let's see your craftsman block grinders

[ShadowRuleZ]

I'm not a collector. I have two block grinders but i use them every day and they look horrible.

I'll auction this on eBay, starting at $0.99 and run it a week.

They usually do pretty well. Here's my last one;

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=390791611412

Damn, makes me wish I didn't sell my last 1/3 on CL for $50. Guess where the next one I find is getting sold!

 

[SwampCat]

today i picked up a 1/2 hp craftsman grinder 397.19441. i got it at my local pawn shop for $70 it runs and looks like new been taken care very well. i looked on the bottom for a date code it showed 6160A. is there a way i can decode it?

Anyone figure out this date code ? The grinder I just got is the same mod.#, date code 6133A. It must be some mutant love child, its not a commercial or a industrial, but it has the rear exhaust. 7" wheels to boot. Turns out the weird noise it made on shut off was a out of balance wire wheel that was on it. along with the like new original 7" stone. After I tore it down to check the bearings, I find it has SKF 6203 in it. Came with a light and 1 eye shield, no quench tray and no rubber feet, gave 35 stones for it.

 

[drivesitfar]

Swamp cat: since you mentioned stones are you in the US or another country? can you post up the pictures again and that might help the other experts? is 35 stones the same as 35 bones, 35 beans, or 35 greenbacks?

cheers and sounds like you have a good one.

 

[msgtsmithret]

Here is a nearly finished rebuild of a 1971 blockhead. I bought it in a box for $10 and it "didn't work" according to the seller. It was filthy and in pieces . A lot of cleaning and a little painting plugged in the yellow wire that was disconnected and viola! Works great!

 

[torqueman2002]

Thanks everybody.

The textured brown finish on the cast iron is original from Craftsman and has only been cleaned up. I did refinish the center band and the eye guard frames with Krylon Caramel Latte' Brushed Metallic (Honest, that's the paint's name.) It's an extremely close match to the original. It was clean when I got it but I like them to look very nice in photos for eBay and painting those things makes a huge difference. Sorry, no idea on the history. Found it at the antique mall.

Feel free to use these photos anywhere you like. These things are only in my possession for a week or so tops.

Here's a close up of the tag.

.

Thank you.

"Caramel Latte' Brushed Metallic"

 

[Outlawmws]

Here is a nearly finished rebuild of a 1971 blockhead. I bought it in a box for $10 and it "didn't work" according to the seller. It was filthy and in pieces . A lot of cleaning and a little painting plugged in the yellow wire that was disconnected and viola! Works great!

Msgt; your pic went missing...

 

[msgtsmithret]

Outlaw: I have the worst time with the bits and bytes. Anyway . . . still need to make a spark arrestor and 2 eye shields, and would like to find a quenching tray. I also have some detail painting to add. FUN PROJECT though.

 

[jakemac]

Quench Tray

http://www.ereplacementparts.com/quench-tray-p-972856.html

 

[msgtsmithret]

Cool Jake Thanks!

 

[torqueman2002]

I sighted the 'white whale', yesterday.

I called, but the mail box was full.

I will have this white devil, by GOD.

 

[ShadowRuleZ]

You need a 1/3 or you want one with a brake?

 

[nine4gmc]

I have a few 1/3 but none with a brake, my white whale is a 1hp...

 

[drivesitfar]

tourque: your white whale is a 1/3 split phase?

Nine: I agree with you that my white whale is also a 1 HP and was specifically one with a big letter "M" on it and two nice new wire wheels until i found out it was a gift to his son. now the search continues.

MSG: $10 and a little magic gave you that block. very nice

 

[torqueman2002]

It's the one with the BRAKE that haunts my dreams! The white devil it IS!

I have heard tales of it on other sites, I've seen a picture but it was said to not work and the owner was asking for help.

He has apeared on 3 or 4 forums, then he gets banned (the owner of the Block Grinder with a Brake) or he simply goes away.

I recall someone posting a picture of the devil on this very site.

Some say I am mad! But, I tell you, it exists! And I will have ONE! 1/3 HP, 1/2 HP - I don't care. I must know how it works.

If I had this gold piece, I would offer it to the first mate on this ship to alert me to the White Devil!

 

[madoc1]

Nice shape for a 1960 block. This is just a 1/4 HP but wow, it's really heavy. I haven't weighed it yet but I bet it's over 40 pounds. Heavier than the size-relative newer ones I've seen. Runs great. Glass is cracked but that's about it. I don't see a lot of this specific model with the lamp, most were shipped without so that's a plus.

.

that lamp on your 115 is neat.. sure mine had one. nice job on the clean up. jim

 

[torqueman2002]

Here [a thread on GJ] ---> http://tinyurl.com/CM-397-19410-Brake-White-Whale

 

[drivesitfar]

Tourque: thanks for the link and wish i had more time now to read through it on the tear down of your split phase block with the brake option. will do later and thanks again for sharing all your talent with us.

now i was thinking since i saw both your stones didn't pass the ring test. what about putting them in the oven on low heat if you think they might have been in the weather or unheated areas? do you think that might draw out the moisture if that is the issue and there are no visible cracks or flaws that we can see? I'd hate to see a bunch of grinding wheels hit the trash if there is another process to save them.

i also read in your thread on the other Forum that you are thinking of selling one or more of your Blocks. can that be true? with your talent the people buying one that you have got your hands on will be very lucky. it happens we can't keep all our stuff so therapy on the thread is available if needed.

good luck with that restore and are you going to make a thread for GJ or just one on the other Forum?

 

[compaddict]

Looking for a replacement left tool holder for 397.19580.

 

[torqueman2002]

My replies/answers in Blue.

Tourque: thanks for the link and wish i had more time now to read through it on the tear down of your split phase block with the brake option. will do later and thanks again for sharing all your talent with us. You bet. From the 1st documented restore I read, I thought it was a good idea to share and document for others and my own reference.

now i was thinking since i saw both your stones didn't pass the ring test. what about putting them in the oven on low heat if you think they might have been in the weather or unheated areas? do you think that might draw out the moisture if that is the issue and there are no visible cracks or flaws that we can see? I'd hate to see a bunch of grinding wheels hit the trash if there is another process to save them. That's an idea, but IIRC, the moisture breaks down the binding material with which the stone is made. In this particular case, I didn't see any moisture evidence, just the Kroil stain. I wonder if the metal center kept it from passing the 'ring test'.

i also read in your thread on the other Forum that you are thinking of selling one or more of your Blocks. can that be true? Yes. I'm inventorying them now, with all the bits 'n pieces. Next step is to choose which ones to part with. Probably the unrestored/unmolested ones. Or, if I was to be persuaded ($$) I could offer a restored option. with your talent the people buying one that you have got your hands on will be very lucky. it happens we can't keep all our stuff so therapy on the thread is available if needed. I know my family wants me to get help. That's why I visit this forum & thread.

good luck with that restore and are you going to make a thread for GJ or just one on the other Forum? New GJ thread started, see above post #1382.

 

[torqueman2002]

Looking for a replacement left tool holder for 397.19580.

Have you looked on? --> http://www.ereplacementparts.com/

 

[drivesitfar]

Tourque:thanks for filling in the questions and in "Blue" which i'm not quite sure how you did that. great answers and here's a thought.

i'm pretty sure you know how to restore a block grinder. yes?

i'm also pretty sure if you still have your first grinder and haven't sold any of the ones you have bought that you might have a few on the shelf. yes?

restoring a grinder still gives you some satisfaction. yes?

would setting up a bunch of grinders with different wheels and turning out some awesome very shiny items still give you the same satisfaction?

if it might then I bet if after you get done restoring the "white whale" that if you set up your garage/shop to shine up something for Mrs. Tourqueman and your kids they would get to see why you own so many grinders. then you can sell a "block" to those that need one if you chose to without any pressure. or just keep on the shelf to keep that smile on your face when you look over at them.

Brent showed a pretty good way to set up 4 and CB is working on a plan to set up 5 or 6 with all different wheels and i bet yours would be as awesome. another idea is to set the grinders up with all different wheels and set on a shelf an pull the one down you need to use if space is limited.

i'm just doing the therapy part of GJ for you because you have been one of the main reasons i even bought a block grinder with all your help and knowledge.

i know you are trying to get the Block buffer option figured out, so after you finish that i bet you can shine up something or tune something up for the Mrs. and make her smile as much as you do with your blocks.

good luck and thanks again for all your wisdom

 

[compaddict]

I did. Nothing under 397.19580.

Have you looked on? --> http://www.ereplacementparts.com/

 

[softailgarage]

Moby **** & Craftsman Bench Grinders, call me Ishmael, but I don't get the connection

 

[jakemac]

I did. Nothing under 397.19580.

Here's the link for your grinder at searspartsdirect, but the tool holder is discontinued.

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/part-model/Craftsman-Parts/All-Products-Parts/Model-39719580/0247/0721000/00021621/00001?blt=06&prst=0&shdMod=39719580


In case you don't have it yet, here is the manual for that model.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs/detail.aspx?id=2202

Sometimes looking for other similar model numbers can turn up the parts you need. Try rooting around the sears site or ereplacemantparts.

 

[drivesitfar]

Two members on GJ saw a Craigslist ad selling a split phase block like Tourque has apart and restoring on another thread. i'd never heard of a "brake" option before a couple days ago and wondering what advantage there is to having one on a grinder.

anybody know??

 

[Outlawmws]

That is the "modern Safety feature" the stops the spinning shortly after shutdown. because it so easy for the Darwin award candidates among us to hurt themselves when it takes minutes to spin the tool down...

 

[torqueman2002]

Moby **** & Craftsman Bench Grinders, call me Ishmael, but I don't get the connection

STail,

Someone asked why I kept collecting so many grinders.

I can only offer up that it was {is still?} a quest for a grinder that haunted, nay mocked and evaded me.

As Captin Ahab searched for his White Whale - Moby ****; I searched {still search?} for the quietly rumored Block grinder with a Brake.

I have heard of another near Chi-town. How many can there be! Damn it!

 

[UIUC-Mech-E]

Ok torqueman, you are at least partly to blame for this. One of your white whales followed me home tonight.
.

. At least I'll have a nice detailed guide to use when I take it apart for its first checkup.


(Insert catchy saying here)

 

[torqueman2002]

UIUC ...

Nice catch.

Looks complete and well cared for.

I'm waiting for bearings. In the mean time, I've cleaned it up and will remove the rust and decide if it needs a complete paint removal too.

Still wondering about paint scheme.

Again, nice catch.

 

[UIUC-Mech-E]

Thanks!

This is indeed the one near Chi town.

The previous owner said it had belonged to his father who was a machinist for International Harvester. Only thing missing so far is one of the rubber feet. I'll just do some safety checks then probably keep it in this condition rather than repaint.

Cheers


(Insert catchy saying here)

 

[drivesitfar]

UIUC: I'm surprised you still were able to get the seller to hold that for you for a few days because i saw you posted it on Tourque's rebuild thread and at least one other GJ member mentioned it. that was several days ago.

you had a great seller and looks like a great score.

so far the best answer I've heard about this "BRAKE" block grinder is to prevent the Darwin award winners. is it really that important to have the wheels stop quickly?

maybe if somehow you got a piece stuck the brake could be used to shut it down "NOW"?

anyway good find.

 

[UIUC-Mech-E]

You and me both. He wasn't really that worried about the money though, he was just finding a home for it. Very nice guy.
The brake isn't instant. It just gives you rapid deceleration. To my mind it's mostly so you don't have a spinning grinder nearby when you move on to the next task.


(Insert catchy saying here)

 

[UIUC-Mech-E]

:delete double post:

 

[organ]

Is it just me or does anyone else not like to restart a grinder while it's still spinning down from the last use? Once you shut one of these block grinders down, it's a 2-3 minute wait so maybe that's a good use for the brake.

Could one of you post a video of the brake in action? There's a dearth of block grinder videos on youtube.

 

[torqueman2002]

... so far the best answer I've heard about this "BRAKE" block grinder is to prevent the Darwin award winners. is it really that important to have the wheels stop quickly?

maybe if somehow you got a piece stuck the brake could be used to shut it down "NOW"? ...

Truthfully, I don't know what the advantage is either.

I wanted one to see how it worked.

I haven't seen another brand use this feature.

 

[organ]

A nice, complete 3/4 on ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sears-Craft...rinder-WORKS-GREAT-ball-bearing-/171302042422

My max bid has been surpassed, maybe someone here's willing to pay more.

 

[Mavawreck]

I passed on a 1/2hp craftsman commercial badged grinder with a light for $55.00 this morning. Lack of space. Its at the New Castle DE flea market on a homemade pedestal if anyone is interested/local.

 

[cagullett1]

I passed on a 1/2hp craftsman commercial badged grinder with a light for $55.00 this morning. Lack of space. Its at the New Castle DE flea market on a homemade pedestal if anyone is interested/local.

I would have paid shipping plus a little extra for your time! I can't ever seem to find these grinders anywhere.

 

[drivesitfar]

Cag: i'm still on the lookout for one for you and been slim pickings here too. Maybe Tourque will sell his first one ever to a nice guy in Texas? don't beg because he is still in therapy and in the middle of restoring his white whale.

after that who knows he just might and then begging allowed.

good luck

 

[Outlawmws]

Truthfully, I don't know what the advantage is either.

I wanted one to see how it worked.

I haven't seen another brand use this feature.

Almost all modern power tools esp the breeds of saws that sue circular blade have them. All it take sis one lawsuit and the lawyers tell the engineers to "fix it!"

There should be a "Darwin" law exempting lawsuits by people with a death-wish... 'cause if they didn't maim/kill themselves one way, the damn fools would probably find another way to manage it.