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let's see your craftsman block grinders

torqueman2002

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Jun 3, 2009
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SE Michigan
I'm Will try spinning it tomorrow when it gets back together. Ran into a pretty good deal on an 8 drawer vidmar today. But here are the broken windings. They are the smaller ones. I attached the images but not sure if that will work. I added an album in my profile as well with them. On an iPhone and first time with oictures so we will see how it works.

quest
Looks like the Block I tried in vain to fix.
1/2-HP Block Grinder m-397.19440 - post mortem
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=311149

I hope you have more success than I did.
 
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87quest

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Oct 3, 2015
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Savannah, GA
Well I may have a fairly expensive paperweight. But learning experience either way. I am terrible at soldering, never had a reason for much practice, so I can really only hope for the best as well. Haha thanks for the help!
quest
 

scooternut

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Very nice, indeed cb!

Not to pick nits, but that style is a round top Block.

:)

I have read many pages, and have been very much influenced by the post, and own one just like this, while also searching for that 3/4 hp.

But, please help me, what is a "round top block" compared to a block?
 

torqueman2002

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SE Michigan
I have read many pages, and have been very much influenced by the post, and own one just like this, while also searching for that 3/4 hp.

But, please help me, what is a "round top block" compared to a block?
Ahhh, the elusive Big Boys: 3/4-HP and 1-HP Blocks! :drool:

Follow this link to read about & see what a round top and s flat top Block look like. 1st post.
Craftsman Block motor Bench Grinders - What's the Fuss ... ?
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4000528#post4000528
 

torqueman2002

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Well I may have a fairly expensive paperweight. But learning experience either way. I am terrible at soldering, never had a reason for much practice, so I can really only hope for the best as well. Haha thanks for the help!
quest
You maybe able to recoup some or all of the price, by parting it out on eBay.
 

drivesitfar

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Oct 23, 2013
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Scooter: round top block VS. flat top block pictures. two of my favorite blocks are Doc's GO BLUE 1HP flat top and McB's Blockmeister 3/4 HP round top. here's also a couple pictures of my 1/2 HP's both round and flat. the round tops are a bit older and have a little better look in my opinion, but both work pretty much the same.

i don't have a picture handy of a PRE BLOCK that has a round top look and a little more bling.
 

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scooternut

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Thanks DRIVES et al, I had noticed the different tops but just didn't realize we we were calling them something different.

That being said, I am with you on the round top aesthetics being more pleasing to my eye.

I'll continue to watch out for the 3/4 model in my area.
 

torqueman2002

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Traded in a block yesterday, couldn't resist this beaut:

:thumbup::thumbup:
That is one hefty boy! I think it's a pre-pre-Block. ?

As much as it pains me to post this Ohio State colors pre-Block, I am all for equal time. :p
FIP1070941.jpg


Looks like a round top, but model number is 115. instead of 397.
FIP1070942.jpg
 

drivesitfar

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Ex: while i wouldn't pass on buying or using that one this one has the BLING i was talking about. not much, but when spiffed up and not re painted it does have a shine to it.

thanks for posting the brown one and is it yours?
 

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exmaxima1

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Ex: while i wouldn't pass on buying or using that one this one has the BLING i was talking about. not much, but when spiffed up and not re painted it does have a shine to it.

thanks for posting the brown one and is it yours?

Drives, it's my grinder. More pics on the thread I started.
 

vertguy

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Apr 6, 2010
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SE WI
Thinned the block collection to 4 tonight as I listed one of the 60's 1/3 on CL yesterday and it sold tonight. Nice to see a younger guy buying a vintage tool as he was maybe in his mid 20s and paid the $100 asking price without any dickering. May list the other 1/3 this week as well as I would be very happy with anything close that price considering I picked it up for 30 with a stand (the stand stays).

Finally ordered a blast cabinet from TP yesterday, so I should be able to start the 3/4 resto as soon as I wrap up a stool resto for the wife.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

Cruzan80

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Denver, CO
Which blast cabinet did you order? Curious as to your thoughts on their quality, etc. May be picking up the smaller benchtop unit this holiday season.
 

Ridjobradi

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Sep 28, 2015
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I have two blocks that I would like to trade for comparable round tops. The round tops will fit better we with the rest of my pre-WWII equipment.

I am in no rush, as I am not home often.

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exmaxima1

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I have two blocks that I would like to trade for comparable round tops. The round tops will fit better we with the rest of my pre-WWII equipment.

I may be off base, but AFAIK, Roundtop Blocks are from the 60's. If you want pre-WW2 you should be looking at those massive older CM grinders, as well as Atlas or Walker-Turner
 

vertguy

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Which blast cabinet did you order? Curious as to your thoughts on their quality, etc. May be picking up the smaller benchtop unit this holiday season.

I ordered the 780-TL and will know more when it is delivered tomorrow. Probably overkill but I like that it is USA made and was willing to pay the extra $$ over something like a comparable HF unit that requires a ton of upgrades to work decent.
 
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McBrownie

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I may be off base, but AFAIK, Roundtop Blocks are from the 60's. If you want pre-WW2 you should be looking at those massive older CM grinders, as well as Atlas or Walker-Turner

Ex,

I agree that, aesthetically, the round tops may "fit in", but one of those big old Black and Decker or Craftsman cast iron beasts would be more period correct. However, I'm not aware of anyone actually keeping score. So, "whatever makes you feel good" works for me. :)

Here is a great comparison that was just posted on GJ:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6048802&postcount=1281
 
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vertguy

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Do any of my fellow blockheads have an end guard cover for a 1/3hp '60s block laying around? One of my recent acquisitions is missing one. I just need the end plate, not the whole cover.

Model 397.19580

Thanks!
 

Ridjobradi

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I would like round blocks. The motors on pre WWII are too big. I am starting to move towards later machines, as my collection preferences change.

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CrotalusAtrox

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Mar 5, 2016
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The Great Southwest
Found the this 1/2 HP on the right came with the stand on the left. Put the 1/2 hp Pre Block on that stand. Like those cast stands not the sturdiest stands ever made but decent for what I us it for and they look good.
IMG_2383_zpsjqvdmarp.jpg
[/URL][/IMG]
 

torqueman2002

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I spotted a round top Block in 'the wild' on YouTube.

That's it in the lower RH corner (9:15), with David Freiburger from RoadKill, talking about a recent project - putting a diesel in a Cadillac!
CM%20Block%20and%20Freiburger.jpg


<a href="<iframe width=" 560"="" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDK86kzgUPg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDK86kzgUPg" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>

:3gears:
 
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bagged89s10

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CT
I spotted a round top Block in 'the wild' on YouTube.

That's it in the lower RH corner (9:15), with David Freiburger from RoadKill, talking about a recent project - putting a diesel in a Cadillac!
CM%20Block%20and%20Freiburger.jpg


<a href="<iframe width=" 560"="" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDK86kzgUPg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qDK86kzgUPg" allowfullscreen="" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0"></iframe>

:3gears:



Very cool. Funny story about roadkill. One of the guys on that show, Mike Finnegan, is a good friend of mine. We used to hang out at custom truck shows when he lived in NY. Real cool dude. Then he moved to Cali to work for MiniTruckin' mag and then Sport Truck magazine. He actually snapped a pic of my truck when I drive it down to Mississippi and put it in show coverage in Sport Truck magazine.
 

vertguy

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Apr 6, 2010
Messages
1,261
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SE WI
Do any of my fellow blockheads have an end guard cover for a 1/3hp '60s block laying around? One of my recent acquisitions is missing one. I just need the end plate, not the whole cover.

Model 397.19580

Thanks!

No longer needed a TM hooked me up from his stash :beer:
 

bagged89s10

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Mar 13, 2005
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CT
Great stand for a 1hp big boy. That right hand wheel is plenty scary for a Halloween weekend post. I hope that thing is destined for the garbage.



Why I was going to use that wheel as is. Lol just kidding. I haven't used that grinder and won't until it's all gone thru, restored, and new wheels are put on it.
 

WWShop

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Aug 25, 2015
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MN
I'm sure this has been asked, and answered, but what is the best way to keep my 1 hp block and craftsman stand from walking? I tried putting rubber underneath but that didn't help much at all. Any suggestions?
 

Outlawmws

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Aug 9, 2011
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39,212
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The Badlands
I'm sure this has been asked, and answered, but what is the best way to keep my 1 hp block and craftsman stand from walking? I tried putting rubber underneath but that didn't help much at all. Any suggestions?

If it is walking, is there a vibration? I'd fix that first... :dunno:
 

WWShop

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If it is walking, is there a vibration? I'd fix that first... :dunno:

No vibration, runs smooth. I do have a wire wheel on the side that it wants to turn to. I should clarify. It doesn't walk, it rotates towards the wire wheel side.
 

WWShop

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Take the wire wheel off and see what it does. WW's are hard to balance...

I messed with it more a bit last night and I think it is just a balancing issue. I am just going to put a wire wheel on the other side and use it that way. I turned it on and off several times in an attempt to balance it, but just wondering if I was causing any damage to the grinder by doing that?
 
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