My Weekend Find - Alien Head Planer

[JasonW]

About a year ago I saw my first Craftsman Alien Head Planer and decided I wanted one. I have since been looking for one at a decent price that wasn't absolutely destroyed. Today was the day. It is the old 103.1801 model and it appeared to be in near perfect shape, that is until the seller dropped it off the cart on the way to my truck. Fortunately the damage wasn't too bad, though the front wheel is now bent a bit to one side. Up until that point, my biggest issue was that the last time it was 'restored' someone simply blew some of the dust off and primed and painted EVERYTHING black.

Here is the seller's picture. I will get some better ones later.

I have two questions for you who have worked on old Sears cast iron.

1) Any suggestions for straightening the handle? The finger knob is steel so I can work on that but the rest of the handle appears to be a dense pot metal. There is no obvious cracking - YET. And I'd like to keep it that way.

2) As you may see in the picture, they painted over the depth gauge and Sears ID and logo plates. Have any of you had experience removing rattle can primer and paint without stripping the underlying text and such? Certainly this isn't the first time a 'restorer' forgot to buy masking tape.

I kid you not, the paint is everywhere. The table hangs up there is so much paint glued sawdust on the rails. What were they thinking? There is no evidence the original paint was even in bad shape.

Not going to complain too much though, I finally got the planer with a stand and motor included. Now the fun begins.

 

[speadphreak]

It could be painted like that because it was stolen. That is pretty much standard for stolen goods like that.

 

[Mickey O]

Those are cool, I just saw one at a sale a few weeks ago, the thing looked like new. I'll be curious to hear how it performs.

Found the pics from the sale:

 

[bobadame]

I have one of those. Mine has no anti kick back device. It's a bit stressful to use.

 

[TireTracks]

You ****, thats on my list of tools I want.

Don't try and straighten the handle, because it WILL crack when you bend it back, The pot metal fatiges easy.

I have yet to see a single one of those come up for sale on the Local C-list in over a year of looking. I should probably start looking at estate sales here soon.

 

[jrlp]

I'd cut the bent parts and braze rebuild it.. Or make a replacement part and braze that in.. I'm sure lots of ideas will flow once a picture gets posted

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[amguttin]

I have one and its for sale. They are cool planers but dont try to re-bend pot metal doesnt like to be played with.

 

[JasonW]

Mickey,

That one looks great, surprised you didn't come home with it. Of course no one mentioned price.

 

[JasonW]

I have one of those. Mine has no anti kick back device. It's a bit stressful to use.

I wondered about that. I had seen several pictures of these without them, including one with homemade versions apparently made from piano hinges. I'm still trying to figure out how the factory ones work (if they work). I would not have purchased this unit if it had not had them. If I can find the link to the 'piano hinge' instructions I will send it over to you.

 

[JasonW]

You ****, thats on my list of tools I want.

Don't try and straighten the handle, because it WILL crack when you bend it back, The pot metal fatiges easy.

I have yet to see a single one of those come up for sale on the Local C-list in over a year of looking. I should probably start looking at estate sales here soon.

Wow, a 'you ****' just for finding one. I really want to try to straighten the handle, but perhaps I should just look for a donor machine and trade handles. Kind of ***** it makes it 70 years intact then gets broken on the way to a proper restoration.

Keep your eyes open. They don't come up very often around here either. This one I nearly missed as it appeared under CL garage / moving sales rather than under tools.

 

[JasonW]

I'd cut the bent parts and braze rebuild it.. Or make a replacement part and braze that in.. I'm sure lots of ideas will flow once a picture gets posted

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

Yeah, Yeah, I'll get the pictures up tomorrow.

I think cutting and brazing is out - no the least because I don't know how to braze (YET), but being pot metal I'm not sure that would be the solution anyhow. Now making a new one would be a possibility once I get a lathe.

 

[Outlawmws]

SNIP

I have two questions for you who have worked on old Sears cast iron.

1) Any suggestions for straightening the handle? The finger knob is steel so I can work on that but the rest of the handle appears to be a dense pot metal. There is no obvious cracking - YET. And I'd like to keep it that way.

2) As you may see in the picture, they painted over the depth gauge and Sears ID and logo plates. Have any of you had experience removing rattle can primer and paint without stripping the underlying text and such? Certainly this isn't the first time a 'restorer' forgot to buy masking tape.
SNIP

Measure the bent wheel, ID, OD and the depth from the front face to the back flange,

The are semi standard, and I think I have one or two NOS wheels.

Paint removal on badges particularly, as those are easily damaged:

Cut some paper towel the size of the badge and soak it in Simple Green. Start at about an hour, and work up in time.

or "over-spray' paint jobs like this it will usually soften and remove it or allow it to be easily removed. You may need to do some detail work with tooth picks and/or sharpened crafts sticks, but its worth it. (the wood "scrapers" are less likely to scratch the underlying original paint...)

 

[JasonW]

Measure the bent wheel, ID, OD and the depth from the front face to the back flange,

The are semi standard, and I think I have one or two NOS wheels.

Paint removal on badges particularly, as those are easily damaged:

Cut some paper towel the size of the badge and soak it in Simple Green. Start at about an hour, and work up in time.

or "over-spray' paint jobs like this it will usually soften and remove it or allow it to be easily removed. You may need to do some detail work with tooth picks and/or sharpened crafts sticks, but its worth it. (the wood "scrapers" are less likely to scratch the underlying original paint...)

As usual Outlawmws you are a great source of information. I would never have thought to try Simple Green. Tooth picks and sharpened Popsicle sticks are not a problem. Unfortunately I did not get home in time to get pictures or measurements tonight. I'll try again Thursday. Thanks

 

[JasonW]

Finally was able to pull the planer out and grab some pictures.

From the front:

Perhaps it's just me but I really like the imprinted bearing cover better than the smooth ones that came later.

The painted over tags:

The motor and partially painted over switch plate:

This motor actually weighs more than the planer. The motor is an old GE but most everything else you see appears newer. I thought the stand was old but after taking it apart I'm not so sure. The nuts and bolts don't look all that old.

The blades are in seemingly good shape, no chips, but they are not sharp at all. I unfortunately didn't get the blade setting jig. Going to have to figure out how to take them in and out.

Despite the blades being dull, it seems someone pulled the cord against one of them pretty hard:

And last but not least, the bent hand wheel:

So far I have been unable to get it lose from the shaft. Doesn't appear the fall did any damage beyond the hand wheel though. With the table removed everything appeared to be fine.

I have now started to disassemble the whole thing. I am looking forward to giving the Simple Green a try on the labels. This restoration is going to take a while, not because the unit is in bad shape, but simply because I am busy with other projects. I am just glad to finally have one.

 

[JasonW]

Outlawmws,

I think I am going to give straightening this thing a try. If I clamp the wheel to the table under a couple of blocks of wood and slip a length of pipe over the shaft maybe I can slowly and carefully pull it back to perpendicular. If you do get a chance to look through your stock the part number on the wheel is 14022-103. I don't have a caliper but the specs seem to be pretty straight forward:

Wheel Diameter: 3.75"
Wheel Thickness: .5"
Fits Shaft Diameter: .5"

It appears to be a friction fit to the shaft. No evidence of glue, etc. Presently it wiggles but I am unable to get it lose. The fall deformed the pot metal. Sorry the picture is blurry but I think it does the job.

 

[elguappo]

I saw one of these on CL a couple of weeks ago for $40, but it was a 2+ hour drive.
Would have been a seriously cool addition though.

 

[ADaughen]

My buddy's dad has one of these for sale. I was hoping to see what someone paid for one. I thought I had a photo of it, but I'll have to snag one Saturday.

 

[DuroChrome]

I just found one at a moving sale a block from my house! It works, needs cleaned up and lubricated. I'm looking forward to getting it ready...and restoring it to its former glory.

 

[DuroChrome]

Another angle...the stand is homemade with angle iron, the fabricator did a beautiful job. It looks as old as the planer.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Whatever happened to this thread? Did any of the posted planers get restored?


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[Maui]

Funny, I have two of these planers. One will be getting ready for a restoration this summer, and the other is a donor machine that some yahoo apparently crashed to the ground and damaged even worse than the OP's machine.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Funny, I have two of these planers. One will be getting ready for a restoration this summer, and the other is a donor machine that some yahoo apparently crashed to the ground and damaged even worse than the OP's machine.

Any pictures?


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[JasonW]

Whatever happened to this thread? Did any of the posted planers get restored?

Interesting, I haven't been on here in a while, tonight I click on a post about an Alien Head planer looking for inspiration, and it's mine. What?!

To answer your question, sadly no. I was really excited to find it, but as projects go, I've moved on. It was a trap. The Alien Heads are so cool looking restored but I really need a larger planer. I still do plan to restore it, for the experience if nothing else, but it will most likely get sold. Oddly both tools I got from that fellow are likely to be sold. I also picked up a 6" Pryor long bed jointer. Never satisfied, I'm now keeping my eyes open for a deal on an 8 inch jointer. When I do get to stripping all that black paint, I'll be sure to post it here.

 

[Smokeshow69]

Interesting, I haven't been on here in a while, tonight I click on a post about an Alien Head planer looking for inspiration, and it's mine. What?!

To answer your question, sadly no. I was really excited to find it, but as projects go, I've moved on. It was a trap. The Alien Heads are so cool looking restored but I really need a larger planer. I still do plan to restore it, for the experience if nothing else, but it will most likely get sold. Oddly both tools I got from that fellow are likely to be sold. I also picked up a 6" Pryor long bed jointer. Never satisfied, I'm now keeping my eyes open for a deal on an 8 inch jointer. When I do get to stripping all that black paint, I'll be sure to post it here.

If you are looking to sell it you could probably sell it just the way it is ?


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[JasonW]

If you are looking to sell it you could probably sell it just the way it is ?

I'm sure I could, but what fun would that be?

Actually, it is still my only planer so even though I don't use it, it seems wise to keep it around. I have been looking for something vintage but realistically I should probably just pick up one of the two speed DeWalts. Everything doesn't have to be old iron. (Yeah right )