Show your "Long C" Craftsman!
- Thread starter Outlawmws
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JoCoSawdust
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Nice find Square.
Username already in use
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Found some nice Long C wrenches today.
The Combo and DOE are Craftsman Vanadium.
The Combo and DOE are Craftsman Vanadium.
SquareWave
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Smokeshow69
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Absolutely! That one looks nice! Should be an easy restoration
Hoorn
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@SquareWave Worth it.
Smokeshow69
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Absolutely! No questions asked.
SquareWave
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What would you do for a restoration? Would you sandblast and paint?
I'm working on a 5169 right now but im stuck when it comes the paint color, im trying to find something close to the original color.
Smokeshow69
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You are correct. Sandblast/ paint and then treat the bare metal surfaces. If I ever find one I want to paint it a dark blue and highlight the words in white or gold.
Hoorn
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@SquareWave I've never used a sandblaster on any of the Reed/Craftsman vises I've redone. I wire wheeled, filled in any deep gouges with JB weld and sanded smooth. I like red oxide primer and in all these examples I used Rust-Oleum satin midnight blue and a paint pen for the lettering. Rust-Oleum navy blue is also a very good match for that 1940s Craftsman color.
I'm currently restoring a 1939 Walker Turner lathe. I've had pretty good success removing the old paint by covering a part heavily with Citra-strip. I'm always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, and hosing off the Citra-strip after several hours or the next day with a high pressure hose then immediately drying it is so much easier than breaking out an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment and a mask.
I'm currently restoring a 1939 Walker Turner lathe. I've had pretty good success removing the old paint by covering a part heavily with Citra-strip. I'm always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, and hosing off the Citra-strip after several hours or the next day with a high pressure hose then immediately drying it is so much easier than breaking out an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment and a mask.
RTM
Well-known member
I dunno, that looks like a lot of original paint to me. I'd let that be with some light wiping of the rust.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Amazing piece there Hoorn! Well done@SquareWave I've never used a sandblaster on any of the Reed/Craftsman vises I've redone. I wire wheeled, filled in any deep gouges with JB weld and sanded smooth. I like red oxide primer and in all these examples I used Rust-Oleum satin midnight blue and a paint pen for the lettering. Rust-Oleum navy blue is also a very good match for that 1940s Craftsman color.
I'm currently restoring a 1939 Walker Turner lathe. I've had pretty good success removing the old paint by covering a part heavily with Citra-strip. I'm always looking for ways to work smarter, not harder, and hosing off the Citra-strip after several hours or the next day with a high pressure hose then immediately drying it is so much easier than breaking out an angle grinder with a wire wheel attachment and a mask.
Hoorn
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@Smokeshow69 thank you brother, those pictures are actually four different vises, with one repeat. Two 5181s, a 5183 and a Reed 104 1/2.
Smokeshow69
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Wow, I didn’t notice that. Well in that case even more well done! I have never even found one in the wild and you have 4
SquareWave
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I really like the dark blue, I am definitely going that route when I get around to the 5185. Thanks for the motivationI'm not a fan of "Sand blasting" either. even Media blasting, as popular as it is with some, doesn't do it for me.
Etank wilt de-rust and usually remove most all old paint. (rattle can comes off in sheets). you can de-grease in Hot simple green and also remove most any paint.
A buddy uses Lye as his Electrolyte in the E-tank, strips EVERYTHING, and de-greases.
Etank wilt de-rust and usually remove most all old paint. (rattle can comes off in sheets). you can de-grease in Hot simple green and also remove most any paint.
A buddy uses Lye as his Electrolyte in the E-tank, strips EVERYTHING, and de-greases.
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Picked up this super cool but filthy craftsman long c sprayer with correct long c motor and metal base for $5 this weekend! It was too cool to leave behind. I haven’t had any time to research it.
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Provincial
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I don't recall seeing this Craftsman logo before. Where does it fit in? I expect after Long-C, but perhaps an oddball during the Heritage Era?
Smokeshow69
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I saw that grinderI don't recall seeing this Craftsman logo before. Where does it fit in? I expect after Long-C, but perhaps an oddball during the Heritage Era?
. It heritage eta with power bronze paint that came out in 1956 so it’s later than thatJoCoSawdust
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New in 1958
Smokeshow69
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I love how the tool states for polishing but you almost never see them set up for polishing. It’s usually for wire wheel/bench grinder purposes which is always sketchy lookingNew in 1958
Picked up this No6516 small carry box, missing tote tray, last Sunday flea market. Scrubbed with toothbrush and mineral spirits, then thinned BLO. Leather handle under separate conservation. The 1939 catalog shows it with a centered lock hasp, so thinking it might be 1938.
Oldtuleguy
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Very nice. Now you have to find the tray!
Private Lugnutz
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Nice save, LS!
Smokeshow69
Well-known member
Nice clean up!
Picked up this No6516 small carry box, missing tote tray, last Sunday flea market. Scrubbed with toothbrush and mineral spirits, then thinned BLO. Leather handle under separate conservation. The 1939 catalog shows it with a centered lock hasp, so thinking it might be 1938.
genog
Well-known member
That vise looks great the way it is.
As far as I can tell it's in darn nice original condition
It's original only once.
I would clean it up, lube it and leave it alone
Put that ole boy back to work
Painting up old vises makes them look..... fake
...they do not belong in the house
genog
Well-known member
A couple of Long C DBE's that I found at an Estate Sale this weekend
JoCoSawdust
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Nice find LS. I've seen a couple different versions of pre-war carry boxes that size, never one without a center hasp. That now makes 3 variations of it. I suspect multiple OEMs.
RTM
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Here's a couple of recently grabbed geometric Craftsman chisels I grabbed 2 weekends ago. The shape looked very Stanley like, but the chromed finish made me think Craftsman. Dull as can be expected, but normally decent steel in these, and comfortable handles.
Joe Huld
Well-known member
Here is todays long C find, a 12 inch Craftsman bit brace in really nice condition. It is marked "Craftsman 12 - Made in USA BB". I am very picky about bit braces, limiting my purchases to Yankee, scarce models or sizes, and those in exceptional condition. This one checked 2 boxes: the uncommon 12 inch sweep and near mint condition with a long C decal. The BB code indicates Millers Falls manufacture and I am guessing 1940's vintage.
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Joe Huld
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I said Millers Falls primarily because I've had a number of Craftsman BB marked block planes that looked like MF rather than Stanley. I have a Stanley brace of about the same vintage I'll dig out tomorrow to compare.
RTM
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My Millers Falls made Craftsman planes are marked BB.
Now a key Q: who made the planes for MF? They also resold other brands.
But my source could be off too: Full notes:
BB = Stanley, ca. 1939 - 1950 (This code only found on amber handled flat blade style screwdrivers, and a block plane; phillips screwdrivers of this same style and time period were found to have the I-circle code)
Also this note:
F-circle = Miller Falls, ca. 1949 - 1964
So likely to be a bit late for Long C if its really MF? (and the date range is right for MF)
But my source could be off too: Full notes:
BB = Stanley, ca. 1939 - 1950 (This code only found on amber handled flat blade style screwdrivers, and a block plane; phillips screwdrivers of this same style and time period were found to have the I-circle code)
Also this note:
F-circle = Miller Falls, ca. 1949 - 1964
So likely to be a bit late for Long C if its really MF? (and the date range is right for MF)
RTM
Well-known member
For the most part, MF is considered to have made their own planes, and relabeled some of the Goodell Pratt tools, up until the 60s or so. Post buyout, they left the GP name on lots of stuff, then slowly removed them.
I don’t think MF ever sold planes by another manufacturer, but did relabel for Craftsman and others.
I don’t think MF ever sold planes by another manufacturer, but did relabel for Craftsman and others.
Joe Huld
Well-known member
MF manufactured the planes themselves; I have always wondered why they chose to enter the plane business as late (1929) as they did. They continued making some into the 1970's.
