Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinders - Restorations

This is an outcrop of the 'Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinders - What's the Fuss (with resource information)' linked below in my signature line, as well as here. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=249539

To keep the thread a manageable size, please post about 1 before and 1 after picture, with a link to the full restore.

Option, your restore pictures and link can be added to the following list (this and next 3 pages are reserved), by eMailing or PMing me the link to the before & after pictures you want posted and the link to your restore thread.

Note: Some threads (restore in-process) are of restorations in process. They will show the progress through clean-up, disassembly, inspection, etc ... .

Thanks for looking.

Restoration threads

1/3-HP m-115.7566 (Pre-Block) r1-1
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://tinyurl.com/CM-GJ-Lil-Brownie-115-7566
Same restore, different group and comments
http://tinyurl.com/CM-1-3HP-Li-l-Brownie-115-7566

After


1/2-HP m-397.19340 r1-2
Before restore.
goodfellow's thread --> http://tinyurl.com/0-5-HP-CM-Block-Motor-FINISHED
Note: This is the thread that started Torqueman on his Block grinder quest.

After


3/4-HP m-257.192170 r1-3
Before restore.
atlinwi202's thread --> http://tinyurl.com/CM-3-4HP-257-192170

After


1/2 HP m-257.191401 r1-4
Before restore.
gregthor's link --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4409779&postcount=3381

After.


1/4 HP m-397.19501 r1-5
Before restore.
firemanast's thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4711225&postcount=4729

After.


1/2-HP m-115.7575 Pre-block r1-6

pendragon1998's thread: "Craftsman 115.7575 Pre-block / Mailbox Grinder Restoration" --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=262651

Before restore.






After restore.





Band, etc: X-O Rust 'bronze'
Housing: Rustoleum pro dark brown 7548
Stand: X-O Rust 'bronze'
Rustoleum gray self etching primer


3/4-HP m-397.19350 r1-7
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://tinyurl.com/CM-0-75HP-397-19350-BerryWhite

After
Note: Eye shields are from earlier round top model, power switch replaced with non-OEM.


1-HP m-257.191600 r1-8
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://tinyurl.com/Go-Blue-Block-Grinder


After restoration.
Note: Tool rests donated from 1/2 H.P. Model - 397.19470.






1/4-HP m-115.19500 (Pre-Block) r1-9
Note: restore in-process
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=244181


1/4-HP m-115.19500 (Pre-Block) r1-10
Note: restore in-process
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=269760


1 HP m-257.191600 r1-11
Note: restore in-process
Before restore.
Torqueman2002's thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=279094


3/4-HP m-397.19350 r1-12
Before restore.
McBrownie's "BlockMeister" thread. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=277798
View media item 44370After.


1/2-HP m-257.191401 r1-13
Before restore.
McBrownie's restore.
View media item 40366After.
View media item 41436
1/3-HP m-397.19580 r1-14

Torqueman's thread. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=5743463#post5743463


Band: Rust-Oleum Hammered - Dark Bronze (7218)
Housing: Rust-Oleum Hammered - Copper (210849)
Accent stripe: Rust-Oleum - Gloss Regal Red (7765)

1/3-HP m-397.19391 r1-15

JZiggy's post --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5767495&postcount=8694

Before restore.


After.




1/2-HP m-397.19430 r1-16

JZiggy's post --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5778755&postcount=8737


Band: Rustoleum "Metallic Silver"
Housing: Rustoleum "Dark Machine Gray"

JZiggy: 'Gotta say, it don't look like "dark" machine gray to me!'

1/3-HP m-397.19580 r1-17

rrich1's post --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=354999

Before restore.


After restore.

Page 2 - reserved for future use.

Page 3 - reserved for future use.

Page 4 - reserved for future use.

Great idea for a thread, Dr. Block! Let me share my only (so far!) Block restore:

B4:


After:


Label created with BayPhoto.com
Center tin painted with Rustoleum metallic silver
Housing painted with Rustoleum graphite wheel paint

Rebuild thread

JZiggy - Wow that was quick!

Thanks for the great addition.

Link to JZiggy's 1-HP m-397.19360 post. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5607475&postcount=8238

Link to JZiggy's 1-HP m-397.19360 full thread. --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=319227

McBrownie - Thank you for your inspiring threads.
3/4-HP m-397.19350 "BlockMeister"
and
1/2-HP m-257.191401

Mike

Nice job documenting these grinders.
Thanks for your time, as I've learned a lot that will come in handy some day.

You are defintley the block king!

JZiggy said:

Great idea for a thread, Dr. Block! Let me share my only (so far!) Block restore:

B4:

After:

Label created with BayPhoto.com
Center tin painted with Rustoleum metallic silver
Housing painted with Rustoleum graphite wheel paint

Rebuild thread

Click to expand...

I bet that would look real good with some heavy duty tool rests,,,lol.

JZiggy said:

Great idea for a thread, Dr. Block! Let me share my only (so far!) Block restore:

B4:

After:

Label created with BayPhoto.com
Center tin painted with Rustoleum metallic silver
Housing painted with Rustoleum graphite wheel paint

Rebuild thread

Click to expand...

Update: May 13, 2016

JZ posted new pictures of a re-painted center band.

"Rustoleum Metallic Silver, no clear coat (and you can see the **** that accumulates near the switch):"


"Rustoleum Satin Nickel, with clear coat:"

Just a note that rrich1's recent restore of a 1/3-HP Craftsman block grinder m-397.19580, has been added to page 1, above.

1/3-HP m-397.19580 r1-17

rrich1's post --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=354999

Thank you rrich1.

Torqueman2002, What you do with these block grinders is truly a work of art. Got me inspired. I have one question however, Where can we find the new labels for the grinders? I have a 1/3 HP 397-19581 I would like to restore.

M_George said:

Torqueman2002, What you do with these block grinders is truly a work of art. Got me inspired. I have one question however, Where can we find the new labels for the grinders? I have a 1/3 HP 397-19581 I would like to restore.

Click to expand...

If you look above some of the pics, these are from members on this forum, Dr Block did not do all of these, but in his sig there is info on decals, specifically artwork submitted by this group which people use and send to a 3rd party printer or someone with a good commercial printer. Some are sending the art work to a place that prints to metal plate, bayphoto.com is one that can print on metal like shown above. AFAIK

Thanks cajunfirehack, I Overlooked the link. Didn't find the label I need, but there's a wealth of info in there. This will answer many questions for sure.

And thanks to Torqueman2002 for making his knowledge base available.

torqueman2002 said:

Just a note that rrich1's recent restore of a 1/3-HP Craftsman block grinder m-397.19580, has been added to page 1, above.

1/3-HP m-397.19580 r1-17

rrich1's post --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...d.php?t=354999

Thank you rrich1.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Thank you for all the resource work you do. Happy to contribute.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

I love the look of the original grinder stand, and have been on the lookout for one locally (fat chance so far). Not wanting to drill into my garage floor made me rethink just how usable the block grinder would be on a stand not bolted down?

smalltown said:

I love the look of the original grinder stand, and have been on the lookout for one locally (fat chance so far). Not wanting to drill into my garage floor made me rethink just how usable the block grinder would be on a stand not bolted down?

Click to expand...

AFAIK, and I am no expert, Dr Block IS, not too many bolt their blocks to the floor? to a stand yes, but not the floor and I may wrong...?

smalltown said:

I love the look of the original grinder stand, and have been on the lookout for one locally (fat chance so far). Not wanting to drill into my garage floor made me rethink just how usable the block grinder would be on a stand not bolted down?

Click to expand...

Some people have used thick door mats, etc .... to keep the grinder stands from walking.

Some have used the hockey puck approach.

Vibration is a sign that something is out of balance - wheels/stones, flanges, arbor nuts, bent arbor, ....

Hi, sorry to jump in here I think. I dont know where to go with this. Does anyone know what is on the side of my grinder? I've been looking and found 0 pictures anywhere. Its driving me nuts so please... whoever knows id greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

tricky said:

Hi, sorry to jump in here I think. I dont know where to go with this. Does anyone know what is on the side of my grinder? I've been looking and found 0 pictures anywhere. Its driving me nuts so please... whoever knows id greatly appreciate it.

Thank you.

Click to expand...

Does that thing rotate with the grinder? Or is it magnetic? How about a pic from the end.

I'm sure these guys will figure it out.

Thank you for responding. It rotates. I have started the restore so best I can do right now is these pics. Hopefully you guys know. It has my interest peaked. The outer dark ring feels like a really really fine sandpaper.
Thank you!

This is the side shield not sure if I said but its a '73 397-19581.
Thanks!

I bet it's an aftermarket sanding accessory.

Did you try searching the name and number stamped in it?

I have not. Honestly my first thought was you guys. Ill give it a shot and let you know what I may come up with.
Thank you

I believe it to be a cup diamond grinding wheel. I could be wrong. This one is over 300 bucks. Does that add value maybe or probably not.?
Thank you!