let's see your craftsman block grinders

[zkling]

I want this 1/2 commercial grinder but it's missing the side covers. Seller is firm on $75. I'm debating to go get it and use it as my buffer. Then I would sell my complete 1/2hp standard flat top.

Looks like it is also missing the wheel flanges, no?

 

[McBrownie]

I want this 1/2 commercial grinder but it's missing the side covers. Seller is firm on $75. I'm debating to go get it and use it as my buffer. Then I would sell my complete 1/2hp standard flat top.

That is my favorite style of grinder and those lamps are rare. Is your "standard" 1/2hp a split phase? If so, I wouldn't think twice about swapping that out with a commercial cap-start.

 

[bagged89s10]

That is my favorite style of grinder and those lamps are rare. Is your "standard" 1/2hp a split phase? If so, I wouldn't think twice about swapping that out with a commercial cap-start.

The one I would sell is a standard 1/2hp which is complete.

 

[bagged89s10]

Looks like it is also missing the wheel flanges, no?

I spoke to the seller and he doesn't have them. He threw out the old grinding wheels and they were worn. I bet they were stuck to the wheels.

 

[bagged89s10]

That is my favorite style of grinder and those lamps are rare. Is your "standard" 1/2hp a split phase? If so, I wouldn't think twice about swapping that out with a commercial cap-start.

Yeah I think I'm leaning towards going to get it as I wouldn't need the covers on one of my grinders. I already have 2 commercial 1/2HP units and I would turn one a 3rd one into a buffing unit.

 

[whyNick?]

I just found this thread, I've had my eye out for a block grinder for a while and finally found one this past weekend:

I went to what was billed as a "huge tool sale" Saturday morning but when I got there all they had were some yard tools and a couple of tables covered with junk. The seller said if I saw anything else in his garage I was interested in to just ask. At first nothing caught my eye, then I saw the block grinder bolted to his bench. It's a 1 hp and is in great shape. I was thrilled to get it for $30.

 

[bagged89s10]

I just found this thread, I've had my eye out for a block grinder for a while and finally found one this past weekend:

I went to what was billed as a "huge tool sale" Saturday morning but when I got there all they had were some yard tools and a couple of tables covered with junk. The seller said if I saw anything else in his garage I was interested in to just ask. At first nothing caught my eye, then I saw the block grinder bolted to his bench. It's a 1 hp and is in great shape. I was thrilled to get it for $30.

Welcome to the block grinder club! I'll say that's a you **** price! Good work!

 

[whyNick?]

Thanks, it has lots more than twice the power of my 1/2 hp Delta (made in China) and spins forever when you shut it down...

 

[McBrownie]

I just found this thread, I've had my eye out for a block grinder for a while and finally found one this past weekend:

I went to what was billed as a "huge tool sale" Saturday morning but when I got there all they had were some yard tools and a couple of tables covered with junk. The seller said if I saw anything else in his garage I was interested in to just ask. At first nothing caught my eye, then I saw the block grinder bolted to his bench. It's a 1 hp and is in great shape. I was thrilled to get it for $30.

Just found the thread, goes to huge tool sale, finds a 1hp, of all things, for $30!, and makes his 666th post. Who did you make a deal with?

Seriously, what great grinder. Congrats!
Edit, that is probably an early 1980's model. Check on the inside of one of the wheel guards and you might find a date stamp in the casting.

 

[exmaxima1]

Just found the thread, goes to huge tool sale, finds a 1hp, of all things, for $30!, and makes his 666th post. Who did you make a deal with?

Seriously, what great grinder. Congrats!
Edit, that is probably an early 1980's model. Check on the inside of one of the wheel guards and you might find a date stamp in the casting.

Don't feel too bad. With only a 6.8 amp draw, it's only marginally more powerful than your commercial 1/2hp. Still.....a great deal for $30!

 

[McBrownie]

Don't feel too bad. With only a 6.8 amp draw, it's only marginally more powerful than your commercial 1/2hp. Still.....a great deal for $30!

Good point on the amp draw. Even my 257.191401 1/2hp split phase has a 5.1 amp draw. So, how does a 33% increase in amp draw (5.1 to 6.8) result in a 100% gain in horsepower?

View media item 40367

 

[Outlawmws]

Just found the thread, goes to huge tool sale, finds a 1hp, of all things, for $30!, and makes his 666th post. Who did you make a deal with?

 

[bagged89s10]

Don't feel too bad. With only a 6.8 amp draw, it's only marginally more powerful than your commercial 1/2hp. Still.....a great deal for $30!

That's a very good point on amp and HP rating. My 1/2HP block is 5.1 amps and my 1/2 commercial blocks are 6.2 amps. Then the early 60s Craftsman commercial 1/2 HP that I'm going to look at tomorrow says 4.4amps. Now I'm really confused how these things were rated?

 

[whyNick?]

I thought I caught a whiff of brimstone when I fired it up. What can I say, Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil down at the crossroads and Black Sabbath sold their souls for rock and roll but I guess I had less lofty aspirations.

If I recall the date on the bottom looked like 12/65 but I guess the 6 might have actually been an 8.

 

[jakemac]

That's a very good point on amp and HP rating. My 1/2HP block is 5.1 amps and my 1/2 commercial blocks are 6.2 amps. Then the early 60s Craftsman commercial 1/2 HP that I'm going to look at tomorrow says 4.4amps. Now I'm really confused how these things were rated?

Could the difference be between Cap Start and Split Phase starters ?

 

[bagged89s10]

Has anyone tried to match the textured paint finish like on the cast part of this block?

 

[bagged89s10]

Ok so I couldn't say no. Even though I spent more than the other ones I own. Who can say no to the metal badge, glass shields, and this light?

I will be putting the side covers from one of my other commercial blocks on this one. I will have to paint at least all the silver parts.

 

[harleybuilder]

[emoji106] [emoji106]

 

[drivesitfar]

WhyNick: 666th post and you show up with a $30 1 HP block? McB and other have already said it so i won't say it again that you are/were one lucky SOB and at least it will be warm in your after life.

cheers bud and happy you found a block and one that isn't exactly common.

Bagged: i'm thinking that you might need to go to the Dr. because that vise and grinder bug has bit you pretty hard. nice find on the newest addition and i have one of those 1/2 HP round top blocks with the metal eye shields and i'm not sure it will ever leave my hands.

Ex: thanks for the specs on the 1/2 commercial vs. the standard 1 HP blocks.

ALL: did they make a 1 HP commercial block and does any members here own one to post so i don't have to go back a few hundred pages to maybe find it. I've seen the 3/4 commercials and thinking that's as big as that model went. not sure so one of you fellow block heads need to enlighten me.

 

[bagged89s10]

WhyNick: 666th post and you show up with a $30 1 HP block? McB and other have already said it so i won't say it again that you are/were one lucky SOB and at least it will be warm in your after life.



cheers bud and happy you found a block and one that isn't exactly common.



Bagged: i'm thinking that you might need to go to the Dr. because that vise and grinder bug has bit you pretty hard. nice find on the newest addition and i have one of those 1/2 HP round top blocks with the metal eye shields and i'm not sure it will ever leave my hands.



Ex: thanks for the specs on the 1/2 commercial vs. the standard 1 HP blocks.



ALL: did they make a 1 HP commercial block and does any members here own one to post so i don't have to go back a few hundred pages to maybe find it. I've seen the 3/4 commercials and thinking that's as big as that model went. not sure so one of you fellow block heads need to enlighten me.

Yes I need to probably go to BGA meetings. Block grinder addicts.

 

[drivesitfar]

Bagged: that's why we have this thread for those of us that tend to allow these little block grinders to have us driving all over the country. also if we bought one that was a little under the weather there is enough help on this thread to bring it back to life.

cheers

 

[bagged89s10]

Bagged: that's why we have this thread for those of us that tend to allow these little block grinders to have us driving all over the country. also if we bought one that was a little under the weather there is enough help on this thread to bring it back to life.



cheers

What's wrong with a 4-5 hour round trip I've made for most of my blocks.? Lol

 

[drivesitfar]

Bagged & All: those long drives home with a new block, vise or machine in the back of your truck or SUV can't be beat. The anticipation that it is the block or tool in the picture or ad and if there are no hidden defects on the drive to pick it up and the smile on our face on the way home with it sitting in the back are priceless.

anybody drive farther than 3 hours to pick up their block? i know MT drove 12 hours to pick up my original block grinder stand but he did have few other stops in between to break it up.

 

[whyNick?]

What's the difference between the Commercial-spec units and the standard ones? I've only read the first 20 or so pages of this thread so far and I'm out of the loop.

 

[Outlawmws]

What's the difference between the Commercial-spec units and the standard ones? I've only read the first 20 or so pages of this thread so far and I'm out of the loop.

Piker!

 

[whyNick?]

yeah my day job really interferes with my recreational reading

 

[torqueman2002]

.... one that was a little under the weather there is enough help on this thread to bring it back to life.

http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/2013/06/05/its_alive1.gif

Holy ****! That's it, Drives! You nailed it!

My friends and I watched those old horror movies on Saturdays in our youth. We'd get dropped off by 1 parental unit and picked up by another after watching a dozen cartoons and 2 or sometimes 3 full length features at those old movie houses.

That's when I got the bug for things electrical, mechanical, and resurrecting the dead!

Thank you for helping me recall my roots.

BTW - I just got my new glasses. Cool, huh!

 

[torqueman2002]

ALL: did they make a 1 HP commercial block and does any members here own one to post so i don't have to go back a few hundred pages to maybe find it. I've seen the 3/4 commercials and thinking that's as big as that model went. not sure so one of you fellow block heads need to enlighten me.

Drives, I checked my photo archives, none of the five 1.0-HP Blocks have the 'Commercial' or 'Industrial' designation.

BTW - The are all ftop Blocks.

 

[trijeff]

Finally! Something to put on the stand that has been naked for far too long. $50

 

[torqueman2002]

tri, sweet!

 

[McBrownie]

Finally! Something to put on the stand that has been naked for far too long. $50

Really nice find for $50.

 

[redm18]

I would consider going and getting this if I was not busy on Saturday . http://rockford.craigslist.org/tls/5068203541.html

 

[bagged89s10]

Finally! Something to put on the stand that has been naked for far too long. $50

Nice find. Can you take a picture of your side wheel guards. I think they are different from the newer 7" models.

I paid $75 for mine but missing the side guards. Stamped May 24, 1972

Why is the right guard different from the left?. Mine is the same way but it makes me feel better that yours is the same.

M

 

[bagged89s10]

I would consider going and getting this if I was not busy on Saturday . http://rockford.craigslist.org/tls/5068203541.html

Some nice stuff for sale there. Everything is in excellent condition.

 

[zkling]

Finally! Something to put on the stand that has been naked for far too long. $50

That looks nice. Just a BTDT, I'd highly recommend you or anyone with a factory stand an larger grinder on top, find a way to weight down or increase the footprint of the base. Those stands are otherwise very tippy.

 

[drivesitfar]

Doc: nice glasses and another quality post big guy.

TJ: are you sure you didn't pay $150? that's one of my favorite blocks and you found an original stand too.

Nick: keep reading and lots to learn about blocks and us. just a little heads up the commercial blocks have a little more heft in the wiring and they can be wired to use 220 power.

 

[jrobb316]

Bagged & All: those long drives home with a new block, vise or machine in the back of your truck or SUV can't be beat. The anticipation that it is the block or tool in the picture or ad and if there are no hidden defects on the drive to pick it up and the smile on our face on the way home with it sitting in the back are priceless.

anybody drive farther than 3 hours to pick up their block? i know MT drove 12 hours to pick up my original block grinder stand but he did have few other stops in between to break it up.

I drove three hours one way to get my first block, a 1/2 commercial. It was all back roads which is why it took so long.

 

[bagged89s10]

I think the large metal shields look good on my flat top.


I decided to take the smaller metal shields from the 1/3 and put them on one of my round tops. And sell the 1/3HP

I'm keeping all my 1/2 hp blocks

I didn't realize the flat tops have igher amperage ratings than the round tops. Did craftsman actually have the flat tops built with even beefier windings?

1/2Hp commercial round top 4.4amps


1/2HP commercial round top 5.2amps


1/2HP standard flat top 5.1 amps


1/2HP commercial flat top 6.2 amps

 

[dngrmse]

Any of you guys need a stand? There's one listed for $8 in south Jersey:
http://southjersey.craigslist.org/fuo/5063801930.html

Seller has it listed as a "table base"- from the ad:

I am selling this Metal Table Base for $8. This item is 30.5 in h. The top part is 9 in w by 7.75 in l and the bottom part is 12 X 12.
I'm a long time seller here on CL and I respond back to all phone calls and texts. I reply back to e-mails only if you provide me with a valid phone number so that I can avoid the spammers. Thanks for reading my CL ad.

 

[jakemac]

Go grab it, even if you don't need it. It would make good trade bait with other GJer's.