let's see your craftsman block grinders

[torqueman2002]

you ****!

+1

That's what keeps me looking, even though I have more than I can use.

 

[torqueman2002]

Those are some great looking grinders Torqueman! I don't see them for sale around here very often. They probably get snatched quickly after posting. And I would post one if I had one.

Thanks,
Steve

Hey Steve,

Thanks, I think I've found a little niche. These are easy to work on, and bearings, wheels/stones, caps, etc ... are still available.

This area, metro Detroit, seems to have a steady supply of used ones in all kinds of conditions - gently used to greatly ab-used.

Mike

 

[tinbender 66]

I got this one in 2003 after my Dad passed away. I do have the guards for it but usually have them off.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Wouldn't move on price but I got two sets of license plates thrown in.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Here's another style that I've never seen before, but it has the right prefix.

http://kalamazoo.craigslist.org/tls/3194777921.html

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Found it at an estate sale and it looked lonely.

It's interesting that the amperage is different between this 1/2 and the newer 1/2 that I picked up. Any thoughts on the ratings?

 

[bczygan]

Wouldn't move on price but I got two sets of license plates thrown in.

Did you get it for the $50 or did he want the full $65?

BTW, Either way, it's a nice one with the tray. Glad someone on the group got it. Your first?

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Did you get it for the $50 or did he want the full $65?

BTW, Either way, it's a nice one with the tray. Glad someone on the group got it. Your first?

Fifty and he threw in the two sets of plates (one plate of each set was brand new). I had no idea what was going on since I was told it was sold and such, but he e-mailed me back late on Sunday and I stopped by on my way back from Grand Rapids and picked it up.

It's actually my second. I looked for like three or four months and didn't get to anything in time, and in the past week I've picked up a 1/3 round top from craigslist, this 1/2 one, and a 1/2 round top from an estate sale today. I'm done actively looking for these

 

[fflintstone]

I am still actively looking for a round top ¾ or 1 HP. I am selling my Baldor to my BFF so I can buy another block grinder.
All mine have come out of the metro detroit area. They never show up on the saginaw CL. Right now some ****** is trying to sell a HF grinder for $100!!!

 

[toomanytoyzz]

Just stumbled on this today on CL. Even if it has to be shipped still worth grabbing.
http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/3233629625.html

 

[todlerboyd]

Hello All, New guy here. I have a 1/2 hp block grinder that I stripped down and use it for a buffer. Almost tossed these parts until I saw this thread. So if anyone wants these PM me. I will sell them for $15 plus you pay the actual shipping.Both guards with shields,rests,spark catchers? and the manual. Also the original wheels 60 gritt. I dont want any handling charges you just pay the shipping and mail me 15.00 when you get the parts.I will take these apart so they will fit in a smaller box if you want me to.
Thanks I love my 1/2 hp can't bog the sucker down. It replaced a 1/2 hp chinaman special and it sucked>
<a href="http://s208.photobucket.com/albums/bb22/todlerboyd/?action=view&current=Grinderparts.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb22/todlerboyd/Grinderparts.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Garyss.smith]

PM Sent!

 

[todlerboyd]

Gary, Got the PM. Sent a reply. Thanks
Thanks everyone the parts are on the way to Gary!

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Here's one at an estate sale: http://pictures.estatesales.net/3071/332166/6022357.jpg?634817161335370000

http://www.estatesales.net/estate-sales/332166.aspx

I'll be checking out the sale, but I'm not interested in another grinder.

 

[drb007]

I have been collecting bigger Baldor grinders, but I found this one on CL a while a go. The price kept dropping, and I had done some reading on the Block grinders on this site, so I became pretty interested. It's only a 1/3 hp, but it is very smooth and very quiet. Got it from the original owner's granddaughter. I had want to restore one, but this one is too nice to repaint...just dirty. When I get a minute I will clean it well and post better pictures. Picked it up for $70.

and the model number begins with 397...!

From what I can tell it dates to 1966.

 

[Kaervak]

I have been collecting bigger Baldor grinders, but I found this one on CL a while a go. The price kept dropping, and I had done some reading on the Block grinders on this site, so I became pretty interested. It's only a 1/3 hp, but it is very smooth and very quiet. Got it from the original owner's granddaughter. I had want to restore one, but this one is too nice to repaint...just dirty. When I get a minute I will clean it well and post better pictures. Picked it up for $70.

and the model number begins with 397...!

From what I can tell it dates to 1966.

If you take it off the base the date will be stamped on the bottom plate. I have the same model grinder and it's build date is September of 1963.

 

[fflintstone]

picked this one up today for a freind.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I didn’t try to haggle, 81 year old guy dying of throat cancer. Just about everything in the shop was for sale but I didn’t need any of it. all of it seemed priced at the high end of fair, but nothing I don’t already have 2 of.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

Nice find. I think you have same car as me

 

[fflintstone]

Nice find. I think you have same car as me

Thanks, Vigilance on CL is the best way to get good stuff.

I doubt it on the car, but I’ll bite, what do you drive?

 

[M. Blue 240]

For the third time I was "this close" to getting a block grinder from the 60's and it sold before I could go pick it up. This one looked to be in nice shape and they only wanted $35. I was set to pick it up the next day, but someone showed up a day before me...the search continues.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

I doubt it on the car, but I’ll bite, what do you drive?

At least if that's your car in the picture. I've got a Pontiac Vibe, a.k.a Toyota Matrix, a.k.a. Toyota Corolla.

For the third time I was "this close" to getting a block grinder from the 60's and it sold before I could go pick it up. This one looked to be in nice shape and they only wanted $35. I was set to pick it up the next day, but someone showed up a day before me...the search continues.

It was like that for me for about four months (at least they went to other guys on this forum), but in the space of one week I managed to get three.

 

[fflintstone]

For the third time I was "this close" to getting a block grinder from the 60's and it sold before I could go pick it up. This one looked to be in nice shape and they only wanted $35. I was set to pick it up the next day, but someone showed up a day before me...the search continues.

keep looking, they pop up

At least if that's your car in the picture. I've got a Pontiac Vibe, a.k.a Toyota Matrix, a.k.a. Toyota Corolla.

If you said vibe GT I would say close enough. I do have a matrix XRS (vibe GT). For all purpose the trunks are the same. I find very few vibe owners and fewer still matrix owners. IMO the GT/XRS are pretty different from the regular models. Something about that 8,200 RPM redline and 6 speed trans…..

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

If you said vibe GT I would say close enough. I do have a matrix XRS (vibe GT). For all purpose the trunks are the same. I find very few vibe owners and fewer still matrix owners. IMO the GT/XRS are pretty different from the regular models. Something about that 8,200 RPM redline and 6 speed trans…..

Didn't get a choice, she got a new car and I got her old one and sold my A4 Avant MonkeyWrench Racing over here does a lot with the 2ZZ, he's got a pretty crazy MR2 and Celica.

And to add in something about the block grinders so I stay on topic, what's your favorite stand? I think Sears sold one that went with the grinders. I've been thinking of getting a 40" rolling tool box to mount my two on so I can wheel them outside easily.

 

[allinon72]

Add me to the list as of today!

Popped up on Craigslist. We agreed on $75 but I gave him $80 because of the condition. The thing is whisper quiet.

 

[fflintstone]

Didn't get a choice, she got a new car and I got her old one and sold my A4 Avant MonkeyWrench Racing over here does a lot with the 2ZZ, he's got a pretty crazy MR2 and Celica.

And to add in something about the block grinders so I stay on topic, what's your favorite stand? I think Sears sold one that went with the grinders. I've been thinking of getting a 40" rolling tool box to mount my two on so I can wheel them outside easily.

Only one of mine came with a stand. I ASSuME it is a sears stand. I will be putting 4 bench grinders on one cart. I will have a central power strip. I will have one for wire wheeling one for polishing and two with 4 different grit wheels. The cart will be on caster so I can move it outside to grind in good weather.
When my shop is operational I am going to TRY to keep it much cleaner than I have in the past.

 

[Dale B]

I picked up a 3/4 hp Comm'l model this weekend , same as seen in post # 5 , in poor shape but it runs and the bearings are good ! Needs a paint resto and a new plug. But the question is , did that model have a removable tray , ? I'm asking because there are 2 - 3/8 drilled in the cooling tray . Or did it have rubber plugs in those holes ? or no stock holes at all ??

 

[azcactus]

Mines not in amazing condition or anything, but I bought it from a nice lady who's father passed away. Kind of hard to explain, but I feel good about keeping it in service I guess you would say.

By the way allinon72, nice score!

 

[chris30066]

I have come to really appreciate the quality of old block grinders. I started looking for one a few months ago, and have rounded out my collection to one 1/2 hp grinder with stand, one 1/3 hp with broken eye shields and one 1/3 hp grinder with shields. I plan to leave the 1/2 hp with grinding stones, but change out one of the 1/3 hp to buffing wheels and the other 1/3 hp to wire wheels only. I spent a total of $135 for all of these grinders and I think I can now officially stop looking for them Although... If a 1 HP one shows up at a garage sale for a good price, I'd probably pick it up.

 

[badgcoupe]

I just picked this up today for $40. Wiring looks relatively new, I couldn't decipher the code on the bottom(1975 maybe?), runs great, is missing the eye shields, and one rubber foot, but has that little tray. Probably the quietest grinder I've ever barely heard.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

the code on the bottom(1975 maybe?)

I went back out to mine after every said theirs was stamped on the bottom plate and mine did have a ink code with the a month/year on it (not encoded). It was really faint though.

 

[badgcoupe]

Picked up another one today. A 3/4 horse commercial beast. Going to clean it up a bit and probably put it up on the selling block if anyone is interested. I'm happy with 1/3 horse I got. Date at the bottom shows it was made in 1975.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

How many amps does the 3/4 use?

 

[enrare]

I picked up a 1/2 hp model #397.19340 from Craigs list last weekend. Where do you guys get parts for these old grinders. The online Sears replacement parts site does not show any parts and the online chat operator said no parts are available.

 

[allinon72]

I picked up a 1/2 hp model #397.19340 from Craigs list last weekend. Where do you guys get parts for these old grinders. The online Sears replacement parts site does not show any parts and the online chat operator said no parts are available.

Might be easier to find another one for parts.

 

[Southern]

********, Allinon. You did good.

 

[badgcoupe]

Here's a little peek at my restore on a 1/3 horse.

before:


In progress:

 

[87Pomona]

Here's a little peek at my restore on a 1/3 horse.

before:


In progress:

What Red is that? Also, what brand paint did you use?

 

[badgcoupe]

For the paint I used this:


Followed by a bunch of coats of clear enamel spray. Primed everything as well as getting everything down to bare metal.

For the hammered paint I used;

 

[87Pomona]

For the paint I used this:


Followed by a bunch of coats of clear enamel spray. Primed everything as well as getting everything down to bare metal.

For the hammered paint I used;

Thanks!

That color combo looks really good. I picked up a 1/3 hp craftsman grinder yesterday and will be restoring it soon so I'm looking at some colors.

 

[spencnor]

Here's one I found on Craigslist last week for $60. - beginners luck. I didn't know anything about Craftsman block grinders until I joined this site recently. It's an 8", 3/4 HP commercial model with stand, #397-19451. It's only missing one eye shield and it runs smooth and quiet. It needs a new wire wheel and I'm shopping for a medium grit white grinding wheel.