let's see your craftsman block grinders

[Old Radar]

I also have a second block grinder I picked up at a swapmeet. 397.19340. It was missing one of the end plate guards, the tool rests, eye shields and quench tray. But I didn't care cause I use it for a wire wheel and a polishing wheel. It was ugly when I got it, so a little hammerite paint made it look prettier. Except for the faded label.

Contact Mattblast for a new label. Check this thread: https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=356439

 

[vertguy]

Now that I finally installed a window AC in the garage, I started tackling a couple little projects that included a modification to the dual block mobile dolly. I welded in a piece of angle iron on the long frame sides, which really helped stabilize the grinders. I also upgraded the original mounting board from particle board shelf to 3/4 inch MDO plywood cutoff from my new bench top. The mobile base kits are one of the few things I really like from HF.

 

[cajunfirehawk]

Now that I finally installed a window AC in the garage, I started tackling a couple little projects that included a modification to the dual block mobile dolly. I welded in a piece of angle iron on the long frame sides, which really helped stabilize the grinders. I also upgraded the original mounting board from particle board shelf to 3/4 inch MDO plywood cutoff from my new bench top. The mobile base kits are one of the few things I really like from HF.

Nice work but You needed a dual stand...(back left)

 

[Koches]

Sears | Craftsman Model 397.19330

Just purchased my first bench grinder! I found it at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore. From what I have researched, it was manufactured in the late 1970s. I plan on using it for light duty work - sharpening tools, removing rust, polishing, etc.

I plan on replacing the wire wheel and grinding stone in addition to purchasing a polishing wheel. First, I'd like to clean up the internals - lots of material build up on the motor.

Do you guys have any thoughts, comments or tips that I should keep in mind as I learn to use this?

Brian

 

[lafester]

I've never had one of those but I believe they are very light duty machines.

 

[zanexx]

Hey guys I've ran into a snag in my grinder restoration and wanted to see if anyone out there might be able to help. Im restoring a 397.19521 preblock round top grinder, brown & goldilocks, which I posted about a few pages back, so I'm in the process of putting her back together last night when I realized I am missing what's known as a finger disc spring / spring washer (Craftsman part # 5211995). After thoroughly searching the internet for this thing, every place I have found wants me to buy 10 or 20 of these things, plus shipping and its gonna cost me about $18-25 for me to get these damn washer springy finger-ma-jig thing-a-bobs. The cheapest place I found I called to order them only to find out they aren't in stock, even tho it shows they are online. Even so I still hated to pay almost $20 for a bunch of these things which I probably will never have a need for again. Im going to post a pic of them and the info. If anybody has 1 or 2 they could part with I'd be happy to pay you for them or do some trading for something. I have tons of stuff I could part with, this is just one oddity that I don't have in stock. The part # comes up as #F1555-014 at Grainger, Huyett, and a few other suppliers, FS-1555-014 at Zoro, DT40971905 at MSC, CFW-159714 at Century Spring, was gonna get them from mbemrocatalog.com but they're out of stock and supposed to be checking on it(holding my breath). This post probably belongs in a different area, but I knew some blockheads would catch this post real quick here and perhaps give me some guidance on this dilemna I've found myself in. Thanks for any and all help and advice.





Sneek Peek at the Resto , a little side shot - I'm saving the pics for the debut when she's finished, I'm gonna post the whole process since its my 1st overhaul

 

[torqueman2002]

I checked some Block manuals (I don't have one for your model).

If you have a centrifugal switch, the grinder will use a single ball bearing spring (wavy washer) on the opposite side (LH).

If the Block has a relay, it uses a ball bearing spring (wavy washer) on each end.

McMaster Carr has them. $12.44/10

 

[zanexx]

Hey I also got something here to show yall. I typed up a big narrative about this block and rambled on about it for half an hour and loaded up the pics....went to post it.....and the GJ was down!!!! It was prob a month ago and I was distraught about it and just never got back to reposting it. I've not seen one of these on here yet but I haven't looked at all 600+ pages of just this thread, not including other threads, but I personally haven't ran across one on here. So here it is. The Pepe Le Pew version, or I might call it the "Eh" model. Whadaya think Eh? Could be a gem Eh? Hmmm...we'll have to see eh. (Thats my Canadian impression in case it didn't come across OK eh)

 

[zanexx]

Oh and Model 397.21136, I called Sears, well I was on the phone with them anyway, and asked if they had any info on this model "touret" and they replied that I must have read the number wrong, that there was nothing made with that model #. I didn't waste my time trying to convince them, I just filed it in the X Files. I must have the only one in existence. Nah JK, Ive seen another one just like it and may buy it if the guy still has it.
So anybody seen this model? Are they a dime a dozen or a rarity? They cant be as common as the 19580, they must've made a few million of those, I've got mine.

 

[whateg01]

Didn't somebody post about a Canadian one a couple weeks ago? We were marveling over the French on the label.

Still cool though.

Dave

 

[torqueman2002]

The Pepe Le Pew version - LOL
I have seen 1, maybe 2 others. Not that common, and SearsParts does not seem to recognize the model numbers - IIRC.

 

[LesserSon]

Model 397.21136

I love that they duplicated the model number:
Model 397.21136 Modele 397.21136
instead of just
Model / Modele 397.21136
like they did for
Arbor / Arbre: 1/2“

 

[lafester]

I like the heavy duty switch on a 1/3 hp grinder. They should have put that switch on all models.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[larry4406]

I picked up a 1HP 257.192190 Industrial rated 8" grinder off Craigslist yesterday for $70. I like the extended shaft moving the grinding wheels away from the body.

It's missing the quench tray, 2 rubber feet, and the left spark guard is melted. Runs nice, no vibration. Dwarfs the 1/2 HP 257.191401 shown to the left. Sorry for the mess on the work bench.

No date code on the bottom.

This makes #3 to the block grinder collection which I think is enough.

Not quite as nice as the NOS one Bill found but good enough for me.

 

[zanexx]

I checked some Block manuals (I don't have one for your model).

If you have a centrifugal switch, the grinder will use a single ball bearing spring (wavy washer) on the opposite side (LH).

If the Block has a relay, it uses a ball bearing spring (wavy washer) on each end.

McMaster Carr has them. $12.44/10

Thats the best deal out there on those disc springs, I went ahead and put the order in for them. Thanx!!! Got my new wheels in and Zoro screwed up my order. Gotta call and straighten that out now...

 

[bagged89s10]

Hope everyone is doing well. I haven’t grabbed any blocks until just now. I grabbed a 1/3HP and a 1HP. Both practically brand new. The 1/3 came with an original manual and a stand I haven’t seen before. I found it in the 1978 catalog though. I gave both a quick clean and wax. The 1/3 also came with a disc sander attachment. AmDies anyone have any feedback on them? Also how are these 257 1HP blocks versus the 397? I see the tool rests are not cast and thick steel like the older ones.

 

[Nick P]

My newly acquired Craftsman block grinder, model # 257.191401 .
I did a full restore on it. The first photo is how it was when I got it - a real basket case! I'm also sure I over paid - $35


The second photo is after I worked on it for what seemed like days! (It might have been closer to 3 minutes.)

I'm ready for another restore project. It seems easier than I thought it would be!


Nick

 

[MrJeep]

Great find! Awesome grinder.

 

[MrJeep]

New member here. A few months ago I found a Craftsman 6in 1/2 horse bench grinder for $30. Looks to have the original wheels and runs smooth as silk.

 

[larry4406]

Bagged - those look sweet! What did you use to clean them?

 

[Outlawmws]

I left a 1/3 behind last weekend. pretty thrashed and I just don't need another project like that.

 

[bagged89s10]

Bagged - those look sweet! What did you use to clean them?

Thanks.

They weren’t really too dirty. Simple green to clean them. Then I waxed them with meguiars cleaner wax. I wire wheeled the tool rests and hit them with the deburring wheel.

 

[torqueman2002]

Nice score, bagged!

 

[lafester]

Some nice additions to the thread for sure. I've been finding a lot of delta stuff lately, but no nice grinders unfortunately.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

 

[shoxthemonkey]

Hello from Kansas. Google sent me here to find info about my 1975 1/4 HP Craftsman grinder (397.19300) that had some problems. It was still running but the original switch was broken. It had spent the last 30 years in one of my outbuildings and when I opened it up I found that mud daubers had completely filled the enclosure. After cleaning it out, replacing the switch with one from Grainger, cleaning the contacts of the starter relay and cleaning mud from the windings I was ready to try it out. It hummed but wouldn't start. I could spin it by hand and it would take off, seemed normal. The bearings seemed smooth and didn't seem to make much noise. I found one broken fine winding wire when I took it back apart, got a quote for rewinding and decided to start looking for a replacement grinder

The very next day I found a 1/3 HP block grinder on CL with a lamp, original shields and a knife sharpening attachment. I gave $100 for it and brought it home. I plugged it in and Holy Cow was it quiet. And it continued spinning for a full minute after I turned it off. I started to wonder if the issue with my first grinder is bearing related rather than windings. Could bearings be the culprit and not the windings? I'm going to get a new pair and try it. Can't hurt, right?

I'll post some pictures when my post count gets high enough. This is a great site with lots of good info. Glad I found it. Is there a thread on here that would have proper operation instructions for the knife/chisel jig?

 

[torqueman2002]

... I could spin it by hand and it would take off, seemed normal. ... I found one broken fine winding wire when I took it back apart ...

If it just humms at power on, but runs normally after spinning by hand -- that is a symptom of the start winding circuit having an open fault: sticking relay/start-up switch or a break in the wiring.

My experience is not good with repairing the winding wires and too expensive to have them rewound.

The bearings are probably the same part number for both the 1/4 and 1/3 Block grinders. I don't think the 1/3-HP needs bearings to work, but they will be useful for the 1/3-HP.

At the age these Blocks are, I routinely replace them. Long spin down time is an indicator of dry bearings; all else being equal.

Best of luck. Looking forward to your pictures.

 

[shoxthemonkey]

While I have you engaged, is there a thread that explains preferred methods for posting pictures? Every site seems to be different and I don't want to screw up right away.

Thanks.

 

[Mintgrun]

While I have you engaged, is there a thread that explains preferred methods for posting pictures? Every site seems to be different and I don't want to screw up right away.

Thanks.

See post #4 in the sticky at the top of the page.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=434502

 

[shoxthemonkey]

Thanks, I'm not sure how I overlooked that.

 

[torqueman2002]

There maybe a min. number of posts required before a new member can post pictures. Sorry I don't have details, I am just thinking out loud.

 

[shoxthemonkey]

5 is the number. I should be able to post them now. BRB

 

[shoxthemonkey]

This is the CL grinder I picked up yesterday. I'll take some better pictures later.

 

[shoxthemonkey]

These are pics of my original 1/4 HP unit. I didn't think to take any pictures as soon as I exposed the dauber damage. A lot of the mud had already been removed before these pictures were taken. I'm guessing that I broke that wire with my removal efforts.

 

[larry4406]

shoxthemonkey - what is that attachment on the left wheel?

 

[Outlawmws]

While I have you engaged, is there a thread that explains preferred methods for posting pictures? Every site seems to be different and I don't want to screw up right away.

Thanks.

Here is the readers digest version:

"Posting pics 101:

Start from the ""Go Advanced"" posting menus, or the ""Post Reply"" button near the bottom of any page, (Or hit the ""paperclip"" button to get to the upload popup); and at step 5 copy it into the URL field after hitting the ""postcard"" button: (Step 4/5 is optional; you will still have thumbnails)

"

 

[Outlawmws]

These are pics of my original 1/4 HP unit. I didn't think to take any pictures as soon as I exposed the dauber damage. A lot of the mud had already been removed before these pictures were taken. I'm guessing that I broke that wire with my removal efforts.

STM, a better pic would help, but since that looks like a "static winding" (does not spin) and external damage, I would repair that -

1. lift the two broken ends
2. scrape the varnish off for about 1/4"
3. gently twist a slice wire onto the ends (it can still be a little in the air
4. Solder both ends,
5. Pint the pare stuff with varnish or nail polish - let dry
6. flatten and paint again with nail polish so it won't vibrate
7. Bob's your Uncle

I did this once with a wound armature, and used that sucker for another ten years...

ONLY works with exposed breaks (mine was an exposed blown wire...)

 

[shoxthemonkey]

shoxthemonkey - what is that attachment on the left wheel?

That was advertised as a knife sharpening attachment. I'm not sure how it works but it looks to me like it is for chisel and planer knives. I'm looking for an operations manual but no luck thus far. The hand crank moves the table left and right. A thumbwheel pivots the table on an arc. It is currently set at a right angle to the wheel so I will have to play with that to get the angle chisel like.

 

[shoxthemonkey]

STM, a better pic would help, but since that looks like a "static winding" (does not spin) and external damage, I would repair that -

1. lift the two broken ends
2. scrape the varnish off for about 1/4"
3. gently twist a slice wire onto the ends (it can still be a little in the air
4. Solder both ends,
5. Pint the pare stuff with varnish or nail polish - let dry
6. flatten and paint again with nail polish so it won't vibrate
7. Bob's your Uncle

I did this once with a wound armature, and used that sucker for another ten years...

ONLY works with exposed breaks (mine was an exposed blown wire...)

Thank you. This is the info I'm looking for. The winding guy wouldn't commit without having it in his hand. He said it might be repairable but probably not. I don't have anything to lose by trying.

 

[DaveT]

This is the CL grinder I picked up yesterday. I'll take some better pictures later.

That chisel / plane iron sharpener jig looks pretty nice to me. Nice find!

 

[lafester]

My 3/4 decided to start humming, but spinning the wheels does not do anything.
Luckily I have a parts machine to get it going again. The slightest mis-alignment can cause humming as well.

Thinking back I did have a 1/2 hp that did start up by spinning the wheels and a capacitor swap fixed it.