Rebuild thread of Vintage Carftsman Table Saw 103.23833

s2kattracks · Aug 2, 2014

Sup everyone! Found this little guy on craigslist! Listed as best offer, asked what he wanted, he said 40, I said 25 after looking it over, he agreed and it is now home!

I have already pulled it completely apart and put it back together once. Minus the extension wings, everything seems to be there, just needs a good cleaning, repaint and a new belt wouldn't hurt(link belt here I come). Even has the original motor(or so I think).

After I put it back together, I made some test cuts and all is well. I also took the fence apart, made some adjustments and it works now too! Nice and tight!

Found two extension wings, so those are on the way. Also, found some fence front rail to add to the extensions. Will order link belt this weekend.

If anyone has any tips, hints or tricks for this model of saw, I am all ears! SO far, I love this saw.

Just two pictures for now, once I pull it back apart(when I get my work bench finalized) I will take more photo's and get to repainting!!

Ponchoguy · Aug 2, 2014

From a parts perspective, King-Seeley made the "103" prefix tools for Sears. Emerson Tool Group (Sears model prefix 113) bought them in the 1960's and offers whatever parts support there still is for them.

That's a classic...

s2kattracks · Aug 2, 2014

Yea, I have downloaded all the old sales brochures etc.

Torn on rebuilding to sell or just keep. I like it as its small, so it fits well in my smaller twonhome garage.

Packard V8 · Aug 3, 2014

There are millions of those little darlings out there, so parts are easy. Unfortunately, resale is not. Build it as a user, but don't expect to get your money back when you sell it.

Bearings are pretty standard, available anywhere.

I've seen them with motors anywhere from 1/3hp to 1hp. Many of the Craftsman motors of that era have a toggle switch on their base. There was an optional POWR-PANL; a sheet metal box with a toggle switch controlling one switched outlet and one unswitched outlet. It mounts to the stand you have and is worth looking for.

I always like to upgrade to steel pulleys and a notched belt.

Make a zero clearance insert for it.

jack vines

s2kattracks · Aug 3, 2014

Will look into that switch. This one has the 1/2hp motor.

Notched belt, is that the same as the link belts? Were you buy in length and then snap them together for your size?

s2kattracks · Aug 3, 2014

Nevermind, Found answers!

woody 73 · Aug 3, 2014

This might help you out a little:

http://www.rockler.com/how-to/zero-clearance-table-saw-inserts/

s2kattracks · Aug 3, 2014

Right on thanks!

s2kattracks · Aug 4, 2014

Got this link belt today.

Do I have it on correctly or is it backwards in this picture? I actually switched it as it looked wrong

softailgarage · Aug 4, 2014

Yep, looks right to me. I've restored 5 craftsman table saws, I went back to find a thread and cannot believe i never did one. Oh well. I enjoy restoring them, I would get them from CL from $30.00 - $60.00 depending on what kind of accessories were with it, even found one of the POWR-PNL's w/ oem table, unfortunately, the screen print was worn to the point it could barely be seen. It would take me about a month to do one at night after work. I would strip the base down to the metal, then prime and paint as close to original color as possible. On yours I would go with Rustoleum "Satin Wildflower Blue". I would then take the arbor assembly apart piece by piece and polish each piece on a buffer/grinder to a chrome like finish, paint the support plate the same color as the base and re-assemble. Use a roloc disc with an air right angle grinder on the table and seal the bare metal with Rustoleum Rust Inhibitor. Go thru the motor wiring as best as you can, I find that a lot of these motors, given their age and environment the wires become extremely brittle, a real safety hazard. replace them. I try to leave the motor housing original, but if it's wasted I'll paint it the same color as the base. I've sold all these for $200.00. I would also give the buyer a DVD with the complete restore in pictures ( take alot of pics during the work, especially the arbor assembly, it really helps when your reassembling it.) and an invoice clearly stating that you are not responsible for the customer losing a finger or hand. Not that my rebuild was questionable but these days it's too easy for somebody to screw up, get hurt and blame the machine. It covers your *** just in case.

I need to find the pics of the saw's completed.
Any questions feel free to ask :beer:

s2kattracks · Aug 4, 2014

Awesome!! Love how simple they really are, plus the relatively small footprint works well in a townhome garage.

That one pictures looks great!!

To make it even smaller I have played with the idea of moving the motor below(building a rack) them placing a cover over the motor so sawdust doesn't completely cover the motor. Not sure it's possible, but I am thinking about it.

s2kattracks · Aug 5, 2014

Sweet, got one extension wing in today, the other will be in tomorrow I hope. Also front rail just shipped today.

Side note, flooring guy across the street needed to make a couple cuts and he saw my table saw. Made the two cuts with ease.

s2kattracks · Aug 8, 2014

Found a model 113.29953 today at a barn sale. Motor was there, but in pieces so it didn't run/work. Had fence and two extension wings for 35. May go back tomorrow

Packard V8 · Aug 9, 2014

I've restored 5 craftsman table saws, . . I've sold all these for $200.00.

You did a lot of work on a $60 saw, plus whatever else in parts to sell for $200.

How long ago was this? I've probably restored fifty saws in the past forty years and they would sell as fast as I could put them out there, but that was then and it no longer happens here in Spokane. I had three of them for sale last month and didn't get a single offer. Sold them all to Africa on a freak deal. For a while, it looked like they'd be going to China as scrap.

On any given day here, craigslist has 30-50 Craftsman table saws going for less than they would have sold for back when. Usually, any cash offer will buy them.

an invoice clearly stating that you are not responsible for the customer losing a finger or hand. Not that my rebuild was questionable but these days it's too easy for somebody to screw up, get hurt and blame the machine. It covers your *** just in case.

Not really. Just ask the manufacturers who get sued all the time, despite their disclaimers, "Woodworking is inherently dangerous." But there are some of us who have managed to survive.

Today, most young guys are afraid to walk near an older table saw, lest it roar to life and rip off one of their arms.

jack vines

s2kattracks · Feb 7, 2015

NO updates here, but I still am using the saw as is pretty often. Will rebuild it soon, still works so not in a rush

Did find a matching planner, that has a great stand. Can't wait to get it complete

jeffersonmueller · May 28, 2015

Any of you ever had a problem with the tilt mechanism slipping? Mine won't stay - specifically, won't stay straight up at 0 degrees (or 90, to the table). How do I tighten it up?

jeffersonmueller · May 28, 2015

Thanks for the pictures!

My gears work, but the tilt bed isn't tight enough I guess. I can reach through th back and push it off 0 degrees with a bit of force. So with the belt pulling it, it creeps off 0 over time. Is there any way to tighten it up so that it will stay put (but still be adjustable with the controller)?

jeffersonmueller · May 30, 2015

Thanks Frank!

It's tempting to leave the gauge plate off so I can just lock it down when at the right angle, then free it up when moving.

My pointer is gone anyway.

jakemac · May 30, 2015

jeffersonmueller said:
My pointer is gone anyway.

I hear that there's a blue pill for that. :lol:

Blondeaujr · Jun 1, 2019

Where can I order parts for this table saw?? I need gears.

Cameronl · Jun 3, 2019

Packard V8 said:
Bearings are pretty standard, available anywhere.

Not on those old 8" saws. The arbor and bearings are a single unit, and no one makes a direct replacement. Talk on the intertubes claim you can get a waterpump bearing and have the shafts machined, but I haven't found anyone online that has actually done it. The plus side of have it custom machined though is you can upgrade from 1/2" arbor to a standard 5/8" arbor.

That said, I love mine. I've added wings, made a custom motor mount (the orginal was missing), build a new fence and assembled a custom stand. Works like a charm.
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Edit: didn't realize this was a 5 year old thread!

Rebuild thread of Vintage Carftsman Table Saw 103.23833

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