Craftsman Pedestal-Type Power Tool Stands

[Hoorn]

Hoorn,
Like the base on that grinder stand, clever solution.

Jay

Thanks. My original intent was to then install two leveling feet w a knob, but it doesn't move at all when I use it and is quite stable. I assume it's because of the pedestal/grinder weight. I used 3/4" plywood and it rides a 1/4" off the floor.

 

[subroc]

As someone that likes Craftsman stuff quite a bit, for some reason the pedestal stands have never been much of an attraction to me. I do like the above grinder with pedestal stand and wouldn't mind finding one of them out in the wild. I doubt I would pass on one that was fairly priced. That said, I always wanted a band saw on a pedestal stand. A year or so ago I passed on one that was about 100 miles away, with an original motor (who knows the condition), belt guard and fence and rail system. I regret I let that slip away. I should have made the drive and paid the price.

Great thread

Thanks for putting that information together FrankLee

 

[CKS1955]

As someone that likes Craftsman stuff quite a bit, for some reason the pedestal stands have never been much of an attraction to me. ...

Unfortunately for me, I really like the stands. On a negative side it makes for a crowded shop, on the positive side the pedestal stands are easy to move.

Jay

 

[Cruzan80]

Yeah, same. Overall, I have had the table saw (8 and 10 versions) that have moved on, and have a grinder and bandsaw on stands. Would love to find ones for the belt sander, planer and scroll saw (hd a line on a scroll saw once, but didn't work out).

Sent from my IN2015 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[subroc]

Unfortunately for me, I really like the stands. On a negative side it makes for a crowded shop, on the positive side the pedestal stands are easy to move.

Jay

Understand completely. When you like something you want them. It doesn't have to make sense. I have 3 floor saws plus parts here. I have room for 1. I want to keep them all.

 

[Hoorn]

Unfortunately for me, I really like the stands. On a negative side it makes for a crowded shop, on the positive side the pedestal stands are easy to move.

Jay[/QUOTE

Understand completely. When you like something you want them. It doesn't have to make sense. I have 3 floor saws plus parts here. I have room for 1. I want to keep them all.

If ever a post made complete sense to me, it was this one lol. "When you like something you want them, it doesn't have to make sense". I don't how many times I have tried to rationalize a purchase or better still, when my wife -who is extremely patient with my vintage tool purchases, asks "but why do you need this?" and I just have to come clean and say "I just need it, no other reason". She's way too savvy for me to pull the "oh I've had that" or "I don't have one of those" (when I have 3). More times than not it doesn't make any sense, I just need to have "it", whatever "it" is that day.

 

[subroc]

If ever a post made complete sense to me, it was this one lol. "When you like something you want them, it doesn't have to make sense". I don't how many times I have tried to rationalize a purchase or better still, when my wife -who is extremely patient with my vintage tool purchases, asks "but why do you need this?" and I just have to come clean and say "I just need it, no other reason". She's way too savvy for me to pull the "oh I've had that" or "I don't have one of those" (when I have 3). More times than not it doesn't make any sense, I just need to have "it", whatever "it" is that day.

Well when I picked up the 4th 103.24280 band saw which is really 3 saws and some parts at this point for no other reason than it had an original fence and rail. I just wanted the stock fence and I didn't have one. I didn't need or want the band saw.

 

[damon18]

Not really a pedestal, so mods please move if not appropriate here.

Ove the last few months I've bought two Craftsman blocks that were mounted on this stand, both identical. When I found the first one, I thought it was home-built.

Is this something that was sold by Sears/Craftsman? It is a perfect fit for mounting the grinder, and adjustable for other type tools. It's lightweight but wide stance and take a lot of room compared to a pedestal.

 

[pharmerphil]

I have a few of these Craftsman pedestal stands; here are three of them.

 

[pharmerphil]

One more.

 

[Hoorn]

Pharmerphil, you've got some outstanding pedestals, wow. By chance did you do a thread on that grinder resto? That is a thing of beauty. Love that bandsaw too.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

pharmerphil: +1 on that beautiful 1/2hp pre-block and pedestal. Beautiful!

damon: That tubular stand is indeed Craftsman. I knew I'd seen it before but had to look it up. I was surprised to see the pedestal bases still being sold alongside it in 1979.

 

[pharmerphil]

Thanks for the kind words, the block grinder was tough in appearance, but runs like new! I simply clean and repaint my tools, so it would not make much of a thread. I use everyone of my old tools.
My love for the older Craftsman tools comes from the great memories I have walking through the Sears Tool Department with my grandfather. Sears didn't have the greatest tools, but they were reliable, and that always stuck with me.
Again, thanks for the kind words, and I love this site!

 

[damon18]

damon: That tubular stand is indeed Craftsman. I knew I'd seen it before but had to look it up. I was surprised to see the pedestal bases still being sold alongside it in 1979.

Thanks! If the (9) tubular stand cost $17.50 how much was the (10) pedestal stand? The tubular stand is quite sturdy when assembled with the grinder, just takes a whole lot of floor space.

When you remove the grinder there is nothing holding the two halves of the tubular stand together except the pipe joint. So at least it's easy for me to store the two (four halves) stacked until I decide what to do with them.

 

[pharmerphil]

I found this for $30.00, I added the motor, and paint. I have a wood lathe on a pedestal stand, 10" table saw on a pedestal stand, and shaper on a pedestal stand, photos to come.

 

[Hoorn]

I found this for $30.00, I added the motor, and paint. I have a wood lathe on a pedestal stand, 10" table saw on a pedestal stand, and shaper on a pedestal stand, photos to come.

Awesome find. I love that short lived Craftsman logo also. How many pedestals do you have in total?

 

[PacificaVette]

Bump this thread to generate replies...

Has anyone found a good rattle can match for the original bluish-gray paint on these pedestals? I have one that badly needs restoration. The guy I bought it from had it outside, and it shows.

 

[Beamer814]

So I’ve been lurking the forums for some years ever since the gentleman with the Black Porsche and green tool box restoration popped up in another forum. But I’d like to see where this thread goes currently I have the grinder/ bandsaw/ table saw/ 6 inch planer/ shaper all with cast iron bases. I believe the two rarest bases that I’m still looking for are the belt/disc sander and the wood turning lathe. Seems that with the grinder bases in hand and sacrificing another planer though the lathe could be cobbled together. So the real search is the sander nice to see they actually exist. Keep posting photos guys give me encouragement in my searches

 

[CKS1955]

S...I have the grinder/ bandsaw/ table saw/ 6 inch planer/ shaper all with cast iron bases. I believe the two rarest bases that I’m still looking for are the belt/disc sander and the wood turning lathe...

Good Evening,
Probably one of the rarest pedestal bases is the 6" (alien) Hand-Feed Planer. The rarest is the pedestal stand listed in the 1955 catalog for 6" belt/disc sander, this stand was only available for this catalog as the 6" belt/disc sander was redesigned in the 1956 catalog along with a new pedestal stand.

Jay

 

[pdubss]

Was browsing fb and saw this limited edition inverted cm pedestal



Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Beamer814]

Well I got lucky for a change and picked up the wood lathe with matching base original owners manual and full knife set with the plastic tip covers still on and it was only ten minutes from home. Hope everyone else has had some good finds

 

[Nutria]

Is this something that was sold by Sears/Craftsman? It is a perfect fit for mounting the grinder, and adjustable for other type tools. It's lightweight but wide stance and take a lot of room compared to a pedestal.

Damon, I used to have a tubular stand like that. You're right-- it did take up a lot of space. Stable though.

I do have one Craftsman pedestal now. I went to look at a grinder, which didn't start when the owner tried to start it. The fellow said, "just get that thing out of here, please, stand and all." Deal. The grinder now works.

 

[mcmlvif100]

Not mine and no affiliation.

Post is relevant because the shaper, jointer and disc / belt sander ALL have Craftsman pedestals.

various wood working tools (Holly) -- CL detroit metro > oakland co > for sale > tools - by owner​

https://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/tls/d/holly-various-wood-working-tools/7327115618.html

have a wood shaper, wood planer, sander and band saw all dated to around 1960 they are craftsman tools have blades for the band saw and a few bits for the shaper make offer on one or all

 

[Nutria]

Post is relevant because the shaper, jointer and disc / belt sander ALL have Craftsman pedestals.

That is a nice collection. Thanks for posting.

 

[HomeOwners Garage]

Pedestal stand article is great, I now have seven tools with pedestals, took a while to collect. All from earlier release except shaper, which is power Bronze with King Sealy part number. In my collection I paint the stands a shiny black with tools charcoal gray.

 

[Maui]

Has anybody seen the double pedestal stands for sale in your area? I sold one a while back and there was almost no interest after sitting for two weeks on Craigslist. I only got one call and sold it for $100.

Maui

 

[Hoorn]

Drove home with this gem for $30. Owner gave me his address, to a side access road then added, "I'm at Gumby, not Pokey"..

 

[CKS1955]

That’s a really good price.

Jay

 

[Tom Graham]

Any idea where to source the 2-3/4“ column that these use? I’ve been searching all day today without success.

 

[1982fxr]

There are two styles of motor mounts. The earlier version is cast iron and the later is pressed steel. If catalog renderings are correct, the switch to the pressed-steel version occurred in 1959, or more likely in 1958, but there is no '58 power tool catalog to confirm.

Cast Iron

​

Pressed Steel

I don't have any photos of the pressed steel motor mount, but below are illustrations from the instruction sheet for a jointer pedestal.

So for instance on the bench grinder stands, some of these has a pressed steel top piece? I've never seen one of those...

 

[Cruzan80]

No, Frank is referring to the motor mount for other power tools, that had a stand-alone motor. Some were cast iron attached to the side of the column, and some were pressed steel. All the grinder pedestals have a cast top stand.

 

[FrankLee]

So for instance on the bench grinder stands, some of these has a pressed steel top piece? I've never seen one of those...

No, Frank is referring to the motor mount for other power tools, that had a stand-alone motor. Some were cast iron attached to the side of the column, and some were pressed steel. All the grinder pedestals have a cast top stand.

Correct. Motor mounts, not tool mounts.

 

[Tom Graham]

Any idea where to source the 2-3/4“ column that these use? I’ve been searching all day today without success.

I’ll answer my own question here for the benefit of all:

The 2.75” OD (2-3/4 inch) round steel tube most commonly used on all these pedestal stands may presently be ordered in 30” length (and other lengths) via Amazon.*
(https://a.co/d/4ysuVIt)

I became educated that this thin-walled tube is most commonly referred to as “2-3/4 inch OD round tube DOM” (Drawn over mandrel) (or “Mild Steel.”) Technically, it is not pipe, but “HSS” (hollow structural section) which may be round, square, rectangular, etc, and is designed specifically for structural applications in the construction industry.

(*Or from local or online steel distributors once I knew how to better describe what I needed.)

 

[FrankLee]

Any idea where to source the 2-3/4“ column that these use? I’ve been searching all day today without success.

I’ll answer my own question here for the benefit of all:

The 2.75” OD (2-3/4 inch) round steel tube most commonly used on all these pedestal stands may presently be ordered in 30” length (and other lengths) via Amazon.*
(https://a.co/d/4ysuVIt)

I became educated that this thin-walled tube is most commonly referred to as “2-3/4 inch OD round tube DOM” (Drawn over mandrel) (or “Mild Steel.”) Technically, it is not pipe, but “HSS” (hollow structural section) which may be round, square, rectangular, etc, and is designed specifically for structural applications in the construction industry.

(*Or from local or online steel distributors once I knew how to better describe what I needed.)

IIRC, quite a while back, I tried to insert a 2-3/4" drill press column into a pedestal base. It didn't fit.

Regarding drill press columns, rarely does 2-3/4" equal 2.7500". Craftsman's 2-3/4" columns are the smallest I've come across. The eight drill press columns I measured varied between 2.3785" 2.7385" and 2.7435". I would expect pedestal columns to be similar.

Measure twice, buy once.

 

[Tom Graham]

snip…The eight drill press columns I measured varied between 2.3785" and 2.7435". I would expect pedestal columns to be similar.

Measure twice, buy once.

Thanks for this word of warning.

Having first discovered this thread yesterday, I had been happy to find that your table (linked) showed almost all columns had the same OD. (2-3/4”). I know that tolerances in cast aren’t precise, but it’s still surprising that you recall almost 3/8“ variance (13%) of your columns’ OD in that sample size.

Before purchasing a (substitute) column, I will re-measure both “bore“ (casting) holes for the column in the base and in the top plate.

I had closely made multiple measurements of the OD of both ends of another column and confirmed their fit into the base (which is missing a column. But you’re right, measure twice…

And I would still love to know whether anyone has an alternative source for a column replacement other than what I’ve found. (Apparently a porch pirate visited my eBay seller but took only 1 of 2 parcels.)

 

[FrankLee]

I know that tolerances in cast aren’t precise, but it’s still surprising that you recall almost 3/8“ variance (13%) of your columns’ OD in that sample size.

My apologies. I transposed a couple numbers there. My measurements were between 2.7385” and 2.7435”.

 

[Provincial]

It would make sense that the manufacturer (supplier to Craftsman) would buy 2-3/4" tubing which has fairly loose tolerances for outside diameter and roundness, then have it ground far enough undersize to make it perfectly round. The .004" variation in diameter is pretty wide, but nothing was a press fit, and the table clamp wouldn't even notice.

 

[FrankLee]

As someone that likes Craftsman stuff quite a bit, for some reason the pedestal stands have never been much of an attraction to me.
......
I doubt I would pass on one that was fairly priced.

Until a few days ago, this thread had been dormant for four years. Even though I’m the OP, I agree with subroc's comments. I am not really a fan of any Craftsman pedestal stand, especially the grinder stands. But because they are so popular, I do buy grinder stands to flip.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-wheres-the-love.339921/page-11#post-10940138

I feel the grinder stand base is way too small and way to unsteady. I've seen too many wheel guards broken presumably because the stands were not bolted down and they fell over.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum...-wheres-the-love.339921/page-11#post-10952899


There is an "interesting" discussion on the WW Machines site regarding the use of ball casters on the grinder stands.

 

[Provincial]

I have a home-made cart with casters (a garage sale find) that mounts two bench grinders (a 6" and an 8") back-to-back on the top. It is 17" wide and 23" deep, which means that the top extends out past the grinding wheels and limits access to some extent. Not enough to be a problem. The 6" has a wire wheel on the left side, and is offset slightly to put that wheel slightly inboard of the table top. It works pretty well.

The stand is actually very stable, and even without locking the casters will not move around. From this I feel that a grinder base should be somewhat wider than the grinder overall width, and at least the same distance front-to-back. This also assumes a low center of gravity for the base.

 

[Tom Graham]

(Snip)...
These originally came in the Craftsman blue-grey color, then most were power bronze and finally black.

What spraypaint colors have you found that most closely resemble the original for these three? I have one soaking in Simple Green now. I’m going to paint one black but another grey.

And has it been determined which color is period correct for approximately which years?