Put my 1/2 hp ( cap start) block into wire wheel duty today refurbishing a vintage Delta bandsaw, and after about an hour its making quite a bit of noise. I think its bearings, but your post made me thinking it could be something worse. Luckily bearings are a quick fix on those grinders--no godawful woodruff keys or tricky bearing holders in those blocks. Even with the noise there's no vibration or shortage of power.
let's see your craftsman block grinders
- Thread starter emeraldcoupe
- Start date
Put my 1/2 hp ( cap start) block into wire wheel duty today refurbishing a vintage Delta bandsaw, and after about an hour its making quite a bit of noise. I think its bearings, but your post made me thinking it could be something worse. Luckily bearings are a quick fix on those grinders--no godawful woodruff keys or tricky bearing holders in those blocks. Even with the noise there's no vibration or shortage of power.
softailgarage
Well-known member
Man, I don't know how you guy's are burnin' these up. Applying too much pressure to the wheel? I've ran mine for hours without getting hot.
I have a pair of wire wheels on my block, a medium gauge and a light gauge. I don't use much pressure, and the grinder does not slow down (work hard). The motor is barely warm. I just think that 40 year old bearings are due to fail even if used sparingly---the lube just dries up after that much time.
DPG
Well-known member
Rained out at today's proposed garage sale, so I drove 1.5 hr one way to pick up a playmate for my first block grinder. This one is in great condition compared to the first one (pictured on left). The first one is dated April 6,1966. No date on the one on right. The thing between the two is the lamp reflector and the data plate. The reflector on left is some kind of plastic and the one on right is aluminum. The new one had 3 of the 4 grommets shoved up behind the plate on bottom. It's too bad the data plate is scratched up. Data plate on right is the crown around the Craftsmen Commercial and the other is Craftsman industrial rated. Best guess on new ones age? It will be a great restoration. I am willing to part with the one on the left. If anyone wants it, PM me with an offer.
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Yeah, I'm sort of with this position, I had a 1/5 HP I brought home from my dad's place, that I easily overworked for a year just because. I switched to that last Block and it just hums along, and that is with a wider & bigger fine wheel.
Of course as mentioned if the bearings are bad that can also increase the drag...
DPG
Well-known member
Nice pair! Aah, of grinders!
How about a close up, ..... of the labels!
I don't seem to be smart enough to post two pictures on the same reply, so here is the 1st. The April of 66.
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DPG
Well-known member
Torqueman, nice you got all the pieces for that near NOS grinder! That's always a nice surprise!
Does remind me of the 1930's Craftsman belt/disc sander I picked up last year (Nov 2014) at the Main To Main 50 mile long yard sale, had found it the year earlier (Nov 2013 Main to Main), guy wanted $20 for it but the table for the disc was missing, told the guy I would pass because of the missing table. Go back last year and he had found the table and only wanted $15 for it!
Does remind me of the 1930's Craftsman belt/disc sander I picked up last year (Nov 2014) at the Main To Main 50 mile long yard sale, had found it the year earlier (Nov 2013 Main to Main), guy wanted $20 for it but the table for the disc was missing, told the guy I would pass because of the missing table. Go back last year and he had found the table and only wanted $15 for it!
torqueman2002
Well-known member
DPG - nice pair, oh I've said that already.
Comparing the two, I notice they are the same design & model number - 397.19590.
I've seen dual voltage Blocks badged as 'Industrial Rated' and 'Commercial'.
However, I haven't actually had the occasion to compare the same model badged as one and as the other also.
Thanks.
Oh, I used PhotoBucket to upload the images and copy/paste the 2 links of your Block badges/labels.
I first saved your images to my computer, then uploaded to PB. I then copied the 'IMG' link and pasted the link into GJ. Repeated as necessary.
McBrownie
Well-known member
TM and DPG,
Mine is both Commercial and Industrial. Based on one casting date of "11/67", I figure that it is either a late '67 or early '68 model.
View media item 50168
Mine is both Commercial and Industrial. Based on one casting date of "11/67", I figure that it is either a late '67 or early '68 model.
View media item 50168
DPG
Well-known member
Where do I look for the casting date?
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Some have the date stamped in ink on the outside of the bottom cover plate.
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Just opened her up and found a dry bearing. Replaced both and she sings just fine now
McBrownie
Well-known member
Just opened her up and found a dry bearing. Replaced both and she sings just fine now
Good for another 40 years!
McBrownie
Well-known member
Mine did not have the bottom galvanized plate which seems to be normal for the ones with tool rest/quench tray base. On the bottom of one of the tool rests, I had this:
View media item 45406
But I have also found dates inside of some of the wheel guards, like this:
View media item 45263
However, the wheel guard stamps only seem to be on the newer ones. According to what we have seen in old catalogs, I would guess 1967-70 for yours. It's a solid machine and you'll get many more years of service out of it. Just change the bearings once in a while like Ex just did.
So I'm wondering what everyone's opinions are on the different hp models. Of course people seem to go nuts over the "big boys" --the 3/4 and 1HP blocks, but what are the pros and cons of different powers? Are there things you can do with a 1HP block that you can't with a 1/4 or 1/3? Is there a sweet spot of power for some tasks, or is it always better to get the most powerful block you can find?
altersaddle
Well-known member
I think the biggest difference are wheel diameter and also shaft size. The 1/4 and 1/3 hp units take a 6" wheel, the 1/2 hp a 7" and the 3/4-1hp take an 8" wheel.
With the extra power you can load up the grinder to grind something faster. For my purposes, this isn't necessary since I want to sharpen things without overheating them, so I won't be loading up the bench grinder. For jobs that require lots of grinding I will use my angle grinders first.
Of course, the larger machines are also both more impressive and harder to find, which makes them more desirable...
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05wrangler
Well-known member
Picked this guy up the other day for 25 bucks
McBrownie
Well-known member
I agree on rarity to a point. In block grinders, I have a a 1/2hp split-phase, a 1/2hp commercial, and a 3/4hp industrial. Outside of that, I have a 1/4hp Doerr and a homegrown 1/3hp belt-driven. I think the commercial/industrial capacitor-starts are nicer machines to use than the split-phases. I haven't used the Doerr since getting the blocks. The Blocks are just better machines. However, a lot depends on feet per minute (fpm). For example, I had an 8" fine wire wheel on my 3650rpm 3/4p that ate a piece of brass for breakfast. I switched to a 3" fine wire wheel on a 1725rpm 1/3hp and it was the right tool for that job. It all depends what you are trying to do. However, if you want to run a belt sander off of one of these, I agree with the manufacturers that a 1/2hp is the minimum. In Block grinder parlance, I would say that a 1/2hp capacitor-start is the minimum.
McBrownie
Well-known member
Picked this guy up today and also a Morgan Chicago 145 vise just up the the road from the block. It was a good day The block is very clean and has the 2 original grinding wheels and a craftsman wire wheel (maybe came with it to, I don't know). It's probably as nice as they come.
In other scores I also found a Hein Warner oboy floor jack. Very nice weekend.
The block is very clean and has the 2 original grinding wheels and a craftsman wire wheel (maybe came with it to, I don't know). It's probably as nice as they come.In other scores I also found a Hein Warner oboy floor jack. Very nice weekend.
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
My go to Blocks are 3/4 & 1-HP with wire wheels, steel and brass. I also have a 1/3-HP Dayton with stones.
The wire wheels are great for medium to heavily rust/debris removal. They are too powerful for cleaning of fastener threads and small parts.
I have a 1/4-HP or maybe a 1/3-HP Block I will employ with wire wheels for those smaller and lighter cleaning jobs.
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torqueman2002
Well-known member
Picked this guy up today and also a Morgan Chicago 145 vise just up the the road from the block. It was a good day
In other scores I also found a Hein Warner oboy floor jack. Very nice weekend.
Well done guys!
alpinewhite
Well-known member
When do you use the steel wire wheel and when do you use the brass one?
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Yep, even with smaller wheels I think everyone that uses them on fasteners has had one thrown across the room or into never never land at least once...
firemanast
Well-known member
I would like to thank Torqueman for this one !
torqueman2002
Well-known member
You're welcome, just spreading the Block love around!
torqueman2002
Well-known member
I used the brass-plated one today on an item I wanted a finer/softer finish on than the steel one gives me.
The brass-plated wire used in these wheels is only 0.005" in diameter and it removes surface rust on tools without removing patina.
The combination of 1-3/8" trim length of the wire, and its fineness, delivers more of a polishing action than an abrading action, opening up many uses that coarser wire wheels would never be used for. For example, it does an excellent job of removing stains from carbon-steel knives without leaving visible scratches.
csargents1546
Well-known member
Almost had a 1/2 hp grinder. Guy that listed it on cl did not call me back. By the time I called him back. It was sold. Hopefully it was a fellow GJ member. He has it list for 65 with a stand.
Hopefully it was a fellow GJ member. He has it list for 65 with a stand.sometoyotaguy
Well-known member
Maybe a dumb question, but what is it about these that makes them so desirable?
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Sorry to hear about the near miss, but a 1/2-HP with stand (CM?) - I am encouraged that they are still out there at very good prices.Almost had a 1/2 hp grinder. Guy that listed it on cl did not call me back. By the time I called him back. It was sold.
Keep looking, you'll land one.
torqueman2002
Well-known member
Welcome to 'The Block' thread.
Take a look at the post in this thread --> http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4000526&postcount=1
OR See my sig line for a link to the complete thread with a lot of resource information, pictures, and links.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Almost had a 1/2 hp grinder. Guy that listed it on cl did not call me back. By the time I called him back. It was sold.
If I had to bet, I'd say torqueman got it but he hasn't posted it yet so maybe not.
sometoyotaguy
Well-known member
Thanks! I didn't feel like digging through almost 300 pages. You know, you guys are a bad influence. Now I want one. They do look like beefy motors.
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Some Toyota: just one? Good luck and just ask if you need help finding or fixing it.