let's see your craftsman block grinders

[drivesitfar]

Clipped: nice buy at the auction. how does it run and do you get to plug the tools in before bidding on them at the auctions you go to?

is that your first block? let us know how you like it and welcome to our small and growing group of Block heads.

welcome to the forum too and nice fire truck in your avitar. yours??

 

[clippedwings]

Driveits: This block # 3, have two 1/3 hp.

Most auctions don't have power handy. I give them a spin and hope for the best.

The firetruck is mine. It's a 1964 Jeep FC170DRW with 15,000 miles on it.

 

[nine4gmc]

Good find ClippedWings, I am still on the hunt for a 3/4 or 1hp local.

 

[McBrownie]

Good find ClippedWings, I am still on the hunt for a 3/4 or 1hp local.

Nines,

A 3/4 or 1hp local? My local consists of $80 chinese grinders and $60 plastic workmates. Old stuff has been scarce up here.

 

[torqueman2002]

Nines,

A 3/4 or 1hp local? My local consists of $80 chinese grinders and $60 plastic workmates. Old stuff has been scarce up here.

Waat? Not me secreting them away in the dead of night.

I haven't been outside of SE MI for weeks/months; for now.

 

[jrobb316]

Nines,

A 3/4 or 1hp local? My local consists of $80 chinese grinders and $60 plastic workmates. Old stuff has been scarce up here.

You wouldn't think so being in a large industrial city. I guess maybe I just got lucky on this one, but I search Chicago too and there's been nothing there either.

 

[torqueman2002]

You wouldn't think so being in a large industrial city. I guess maybe I just got lucky on this one, but I search Chicago too and there's been nothing there either.

Nothing what so ever in SE Michigan, keep moving.

 

[drivesitfar]

ALL: those of you that are re selling these blocks are you putting a tracking chip in them so that they can be located at a later date? i think they move in groups. a couple months ago they were moving to Montana and now seem to be the mid west. there is never any blocks in Michigan except in Doc's garage or at his relatives and rarely is there one in the PNW.

just saying they are able to put a chip in our live pets how about making one for the blocks?

cheers all and i'm still reading my book on steel and welding.

 

[jrobb316]

Nothing what so ever in SE Michigan, keep moving.

Don't worry, it's 6 hours to Detroit from here so that's out of my radius

 

[jrobb316]

1/3 HP still up in Milwaukee. I have 2 don't make me get #3. Price has been reduced 2 times now, comes with other equipment as well. If I had a wood shop I would be on it but I just don't have the room.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/5106335443.html

 

[jrobb316]

So here is a closer look at last nights find. 1) Look like the bearing were replaced in 1988. 2) The gooseneck is in very good shape 3) label 4) tool rest has a chip and a broken off bolt in it (shouldn't be hard to extract) 5) glass is all intact with no cracks 6) A box of other grinder stuff. Wheels, deburring discs, wheel dressers, etc.

All in all i'm happy with it, it needs a full teardown and restore but its all there. I can't believe how heavy this grinder is. Now my question is, I now have a lot of old grinder stones that i've accumulated, unused, but old. Do you trust them, or would you just throw them out and get new ones? I'm not sure if I trust the "ring test" anyways.

 

[firemanast]

So here is a closer look at last nights find. 1) Look like the bearing were replaced in 1988. 2) The gooseneck is in very good shape 3) label 4) tool rest has a chip and a broken off bolt in it (shouldn't be hard to extract) 5) glass is all intact with no cracks 6) A box of other grinder stuff. Wheels, deburring discs, wheel dressers, etc.

All in all i'm happy with it, it needs a full teardown and restore but its all there. I can't believe how heavy this grinder is. Now my question is, I now have a lot of old grinder stones that i've accumulated, unused, but old. Do you trust them, or would you just throw them out and get new ones? I'm not sure if I trust the "ring test" anyways.

That is one hell of a find ! Congratulations

 

[torqueman2002]

You can find my comments in Green, below!

ALL: those of you that are re selling these blocks are you putting a tracking chip in them so that they can be located at a later date?
Drives, you are cracking me up!
i think they move in groups.
You may be onto something there, kind of like the Caribou, safety in numbers. Keeps the predators busy with weak/old and the strong/healthy ones escape/survive.
a couple months ago they were moving to Montana and now seem to be the mid west. there is never any blocks in Michigan except in Doc's garage
To be fair, they start out in the wild, but soon, very very soon, find themselves with their missing friends.
or at his relatives and rarely is there one in the PNW.
I may just have to practice a catch and release when I visit family in Seattle.

just saying they are able to put a chip in our live pets how about making one for the blocks?

cheers all and i'm still reading my book on steel and welding.

Don't worry, it's 6 hours to Detroit from here so that's out of my radius
6 hours?! I need to expand my search area.

1/3 HP still up in Milwaukee. I have 2 don't make me get #3. Price has been reduced 2 times now, comes with other equipment as well.
I do see that, nice!
If I had a wood shop I would be on it but I just don't have the room.
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/tls/5106335443.html

So here is a closer look at last nights find. 1) Look like the bearing were replaced in 1988. 2) The gooseneck is in very good shape 3) label 4) tool rest has a chip and a broken off bolt in it (shouldn't be hard to extract) 5) glass is all intact with no cracks 6) A box of other grinder stuff. Wheels, deburring discs, wheel dressers, etc.
Great score, especially with all the bits 'n pieces.
All in all i'm happy with it, it needs a full teardown and restore but its all there.
That can be a lot of fun and really rewarding. A note of caution - some rtops have a start-winding switch attached to the inside of the RH housing. If it does, there's a thread detailing how to dis-assemble it without damaging the fragile switch assembly.
I can't believe how heavy this grinder is. Now my question is, I now have a lot of old grinder stones that i've accumulated, unused, but old. Do you trust them, or would you just throw them out and get new ones? I'm not sure if I trust the "ring test" anyways.
I have just such a collection of stones. Most I destroy and discard. I see it as cheap peace of mind; if one was bad and injured me or someone I passed it on to, just not worth it.
If the stones are not properly stored in a dry area, they can/will break down. A damp basement comes to mind. Some of these Blocks have their original stones from the 50's, 60's ....

That is one hell of a find !
I agree!.
Congratulations

OK. I'm heading out of town before 1st light tomorrow.

I am headed to Central New York State; not the NYC. The difference is like that between California's wine country and Los Angeles.

So, fair warning, hide your Block grinders from SE Michigan, and along the south and east shores of Lake Erie, the Finger Lakes region, and up to the Thousand Islands.

Oh, and please watch over SE Michigan for me while I'm gone, it would be a shame if any Blocks get away.

 

[harleybuilder]

Enjoy your Block hunting ah uh I mean your family time. .....

 

[torqueman2002]

Enjoy your Block hunting ah uh I mean your family time. .....

Seems I'm well known around here.

But, I have to return my brothers ice packs he left here last month. Really.

 

[jrobb316]

I've been to the finger lakes, beautiful area. Stayed in a castle The 1000 islands looks very cool, i'll put that on my list and try for next year.

 

[drivesitfar]

Doc: drive safe and clean out the trunk before you leave so you'll have room for a few of your block's relatives.

I like the catch and release so bring Go Blue and i might have to change teams i route for.

 

[torqueman2002]

The 1000 Islands -- a nice destination.

My niece was married on one of the islands a few years ago, wonderful setting.

We had our kids and their future spouses too. We all took a boat tour and made a stop at Heart Island. It is a stone mansion/castle that is being restored after years of neglect. The former owner built it for his wife, but she died before ever living in it.

He finished it, but didn't live in it.

When I was in college in the 70's, it was abandoned and open to vandals. Now it is protected and a tourist attraction. It had it's own generating plant for heat and electricity - DC.

It's <2 hrs from Syracuse, and a good 1 or 2 day stay.

If you know the Finger Lakes, have you been to any of the race week ends at Watkins Glenn? That is a historic town, Formula 1 races on public streets many years ago, now there is a great track 10 mins from town.

I use to go to the Can-Am races there in the 70's. Porsche 917-10 twin turbo flat 12 dominated.

Not 'The Glenn', but take a listen,

 

[torqueman2002]

Doc: drive safe and clean out the trunk before you leave so you'll have room for a few of your block's relatives.

I like the catch and release so bring Go Blue and i might have to change teams i route for.

Mrs. Torqueman would divorce me if I got rid of that one; the rest, well that's a different story.

 

[jrobb316]

The 1000 Islands -- a nice destination.

My niece was married on one of the islands a few years ago, wonderful setting.

We had our kids and their future spouses too. We all took a boat tour and made a stop at Heart Island. It is a stone mansion/castle that is being restored after years of neglect. The former owner built it for his wife, but she died before ever living in it.

He finished it, but didn't live in it.

When I was in college in the 70's, it was abandoned and open to vandals. Now it is protected and a tourist attraction. It had it's own generating plant for heat and electricity - DC.

It's <2 hrs from Syracuse, and a good 1 or 2 day stay.

If you know the Finger Lakes, have you been to any of the race week ends at Watkins Glenn? That is a historic town, Formula 1 races on public streets many years ago, now there is a great track 10 mins from town.

I use to go to the Can-Am races there in the 70's. Porsche 917-10 twin turbo flat 12 dominated.

Not 'The Glenn', but take a listen,

I was just there in Geneva, NY on a road trip about 12 years ago. And around the whole area. Long story, but very nice area. But no I don't know about the races. Truth be told, I hate cars. I work on them everyday, nothing really impresses me anymore in that department.

 

[McBrownie]

Oh, and please watch over SE Michigan for me while I'm gone, it would be a shame if any Blocks get away.

Time for a road trip.


Edit: TM is gone for 1 day and they are accumulating already:

https://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/tls/5097090276.html
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/5057268952.html

And a disposable grinder on a cool vintage stand:
https://detroit.craigslist.org/wyn/tls/5106210436.html

 

[Itinerant]

Picked up this little guy from the local ads this evening. Born in 1965, 1/3 HP model 397.19580. Missing the right side spark arrester but otherwise complete and intact. Spins like a top without any vibration.

 

[harleybuilder]

Picked up this little guy from the local ads this evening. Born in 1965, 1/3 HP model 397.19580. Missing the right side spark arrester but otherwise complete and intact. Spins like a top without any vibration.

Good find ..[emoji106] [emoji106]

 

[drivesitfar]

IT: nice find especially with the stand. how many does that make now or are you sending a few down the road as you spiff them up?

DOC: maybe if i tell Mrs. T how much i'd pay for GO BLUE maybe we could make a deal and then tell you?

have a safe and fun trip

 

[Itinerant]

Good find ..[emoji106] [emoji106]

IT: nice find especially with the stand. how many does that make now or are you sending a few down the road as you spiff them up?

Thanks guys.

Drives, I sold off most of mine when I moved last fall so this one brings me back up to 4.

 

[WhoWhatNow]

I think I emailed the seller last night, I'll have to look at my emails (hell getting old and can't remember sh=t )

Edit - I did email seller, no response yet.

Did you hear back from this guy? I still want to know what the machine next to it is.

 

[drivesitfar]

IT: nice addition to the group. hope the move worked out and just temporary or last house?

i'm hoping to buy our last house some day in the near future and have a big shop so it will probably be out of the city. we bought this house thinking we'd only live here a few years then had 3 more kids so we've been here 28 years now. Crossing my fingers and toes i live long enough.

Harley: I agree did you get a call or email back?

 

[harleybuilder]

Did you hear back from this guy? I still want to know what the machine next to it is.

Harley: I agree did you get a call or email back?

No I haven't , thanks for reminding me.

 

[Itinerant]

IT: nice addition to the group. hope the move worked out and just temporary or last house?

It went well enough as far as moves go, but we just moved back 2 weeks ago. Not happy about that, although we did find a beautiful home. Should be able to put up a decent shop too.

 

[bagged89s10]

This 1/3 HP is for sale around me if anyone wants it I can go try to pick it up . $50+shipping.

 

[balane]

Happened upon this unusually clean 1/2 HP flat top yesterday. Just needed the dust blown out and it's good to go. I was lucky to spot the manual sitting around.

.

 

[Outlawmws]

I happened on an incredibly filthy and incomplete block at an estate sale today; at $30 I left it there.

 

[jrobb316]

Happened upon this unusually clean 1/2 HP flat top yesterday. Just needed the dust blown out and it's good to go. I was lucky to spot the manual sitting around.

.

Thats incredibly clean. I like the neighborhood watch sticker on it Thats vintage too. Will it replace the one that burnt up?

 

[balane]

Oh wow, you're right! That's an OPERATION ID decal right next to some kind of owner inscribed identification number. I never even looked at it closely and assumed it was a factory "Wear Safety Glasses" decal.

This one will go up for sale, it's too nice for me. I replaced my burnt up one already with an ugly, missing parts block grinder and even have a hideous spare sitting on the shelf in case one of mine fails again. I only keep the nasty ones.

 

[zkling]

I happened on an incredibly filthy and incomplete block at an estate sale today; at $30 I left it there.

And, I saw an incomplete 1/4hp on factory stand to much for me. I too left it there.

 

[jrobb316]

Oh wow, you're right! That's an OPERATION ID decal right next to some kind of owner inscribed identification number. I never even looked at it closely and assumed it was a factory "Wear Safety Glasses" decal.

This one will go up for sale, it's too nice for me. I replaced my burnt up one already with an ugly, missing parts block grinder and even have a hideous spare sitting on the shelf in case one of mine fails again. I only keep the nasty ones.

So its like the "VIN etching" you can buy if you buy a car. He sure didn't want his block stolen

Also, Vintage Machinery, if they don't already, might like a scan of the manual. I did that for a 1/3 I picked up that they didn't have on their site. Jake helped me PDF them and he uploaded it

 

[balane]

I'm not a member of that web site but if anybody who is wants a scan of the manual just let me know within the next few days and I'll post up some scans.

 

[firemanast]

Happened upon this unusually clean 1/2 HP flat top yesterday. Just needed the dust blown out and it's good to go. I was lucky to spot the manual sitting around.

.

Nice find !

 

[jakemac]

I'm not a member of that web site but if anybody who is wants a scan of the manual just let me know within the next few days and I'll post up some scans.

I checked, they have two copies of that manual on the site so I think they're good.

 

[KZ1000J]

Finally, finally, finally......I get to show off a block grinder.

Didn't own one until this afternoon, bought it at an estate sale...the last day of the sale with only a few hours left. I saw it on Thursday priced for $175.00, went back this afternoon and was surprised to still see it there. I offered $30.00 and they said ok.

Before I made an offer, I plugged it in, threw the switch and it purred real quietly with very little vibration. Can't believe I also scored the Thomas Prosser and Son stand. Now, I have to search for the 1/4 hp. 1/2 hp. 3/4 hp. etc. etc. Today was a good day.

KZ