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Clearly, if you have space for a 2nd table saw that is a great solution. How big is the footprint? What is the length/width of the base? Also, what is that particular saw top size?It appears that vintage Craftsman table saws are a big business. Recently I was looking for a small vintage table saw to do small quick cuts instead of digging my big Delta TS out from under piles of stuff in my garage and wheeling it outside for a 10 second cut. Lots of beat up rusty CM saws at ridiculous prices. I ended up with a solid Delta 8" 34-500 saw for $25. A bit of cleaning, new paint and bearings and I now have a nice little "quick cut" table saw.
Here are a couple of resources.
Vintage Craftsman Table Saw Thread
Well, in honor of crossing the 100 posts mark on Garage Journal, I thought I'd celebrate with a new thread on Craftsman table saws. I did some searching and couldn't find an existing one, so if I missed it, consider this an echo. Yesterday I found a 103.20000 buried in a basement in Acton, MA...
What model?
Being a 8" saw the table is small which is what I was looking for. The table itself is 22'"deep and 15" wide. 5" extensions were available for each side making the total width 25", I don't have any extensions. The motor probably adds about 10" to the depth. These saws had rails front and rear for the fence, they are about 33" long and are quickly attached/detached from the table reducing the storage footprint. The PO had the rails but couldn't locate them when I picked the saw up. Not unexpected as he had a 60x30 building stuffed to the brim with equipment from a machine shop business that he closed down. I am going to make a small scale Biesemeyer style fence for it. Original rails on Ebay approach $100 these days. I am in the process of making a base for it, the one that it came with was in poor shape, probably was an old wood packing case that someone adapted. It did burn spectacularly in my fire pit. BTW, the saw's serial # indicates that it was built in 1950.
My Dad had a Craftsman 8" 103.24242 which is about as small as a CM or Delta gets (17" table depth). Despite it's small size it was a real work horse. I think he got it in the late 1950's, we used it to cut wood for a small sailboat and I used it in the 70's to cut all the wood for a 37' sailboat. Probably went through 3 motors during it's life, should have used sharp blades instead of burning our way though boards. Sadly it was stolen at the marina along with a bunch of other tools. It served as the inspiration for getting a small table saw as a secondary.
Joseph - those look great! I have a very similar one I’m cleaning and putting a new motor on. However my Model plate was never on this saw, it was in the family for at least 50 years plus. Is their a way to tell what exact model i have? Many of the castings have (part?) numbers on them, however they do not match any part #’s from multiple Craftsman’s manuals i have printed. Also is there a good place to look for any original parts? Thanks for your help.
That is exactly correct---every change in the fence requires checking with a square and (ideally) locking down the end of the fence with a clamp. I lived with that procedure for decades until I upgraded my fence to a Biesemeyer. The fences on those 50's CM saws are terrible.
I have that model and would like to sell it. I have not dusted or cleaned it for the picture - sorry! I am cleaning out my shed after my husband died. This saw belonged to my dad who bought it new in 1950. You have probably found a saw by now, but if you could give me an idea of what this is worth, I would appreciate it. Thank you! Jane Goering, Nebraska.
