Craftsman TS rehab

Some perspective

Steve D, in CT

My first saw was a Craftsman contractor style saw. There are some factors in the design and construction of that saw that make it radically different from a Delta contractor saw from the same era.

In no particular order, the plate that the blade comes through is a stamped steel plate in a shallow pocket. Putting stabilizers on both sides of the blade will move the blade over in the slot. You could make a wooden throat plate but the flange around will only be 1/8 or so. No big deal.

When this has been done, bear in mind that the semi-circular trunnions are designed with the center of rotation at the intersection of the blade center with the table top. Moving the blade over 1/8" will make the blade collide with the side of the throat plate unless the slot is opened.

The spindle on my Craftsman was poorly designed. The flange was pressed onto the spindle but had no shoulder to locate it. From the end of the shaft there was the nut, the blade, the flange, the bearing and then a retaining ring. The repeated act of tightening the blade drives the flange down the shaft with the retaining ring holding everything back. The result was a mushroomed e-ring slot that had to be filed down.

There was a fair amount of runout at the face of the flange which is multiplied out from the radius of the flange to the radius of the blade - maybe 4 or 5 to 1. I had the spindle out for bearing replacement and took the opportunity to have the flange faced on a metal lathe. That cleaned it right up.

The fence on those saws was terrible and the poster did the right thing in replacing it.

Once I made a sturdy fence and trued the flange it was an OK saw but there was also a weak point in the angle adjustment. Because the trunnions and center assembly aren't very solid there is little repeatability to keep the blade parallel to the slots. If you are adjusting the saw a lot or moving it a lot it won't work well for fine work off the saw. If you just need it for breaking down boards for further refinement with a jointer and planes you'll be able to do that just fine.

When I was a lad I had a neighbor who made mitered walnut clocks on his Delta contractor saw and everything fit perfectly. If you are able to do that with the Craftsman it will take a lot of effort.

I have a set of stablilizers at my father's house, never installed for the reasons above. You can have them for postage if you like.

Re: Some perspective

Kevin French

Thanks for the offer, mine arrived today, not installed.

I'll take the rest of your post under avisement tomorrrow, there's a lot to think about.

Re: Some perspective

Charlie

Steve, I threw a decent blade on mine, some stabilizers, and used mine until it was practically dead.

All that other stuff -- no clue.

I must have made miles and miles of cuts with mine.

Looking under the hood comes with risks. Sometimes you just have to hop in the car and drive.

Re: Some perspective

Steve D, CT

I made plenty of cuts with mine too. That was interrupted by the replacement of bearings, hence my experience under the hood. In my case I had to go under the hood if I were to keep driving.

I was providing information that would help evaluate how much effort and expense a saw like that justifies. It depends on what the owner wants from it.

Re: Some perspective

Charlie

Happy I never had to replace the bearings on mine. I attribute it to using a thin-kerf blade with stabilizers.

;-)

Cheers!

Re: Some perspective

Steve D, in CT

On a 50 year old saw you are way overdue. Even without use the grease goes bad.

Re: Some perspective

Charlie

Steve, I haven't had the saw in years.