on the plate. :lol_hitti

VWandDodge · Jun 8, 2011

Very, very nice and thanks to Stuart in MN for the link to the vintage manual site. I'm getting ready to rebuild a Craftsman radial arm saw my dad purchased ~1968. We went through it once in the early 1980s; however, he felt he needed to play "keeping up with John" when my oldest brother bought a radial arm saw in the early 1990s that has digital displays. The older model was then sent to the pole barn where moisture did quite a number on it for 20 years.

98TJ · Jun 8, 2011

Making progress. Took a small piece of the fence to the automotive paint supply shop and had the existing paint color matched. Ended up with a '80's GM Champagne color.

Primed and applying color now.

After I get a few good base coats down I'll hit it all with clear.

fergus · Jun 8, 2011

Awesome resto on a nice looking saw. Is the top solid steel? If so, i gots to get me one..

98TJ · Jun 8, 2011

fergus said:
Awesome resto on a nice looking saw. Is the top solid steel? If so, i gots to get me one..

Thanks!

The top is cast/machined steel.

After a few layers of base coat and then wet sanding.

After wet sanding and a good cleaning I sprayed a final, light layer of color then started applying some clear. This is how it sits now - waiting for more clear.

More clear.

Packard V8 · Jun 8, 2011

You've done a remarkable restoration on that little saw.

The top is cast/machined steel.

Minor point, but it's cast iron.

jack vines

98TJ · Jun 8, 2011

Packard V8 said:
You've done a remarkable restoration on that little saw. Minor point, but it's cast iron.

jack vines

Good correction.

That's what I meant when I typed it. Had steel on the brain from the question and, for some reason, that's what I typed. :headscrat

ozyborn · Jun 8, 2011

I have a very similar saw myself. Cast extensions are all over Ebay. I have been saving up for a BenchDog router table attachment for mine. My restore project, after my other tasks get done, is to restore my 1933 Walker turner Table Saw.

This is looking great so far. Now while it is apart, think about dust collection. Some black rubber strips on the inside, with slits cut will cut down on the dust flying everywhere. Replace the v-belt with a twist link belt. I got mine from HF, one of the few items I will get from there.

Buff the top out, either use a good wax or get Top Coat for it.

But a very nice find and work so far.

98TJ · Jun 8, 2011

ozyborn said:
I have a very similar saw myself. Cast extensions are all over Ebay. I have been saving up for a BenchDog router table attachment for mine. My restore project, after my other tasks get done, is to restore my 1933 Walker turner Table Saw.

This is looking great so far. Now while it is apart, think about dust collection. Some black rubber strips on the inside, with slits cut will cut down on the dust flying everywhere. Replace the v-belt with a twist link belt. I got mine from HF, one of the few items I will get from there.

Buff the top out, either use a good wax or get Top Coat for it.

But a very nice find and work so far.

Yeah, dust collection is in the works. Have an idea in mind but I'm not to that point yet.

98TJ · Jun 9, 2011

Been making progress this morning. Wet sanded it and now I'm going at it with rubbing compound. Once I'm done with the rubbing compound I'll go over it with polishing compound.

nsmith01tx · Jun 9, 2011

Wow, I recently refinished a similar model (103.22170), but you're taking the quality up a couple notches past mine:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=102878

My next plans are to add a small router extension, a base cabinet, and some type of improved fence setup ... not necessarily in that order.

98TJ · Jun 9, 2011

Yours turned out nice! What did you use to clean the aluminum front cover plate?

For this one I know that the neighbor's dad will visit and have the opportunity to see it so I figured he'd get a kick out of seeing it looking new again.

Other than that, it'll be a cool piece in the garage when it's not being used.

nsmith01tx · Jun 9, 2011

I think I just used Brasso. I'd be really careful with an ammonia-based polish like that though, those swirls are not deep and most chrome polishes really cut into aluminum. A few of my swirlies nearly disappeared.

Don't worry about making it perfect, mine is actually pretty dinged up and I was disappointed with it, but once it was back on the machine and I didn't have my face 12" away from it, it looked great

98TJ · Jun 9, 2011

Done with the rubbing compound. Later today I'll get going on the polishing compound and start cleaning the data plate/badge and front cover.

torqueman2002 · Jun 9, 2011

That's some finish, better than new I'd wager!

98TJ · Jun 10, 2011

It definitely has a better finish than cars and such from the era, but that's cool. Garage art. :lol:

Face plate is looking better

Badge is clean and back on

Data plate cleaned and installed as well.

Tilt scale is refinished and ready to install.

VWandDodge · Jun 10, 2011

Are those pop rivets or a different style? Either way, this is looking great!

98TJ · Jun 10, 2011

Just short aluminum rivets. Original pieces weren't aluminum but the aluminum looks better with the badges.

cortez · Jun 10, 2011

It is a good old saw especially as a more powerful motor is easily mounted and the step down belt pulley allows for these changes. Adding to the deck is easy also.

It is accurate and can handle 4 by 4's easily as well (flipped) as well as full sheets of thick plywood ect.

My newer Delta was toast in under 10 years (Although it worked great while it lasted -- dropping it off the truck didn't help much). To add an off the shelf motor (where a dedicated motor was required) is difficult and more expensive than buying a used machine. The new Delta Was 399.00 at the time (mid 90's).

Around here a used table saw is easily gotten for 80 to 100 bucks!!

mrbreezeet1 · Jun 10, 2011

Gort the giant robot said:
I believe your saw was made by king Seeley. I have 3 just like yours. They are very common on CL around here. I also have a smaller one by Sears that is a tilt table model. My 3 bigger ones use 8 inch blades which can be hard to find sometimes.

Gort.

you can use a 9'' blade.

Thanks,
Tony

98TJ · Jun 10, 2011

I'm getting the base back together. Hammered (repeated light taps) the dents out of that engine-turned panel tonight.

Should have the table and saw assembly back on tomorrow. Then I'll turn my attention to the motor, miter gauge, and fence.

jabberwoki · Jun 10, 2011

SOOOOOOOOOOO nice i love threads like this i have an old c man band saw that i painted up not as thoroughly as yours though.

akrafty1 · Jun 17, 2011

Looking good! I am working on a 10 inch model and am in the assembly phase as well. My front aluminum plate is pretty ugly but other than that I am really stoked at how good it looks!

Nothing like these old saws. Solid as a rock compared to what you see at the big orange store these days. You think any thing sold today will be restored in 50+ years and put back to work! Nope!

Nice Job!!

98TJ · Jun 17, 2011

akrafty1 said:
Looking good! I am working on a 10 inch model and am in the assembly phase as well. My front aluminum plate is pretty ugly but other than that I am really stoked at how good it looks!

Nothing like these old saws. Solid as a rock compared to what you see at the big orange store these days. You think any thing sold today will be restored in 50+ years and put back to work! Nope!

Nice Job!!

The trick is that, aside from a cleaning of the slide shaft to engage the tilt gear assembly, it worked just fine when I got it.

I started going through it just to make it look nice.

bc'z · Jun 17, 2011

98TJ,
very nice restoration. I have an addition for that saw, if you are interested. It is a 4" jointer that bolts up to the right side of the table, just like a table extension. If you're interested send me a msg.

bc'z

knagy389us · Sep 19, 2011

Just stumbled across this thread. The restore looks awesome! I believe I have the exact saw. It has the heavy cast iron base. It was my Dad's and Ive toted it around with me for years even though I haven't always had a spot to keep it. Still works good, though the motor was changed at some point.

Now with my detached garage almost finished, I may clean it up, and do a little "restification" of my own. Thanks for the inspiration.

chris fresh · Sep 19, 2011

very nice job!

Mad40er · Oct 4, 2011

I would love to see the finished result! :drool:

mrbreezeet1 · Oct 4, 2011

What kind of paint is the base you were able to wet sand?
Yeah, I had the same saw. Gave it to my brother when I got a bigger.newer one.
I got a 113.XXXXX Emerson made. Yes, anything that starts with 103. is king Sealey. (sp?)
I think say at like 45*, this is a better made saw. I believe it was more accurate than my Emerson built one.
Still looking for a steal on an older unisaw , hopefully in my area.

kissmeimgerman · Oct 4, 2011

this is amazing! great resto!

Swan · Oct 4, 2011

Very nice work on the restoration. The beauty of this and other vintage shop tools is that nothing is made of plastic. You will get a lifetime of use out of it. Enjoy!

Nozzlejocky · Oct 5, 2011

That is one great looking saw you have there. Makes me want to go out and get one for myself!

flyingblind · Oct 5, 2011

Very cool project. I have the exact same motor. Mine was 10 56. I am putting a new set of bearings in it next week.

Gort the giant robot · Oct 6, 2011

Of my 3, only one has the table extensions. It also has the anti kickback device. When I bought mythird one, it came with the owners manual, some new 8 inch blade and some 5/8 to 1/2 inch reducer bushings.

Gort the giant robot

'56 Craftsman table saw rebuild

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