let's see your craftsman block grinders
- Thread starter emeraldcoupe
- Start date
rickhigginshtbr
Well-known member
Those dust shoot's look freaking awesome!
fflintstone
Well-known member
are you keeping the plastic lampshade or the whole lamp? I would enjoy a lamp sans the plastic shade. heck the only one I have with the cover has a big chunk out of it.
don't hold your breath but my friend is going to cast the water trays out of aluminum when he ever gets a forge going.
don't hold your breath but my friend is going to cast the water trays out of aluminum when he ever gets a forge going.
bisley45
Well-known member
mcmlvif100
Well-known member
Nice first grinder, especially with the Craftsman pedestal.
fflintstone
Well-known member
nice score!
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Nice grinder and stand. What HP and model?
But, ....
"... hell its my first grinder at all ..."
What is that I spy behind the CM Block grinder, a home made grinder, wire wheeler, and buffer?
That's OK, you're among friends here. I'd venture a guess most are multi-grinderists!
But, ....
"... hell its my first grinder at all ..."
What is that I spy behind the CM Block grinder, a home made grinder, wire wheeler, and buffer?
That's OK, you're among friends here. I'd venture a guess most are multi-grinderists!
torqueman2002
Well-known member
You probably know to wear safety glasses when using this guy.
Heck, these things have been known to come apart, I stand to the side and use factory eye shields and a full face shield.
I probably have an extra pair of factory eye shields that fit your machine, I/M me with measurements if you are interested.
Heck, these things have been known to come apart, I stand to the side and use factory eye shields and a full face shield.
I probably have an extra pair of factory eye shields that fit your machine, I/M me with measurements if you are interested.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
That's the first Delco Block Grinder I've seen, cool!
Can you post some more pictures, including the label? I'd like to see the model #, etc ...
Can you post some more pictures, including the label? I'd like to see the model #, etc ...
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bisley45
Well-known member
Nice grinder and stand. What HP and model?
But, ....
"... hell its my first grinder at all ..."
What is that I spy behind the CM Block grinder, a home made grinder, wire wheeler, and buffer?
That's OK, you're among friends here. I'd venture a guess most are multi-grinderists!
I got that thing about a year ago it is a home made buffer. does a purty good job but not much rpms.
It is model # 397.19430 1/2 hp
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
Man that is nice, and the color! Looks like original paint too. Is it?
Have you bee over to OWWM.com ? (Old Wood Working Machines) Their site has MFG info. with model numbers and mfg. dates.
IIR Delco was a supplier to Sears for the Block grinders, this sure looks like the spitting image of CM Block grinders.
There's a lot of family history there, makes it all the better.
I have a small handful of my dad's and his dad's Craftsman tools. They are retired wall hangers now.
Have you bee over to OWWM.com ? (Old Wood Working Machines) Their site has MFG info. with model numbers and mfg. dates.
IIR Delco was a supplier to Sears for the Block grinders, this sure looks like the spitting image of CM Block grinders.
There's a lot of family history there, makes it all the better.
I have a small handful of my dad's and his dad's Craftsman tools. They are retired wall hangers now.
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
That home made buffer should be good for low speed buffing, I don't know much about actual buffing. That's the next endeavor - turning a block grinder into a buffer with arbor extensions.
BTW - welcome to the Block grinder crowd. What prompted you to get one of these commonly over looked machines?
anyone have any info on the arbors needed or pics with this mod?
Yeah the Delco has original paint my uncle mike kept things very nice. Most all the tools they had came from sears so he must have figured out that Delco made the grinders for sears and the funny thing is that my uncle mike was known for cutting grounds off power tools but on this one he put an adapter on the plug so you could put a ground directly from the plug on the outlet.
Caswell plating has the adapters among other places
http://www.caswellplating.com/buffing-polishing.html
torqueman2002
Well-known member
A recent thread posted another source. I'll measure up what I need and then order at one of the sites.
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=3218998#post3218998
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Mickey O
Well-known member
I have a few of those block grinders, they seem to multiply. Picked 3 keepers, the rest will hit craig's list.
I like those better, they thread on, not just a set screw. Gracias!
Cranehead
Member
Becoming a Blockhead:
All the parts are there- model 397.19580 from 1964. It came out of an old gents attic, his grandson was selling it on CL. He had been a lathe operator at a local shipyard and made jewelry at home. I include the carpet that was on the bottom of the grinder- it shows its vintage. What made me drive across town in rush hour traffic though was the extras:
All manner of buffing and grinding wheels and compound. Lots of sanding disks and emory paper too.
The grinder never was fitted with the light. The hole was never punched out for it or the water tray. Has anyone retrofit a light to one of these?
Seeing the beautiful restorations of these makes me want to do the same, but since its running smooth I'll just put it to work.
tc
All the parts are there- model 397.19580 from 1964. It came out of an old gents attic, his grandson was selling it on CL. He had been a lathe operator at a local shipyard and made jewelry at home. I include the carpet that was on the bottom of the grinder- it shows its vintage. What made me drive across town in rush hour traffic though was the extras:
All manner of buffing and grinding wheels and compound. Lots of sanding disks and emory paper too.
The grinder never was fitted with the light. The hole was never punched out for it or the water tray. Has anyone retrofit a light to one of these?
Seeing the beautiful restorations of these makes me want to do the same, but since its running smooth I'll just put it to work.
tc
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
Congratulations, nice grinder.
'Blockhead' !!??!! Well now, I resemble that remark. I even added a picture to my profile and signature just now.
To fit a lamp like the following one, connect the neutral (white/ribbed) wire of the lamp to the neutral (white/ribbed) wire inside the grinder, and the hot (black) wire to the hot (black) wire inside the grinder; alternately, connect the hot to the controlled side of the power switch. That will turn off the lamp with the power switch or you can turn it off at the lamp (the switches will be in series, both need to be on for the lamp to turn on)--> http://tinyurl.com/ka87ssb
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
Have I posted my work on restoring Big Blue?
It's ready for color, later today.
Full story, here. --> http://tinyurl.com/Big-Blue-Block-Grinder
One more abused Block Motor grinder rescued.
It's ready for color, later today.
Full story, here. --> http://tinyurl.com/Big-Blue-Block-Grinder
One more abused Block Motor grinder rescued.
Here's one I picked up 20 years ago, been working hard in my shop since I brought it home
Just did a little refresh on the ped, the light and the safty glass it was so bad that it couldn't be seen through anymore.
Just did a little refresh on the ped, the light and the safty glass it was so bad that it couldn't be seen through anymore.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
I like that style.
Can you post a close up of the label so we can see the model-# and H.P. ?
WarrenP
Well-known member
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Another nice Block grinder joins the thread.
I like that style.
Can you post a close up of the label so we can see the model-# and H.P. ?
It's the 1/3 hp I will try and remember to get a close up this weekend.
I just found another one on a online auction today and bid on it.
bisley45
Well-known member
I have always liked the look of the craftsman block grinders. they come up for sale in my parts every now and then but you would think the windings in them were made of gold instead of copper lol. I got this one at a very reasonable price had to by the whole shop almost.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
I'm making progress on Big Blue. Here's the tested [for broken internals], cleaned and painted rotor.
I also tested the Stator & Coil assembly [high voltage surge test & high pot test to ground].
I found a place that has many of the Block motor grinder parts I didn't expect would be available (including some of the cast parts and labels).
More info:
http://tinyurl.com/Big-Blue-Rotor-Shaft
http://tinyurl.com/Block-Grinder-Info
I also tested the Stator & Coil assembly [high voltage surge test & high pot test to ground].
I found a place that has many of the Block motor grinder parts I didn't expect would be available (including some of the cast parts and labels).
More info:
http://tinyurl.com/Big-Blue-Rotor-Shaft
http://tinyurl.com/Block-Grinder-Info
Outlawmws
Well-known member
torqueman2002,
Wait, You painted the rotor shaft? That needs to be clean for the bearings to slide over...
Wait, You painted the rotor shaft? That needs to be clean for the bearings to slide over...
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Yea, kinda forgot about where the bearings seated. Should've masked it off. 
Did some judicious clean-up of those areas and the snap-ring groves before the bearings were fitted.
Did some judicious clean-up of those areas and the snap-ring groves before the bearings were fitted.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
I had to take a couple of steps back; but making headway on the Big Blue Block grinder rebuild. Got it assembled, tomorrow I'll terminate the wires and hook them up.
Brian K. @ OWWM says he thinks it is: ".... last of the Delco built machines, model number 397.19450". I found an eBay listing that gives this info: "SEARS Craftsman Commercial 3/4 H.P. Bench Grinder/Polisher, Totally Enclosed Ball Bearings, and Capacitor-start motor, Specs = 115/230 Volt, 60 Hz, 6.0/3.0 AMP, 5/8 arbor, 3580 idle RPM, NEMA rating, ship wt about 26.2 lbs."
Here's the improved Big Blue; dare I say: M-Go Blue! ??
I need to decide what to put here; I may turn this into a Block motor Buffer.
Here is the final version, with wire wheels.
I'm adding fuses to protect the stator windings from sticking start-relays. This one uses a Slo-Blow 15A.
At speed - it pushes a LOT of air around the bench.
Here it is the the growing grinder-row.
Brian K. @ OWWM says he thinks it is: ".... last of the Delco built machines, model number 397.19450". I found an eBay listing that gives this info: "SEARS Craftsman Commercial 3/4 H.P. Bench Grinder/Polisher, Totally Enclosed Ball Bearings, and Capacitor-start motor, Specs = 115/230 Volt, 60 Hz, 6.0/3.0 AMP, 5/8 arbor, 3580 idle RPM, NEMA rating, ship wt about 26.2 lbs."
Here's the improved Big Blue; dare I say: M-Go Blue! ??
I need to decide what to put here; I may turn this into a Block motor Buffer.
Here is the final version, with wire wheels.
I'm adding fuses to protect the stator windings from sticking start-relays. This one uses a Slo-Blow 15A.
At speed - it pushes a LOT of air around the bench.
Here it is the the growing grinder-row.
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
I hear you!
Look at it this way - the $$ you save restoring or putting a good used Block motor grinder into service vs. a similar new grinder (Baldor, ...).
But, don't follow my example; I don't want to count the number of Block grinder around the house.
My wife just laughs now.
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flashman
Well-known member
I just picked this grinder up today. I would have preferred a higher HP but I think 1/3 HP will be good. I assume it would be comparable to my Porter Cable 6" grinder I purchased from Lowes a couple of years ago.
For the power cable, would I be better off buying a new cable and replacing this old one because of the sheathing that is pulled away? Or would this cable be salvageable? I also will either have to have the glass replaced or find a replacement guard but otherwise this is in good condition and it spools up nicely. The bearings are still spinning free and smooth.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
For the power cable, would I be better off buying a new cable and replacing this old one because of the sheathing that is pulled away? Or would this cable be salvageable? I also will either have to have the glass replaced or find a replacement guard but otherwise this is in good condition and it spools up nicely. The bearings are still spinning free and smooth.
Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2
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emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
I had to take a couple of steps back; but making headway on the Big Blue Block grinder rebuild. Got it assembled, tomorrow I'll terminate the wires and hook them up.
Brian K. @ OWWM says he thinks it is: ".... last of the Delco built machines, model number 397.19450". I found an eBay listing that gives this info: "SEARS Craftsman Commercial 3/4 H.P. Bench Grinder/Polisher, Totally Enclosed Ball Bearings, and Capacitor-start motor, Specs = 115/230 Volt, 60 Hz, 6.0/3.0 AMP, 5/8 arbor, 3580 idle RPM, NEMA rating, ship wt about 26.2 lbs."
Here's the improved Big Blue; dare I say: M-Go Blue! ??
I need to decide what to put here; I may turn this into a Block motor Buffer.
that looks great in blue