let's see your craftsman block grinders

[Riley Dee]

Just picked this one up today

 

[Riley Dee]

Before & after a mostly cosmetic makeover, intermittently documented upthread.

Beyond a total repaint, it needed a replacement gooseneck, which needed a new socket & wire. I used 16-14 AWG female connectors, instead of 22-18, because of an apparent nationwide shortage. One guy told me they were on the ship grounded in the Suez, which I thought was pretty funny. I will probably replace them (I left a little extra length) when I address the dry bearings. I have not been able to pull the cast aluminum housings off the shaft, no doubt due to corrosion. I’ll have to devise some way to get support inside, around the bearings.
It won’t get immediate heavy use anyway (I have three other grinders), but I wanted to get the pieces together before they got lost.

Wow looks great!

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Nice find Riley, particularly with the quench tray. Interesting that somebody handprinted a date on the guard.

 

[Hoorn]

Saw a very nondescript OfferUp ad with one single close up pic of main decal. I inquired further, got some pics sent to my phone and I couldn't drive to PO's house fast enough. New in box, never started in 42 years. All hardware, tool rests, eye guards, lamp etc are still in original, sealed plastic. I paid $100 for it. Craftsman catalog pic is from 1984/85 edition. $350 for this grinder in 1984 -$100 more than the 1 HP single phase.

I've seen every kind of Craftsman grinder in the wild, but never a NIB 3 phase. In fact I could not find this model anywhere on the internet, including vintage machinery. It was only in the Craftsman catalog that I saw that small entry for the model number.

I asked PO about condition, he said he didn't understand three phase requirements and wasn't wired for it. I'm already shopping 3ph to 1ph VFDs!

 

[exmaxima1]

The catalog sheet says lamp not included, so yours actually costs more yet once the lamp was added.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

New in box, never started in 42 years.

I've never even seen one of those for sale, let alone a NIB one. Congrats!

 

[11b30b4]

 

[11b30b4]

Sunday, I drove 3 hours one way to pick this up.

Most importantly, I drove because it came with this.

I finally have a grinder pedestal stand.

 

[Hoorn]

11b, this is outstanding! I never thought about that but yeah, if any tool looks like a tie fighter, it's that grinder! I had a 1987 Buick Grand National back in the day, the "Darth Vader" of cars lol. And congratulations on the pedestal.

 

[exmaxima1]

Sunday, I drove 3 hours one way to pick this up.

Most importantly, I drove because it came with this.

I finally have a grinder pedestal stand.

I saw your post and recalled that there was a similar setup for sale a few miles from me. I was bit surprised it was still available, but made an offer and picked it up tonight. Not as nice as yours, mine has a weird color scheme, but it was complete with tray.

 

[lafester]

Saw a very nondescript OfferUp ad with one single close up pic of main decal. I inquired further, got some pics sent to my phone and I couldn't drive to PO's house fast enough. New in box, never started in 42 years. All hardware, tool rests, eye guards, lamp etc are still in original, sealed plastic. I paid $100 for it. Craftsman catalog pic is from 1984/85 edition. $350 for this grinder in 1984 -$100 more than the 1 HP single phase.

I've seen every kind of Craftsman grinder in the wild, but never a NIB 3 phase. In fact I could not find this model anywhere on the internet, including vintage machinery. It was only in the Craftsman catalog that I saw that small entry for the model number.

I asked PO about condition, he said he didn't understand three phase requirements and wasn't wired for it. I'm already shopping 3ph to 1ph VFDs!

Nice! This is quite a find.

 

[tijmt]

Here another style.

Mattblast may be able to make a replacement for you.

Also, some 1-HP Blocks sported a Sears Best label.

It is hard to tell with all of the fading, but the top one does look close. Thanks for the second image... looking at mine, it does look that there was an oval label there at one point. I would have missed it if you did not point it out.

 

[Hoorn]

It's not too heavy luckily. Plus it sits right next to the door so I only really have to move it about 6 feet to be outside the door. It does have holes in the stand I assume for bolting it down to the floor but I could use them for making a mobile stand. Maybe someday....

Henry, I made this simple but strong moveable base with scrap wood I had and 4 casters, none of which are swivel casters. My original intention was to put screw-down rubber stops that I could use once it was moved into place. These proved to be unnecessary as it never moves when I use it and it does not rock at all. It sits about a quarter inch off the ground.

 

[mikegt4]

Here is a better photo.

 

[11b30b4]

Chenry318 and Hoorn, the holes in the stand are actually for ball transfer casters. Unlike the holes in the base of drill presses, the holes in all of the Craftsman King Seeley pedestal stands are threaded with the intention of using the ball transfer caster. These are no longer in being made by Acme, but I have come up with a work around using available casters and a thread adapter. Anyway, here is the link of what I came up with.

Classic Craftsman King Seeley Pedestal Mount Casters

Like the title says, I have several Craftsman KS pedestal mounted tools and I have a concrete floor in my shop. Back when these tools were marketed, you had the option to purchase a very unique caster for them. In this page from a 1950s catalog, you can see that the casters had the part number...

www.garagejournal.com

The idea was to roll the tool to the spot in your shop where you wanted to use it then retract the casters into the stand so that the stand sat flat on the floor when you used it. I have been using this method for almost a month now and it works great.

 

[drivesitfar]

11b: got a few pics of your stand with the mods (casters) added? Sounds awesome.

 

[11b30b4]

Drivesitfar, so here is the cleaned up stand, not the table saw stand behind the grinder stand has casters installed.

As far as the casters, the thread I linked previously has a good bit of information and pics; however, in this pic, the original Acme caster is on the right and the other two casters are what I used as a substitute. The threaded hole in all the pedestal bases is a ½” x 13 thd and the replacement caster is a M8 thread, so I used a threaded insert for the conversion (center caster).

This is a pic from 1950s catalog, note the casters are offered as an accessory in the bottom left for the whopping sum of $3.50 for a set of four.

Aside from the size of the stud and the thread, the other major difference in the replacement casters is the lack of the Allen socket on the top of the stud.

This is important because you need a method to retract the caster once you move the tool to the desired location otherwise the tool would roll around while you use it.

My solution for the replacement caster was to cut a flat tip slot in the stud.

And here is a caster installed on a stand.

I have used these for over a month now and they work great. I roll the tool to where I want to use it then I use a flat tip to retract the casters and let the stand sit flat on the floor, works perfectly.

As far as the grinder stand, Since this is considerably less weight than a table saw or jointer, I did not see a need to use the casters on grinder pedestal but I will say that with my ¾ hp grinder mounted on the stand, when I power up the grinder, the stand wants to walk a bit. Once the grinder is running the stand seems to be ok but powering it up, I am finding that I need to place my foot on the stand to keep it from walking.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

 

[tijmt]

Here is a better photo.

Thanks!

 

[Sebert]

My two the 1/3hp was used once the guy never put it together and lost the parts. It runs like a dream. The pic of windings are on the 1/3

 

[liliysdad]

Picked this one up locally for $100 with the Craftsman stand and work light. Runs perfect, the only boo-boo is some damage to the tag.

 

[Hoorn]

That stand is in great condition. As much as I love my pedestal, that looks very stable. The Crowntop logo makes it.

 

[drivesitfar]

11b: thanks for the great pics and fantastic write up about the casters. Also fir adding the catalog page with all the stands. Really nice thinking on adding the slot so you can lower and raise the newer casters. We’ll done!!

 

[11b30b4]

drivesitfar, you are welcome. I am glad you guys find it useful.

 

[torqueman2002]

FYI - For those members that maybe looking for Block (1/3HP 397.19580) parts, here is a link to one I placed in the Classified section.
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/grinder-1-3-hp-craftsman-block-style-397-19580.484471/

 

[emeraldcoupe]

Finally got one with a stand today, pretty cheap too at $60

 

[Bro-Dozer]

@emeraldcoupe Congrats. Also, dig the dual Coleman lanterns....

 

[exmaxima1]

Picked up a similar block with stand, this time 1/2 hp.

 

[emeraldcoupe]

was going to flip the 1/3 i just got, but i started using it. it's now a keeper.

 

[torqueman2002]

was going to flip the 1/3 i just got, but i started using it. it's now a keeper.

Uh-huh. I understand completely.

 

[Hoorn]

That ranks up there with the one I tell my wife when she spots a new grinder/vise/drill press/tool box... "I've had that"

 

[Outlawmws]

Mine doesn't ask.

 

[Gunfighter556]

I guess I am just lucky, my wife is always on the lookout for more power tools/shop equipment.

 

[Flying Mustang]

New to me. Went to salvage a 1920's solid Walnut bed that was a freebie... And this was gathering dust. $20

I plugged it in at home and was confused when I turned it off because the coast down is simply insane!!! I think it might clean up nice!

What years were these made? 1969-???

 

[PacificaVette]

Look at the bottom plate. The manufacture date is usually stamped there.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I guess this is a pre block grinder, but I figured I'd post a picture anyway. It's a 1/3hp model in pretty good condition except it needs a good clean and it's missing one of the grinding wheel side covers. Still, for $5.00 it was worth it. I guess I'll have to try my hand in fabricating a new cover. The previous owner fabricated an interesting carrying handle, made out of an old power cord, it's crude but it does make it easy to pick up and move around.

I picked it up at an estate sale this morning that was advertised as everything selling for $5.00 or less. The pictures of the basement workshop looked promising in the ad, but by the time I got there another fellow was hoovering up all the interesting hand tools. He hadn't claimed this yet so I grabbed it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

As a followup to my previous post, today I hammered out a new side cover to replace the missing one on the grinder above. I used some galvanized sheet metal left over from my furnace ducts; it's maybe not ideal and it's a little thinner material, but it's what I had on hand. I hollowed out a dome-shaped depression in a scrap piece of 2x4 and used it as a hammerform for the center of the cover, then put the original one from the other side of the grinder over the top of it and scribed around the edge to get the shape, and finally cut it out with tin snips. A little bit of filing and grinding, and it was done. It is a little lumpy from the hammering, but I think it came out OK. At any rate it's good enough for me.

 

[Outlawmws]

Well done shaping that! Not that easy with steel!

 

[exmaxima1]

I guess this is a pre block grinder, but I figured I'd post a picture anyway. It's a 1/3hp model in pretty good condition except it needs a good clean and it's missing one of the grinding wheel side covers. Still, for $5.00 it was worth it. I guess I'll have to try my hand in fabricating a new cover. The previous owner fabricated an interesting carrying handle, made out of an old power cord, it's crude but it does make it easy to pick up and move around.

I picked it up at an estate sale this morning that was advertised as everything selling for $5.00 or less. The pictures of the basement workshop looked promising in the ad, but by the time I got there another fellow was hoovering up all the interesting hand tools. He hadn't claimed this yet so I grabbed it.

Great score for $5! Not a pre-block (note the location of the switch), but a very desirable roundtop block. You'll love it.

 

[Flying Mustang]

Look at the bottom plate. The manufacture date is usually stamped there.

There is no bottom plate on mine...

It's shiny now. 133 seconds to coast down. Has original stones on it!!

 

[Old Radar]

60ish seconds is fairly standard. Your bearings may be drying out.