Old Craftsman Table Saw

[Ted Rulfs]

I inherited a small Sears cast iron table saw (maybe 1950s)Serial #103.0211. I have a space and use for it away from my shop. A lot of good features, belt driven with tilting table top. Operational but it needs some work. Besides zero what are the chances of finding an old manual?

tedrulfs@msn.com

[ 10-23-2005, 04:34 PM: Message edited by: Ted Rulfs ]

[capt jake]

Try here.
Old Woodworking manuals (http://www.owwm.com/)

[StevenBauer]

Does it look look this one?

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p08b5ebfa356772bc2300108705f469bf/fc87e166.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p8e696d0b15e90265cda900663bc709b8/fc87e15f.jpg

the 103 prefix means it was made by King-Seeley like this one. I found it at the dump. :D With the fence, too. :D :D

They're pretty simple, what do you need the manual for?

Steven

[Richard Smith]

I inherited mine too. Do you think mine is a newer or older model? - or does it just have more "features." It does not have as fancy a fence as Ted's/

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/Rnismith/SawW.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/Rnismith/Saw2W.jpg

[imported_Steven Bauer]

This is from the Captain's link:

----------------------------------------------
Makers of Woodworking Machines for Sears

Sears Roebuck introduced woodworking machinery in their 1926 catalog, according to one source. Here is a list of known (North American-based) makers of their woodworking machinery:
American Machine & Tool Co., Inc. (model-number prefix 149)
Atlas Press (model-number prefix 101)
Belsaw Machinery Co. (model-number prefix 306)
Brown-Brockmeyer Co. (model-number prefix 410)
Clausing Industrial, Inc. (model-number prefix 534)
DeWalt Products Co. (model-number prefix 901)
Double A Products Co. (model-number prefix 109)
Emerson Electric Co. (model-number prefix 113)
Herberts Machinery Co.
King-Seeley Corp. (model-number prefix 103)
Parks Woodworking Machine Co. (model-number prefix 112)
Power King Tool Corp. (model-number prefix 534)
Syncro Corp. (model-number prefix 110)
Walker-Turner Co., Inc. (model-number prefix 102).

Nowadays, the woodworking machinery sold by Sears is made outside North America and hence is outside the scope of this web site.

--------------------------------------------
There is lots of good info in there. They have some links to old manuals, too.

I can't quite make out the serial number in your picture.

Steven

[brad9798]

Damn ... I thought mine was old ... circa 1980!

:eek: ;)

[brad9798]

BTW- I like the battery-powered JEEP in the background, Richard Smith!!!

smile.gif

[N. Scheuer]

I got my 8" Craftsman tilting arbor saw (iron table) used, from a friend about 1964. Thought about trading up to a 10" a few times.

Had the motor rewound once.

Still saws as well as it ever die; actually better since I can now afford nice carbide-tipped blades.

Moby Nick

[Katherine]

I have an older craftsman table saw as well. Anyone know where to get 9" blades for it? The craftaman catalog only sells 1 type of 9" and it's mostly for rough cuts.

[StevenBauer]

You can always put an 8" blade in... you just can't cut quite as thick. smile.gif

Steven

[Katherine]

:rolleyes: I know that, I'd just prefer to get some more 9" blades for it.

[John E Hardiman]

I have a 103.0213, like Richard Smith's with the cast iron table extensions like Steven Bauer's and a round bar adjustable fence. I have the manual, but it might take a day or two to find. I could look to see if it covers the 103.0211. Like it has been said, they are pretty simple. The only hard part is to adjust the depth swing arm eccentric piviots to get the blade to go up and down true.

[StevenBauer]

On mine the blade stays at one height and the top moves up and down. smile.gif
It's a 103.0209

I've got a 6" blade in it 'cause I haven't tracked down an 8" blade with a 1/2" hole.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid54/p0fde912019cafb8332318b95db5d0bf0/fc87e161.jpg

Steven

[jzeigler]

I have a table saw that was handed down from my dad.
It was a craftsman from Sears, but a company named Atlas made it. Except for some slipping pulleys on a scarred arbor, the thing is in great shape. Over the years I sanded and cleaned the cast iron table top, replaced the motor and added a sears metal stand.

I now have a much larger Jetco table saw and if any of you are on the market for a parts saw, or have the ambition and wherewithall to fix the pulley problem, contact me. usrowboy@comcast.net
It has an old hatchcover as a protective cover.
Hasn't been used in a decade but I dont' forsee a problem.

[StevenBauer]

If it's an Atlas it's serial number must start with 101.

Vermont American makes them Katherine, and Home Depot sells them:

http://imagex.homedepot.com/f/248/13340/7d/www.homedepot.com/cmc_upload/HDUS/EN_US/asset/images/eplus/045325272558_ 3.jpg

Or for a real high quality blade Forrest makes a 9" Woodworker 1 that sells for only $108.90:

http://www.forrestblades.com/woodworker_1.htm

Steven

[Richard Smith]

The JEEP is in the picture because it is a "shared space." Its not the only thing that is sharing the space either. :(

Tomorrow I'll take some pics of my high tech dust control and belt tensioner systems for the saw.

Stay tuned! ;)

[Stiletto]

Katherine,there are lots of portable saws available that have 91/4 blades with a wide range in the number of teeth , would one of these be too big?

[Katherine]

Maybe, I'd have to measure the insert openings.

[ron ll]

Here are some pix of my 103's just for the record. I put high-speed bearings in them and a new motor on the table saw. Still use them a lot. Sorry about the lousy photos. http://www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/saw103.jpg http://www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/tab103.jpg http://www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/jig103.jpg

[StevenBauer]

I love that little jointer! I've been looking for one to match my saw for years. And those saws are almost the same as mine. What're their serial numbers?
I did some work about 15 years ago for a very old woodworker, he was bedridden at the time, in his ninties. He had a whole shop outfitted with these cool little King-Seeley made Craftsman tools. He had the saws and jointer like yours as well as a matching lathe and drill press. He had bought them all brand new either just before or just after the war.
That's partly why I was so excited to find that 103.0209 at the dump in such beautiful condition. smile.gif

Steven

[ron ll]

I don't have the serial numbers handy. I'll get them tonight. I've seen the lathe, and I just missed getting a 103 bandsaw a few years ago. I've not seen the drill press. I built this whole boat with those little tools.

Notice the vice-grips on my table saw fence. I broke the nice little box wrench and sure wish I could find another. http://www.ronlloyd.com/oddstuff/bosndrfr.jpg

[Ted Rulfs]

It has not been that hard to get things back in order as several people have suggested, even with some rusted, missing, and damaged parts. It's a thing of beauty by my standards and I wish I had the talent to restore it like they do old cars. Mine is like Richard Smiths except for a seven pound cast iron rip fence that acts as a counter balance to aid the tilt of the table. I got a bag with 10 5/8-1/2 bushings at Sears for four dollars and change to convert my 5/8th holes back to 1/2inch. I would love to know how Ron replaced the bearings. Mine may need that as the arbor turns easily but does not spin freely. I can't get the blade to line up with the fence or the blade opening and I assume that is what John Hardiman is refering to about the eccentric pivots.
Thanks to all for your help and suggestions.

[John E Hardiman]

If it has the arbor swing arm, I'll scan and e-mail you my manual (I found it, actually a single sheet with 6 panels to it) which has detailed (sort of, kinda of loosen this nut and pry here)instructions. I'll use the address you posted above. May take a day or two as the wife is in Japan and a 5 & 6 year old occupy a lot of time prying them apart.

[StevenBauer]

I'd love to have the model number of that jointer so I can start searching e-bay for one just like it. smile.gif That's a cool feature having the guard on both sides of the fence. I'd also love to find a miter-guage like that one. That's the one thing that was missing on mine from the dump. I did look for it, though.

Steven

[capt jake]

Many years ago I inherited my grandfathers table saw and jointer. The table saw was purchased by him in about 1946 (I still have the purchase reciepts and manuals). Me paid about $65 for it. Two years later he bought a 4" jointer to go with it. I also have the manuals etc for it and he paid around $70 for it. Delta/Homecraft.
Of the three saws I have (gave one to the son-in-law) this older one is still my favorite, even if it is an 8 1/4". smile.gif Re-built the thing twice now, but still purrs! smile.gif Blow the dust out of the motors once in a while and I'm good to go. smile.gif

[ron ll]

It was quite a few years ago, but if I remember correctly I took the arbors to a machine shop where they pressed in new high-speed bearings. I don't have the skill or machinery to do that. As far as aligning things, those old machines typically have enough adjusting screws, elongated holes, etc. so that with patience just about anything can be properly aligned.

[Craig Lekven]

Richard;

Your's looks just like mine. Vintage 1938 I believe. I inherited mine from my grandfather. I may even still have the manual somewhere.

[Hughman]

corrected for various errors:

Emerson Electric 10" saw, 113 22401. I'd really like to find extensions for the table.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p15a1feb6179b8ccd61ccb1fa7fc74776/f1b94572.jpg

Power King 8" saw, serial # 282 24280
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p0907c1d6da65d66e0400b9a5e41f703e/f1b946cd.jpg

King Seely lathe, 103 23180
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/pb36888ace5932f96c46d9bd998f4a917/f1bc0499.jpg

King Seely bandsaw, 103 24280. Manuals are available from Emerson, and Sears still sells some parts, like tires.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/p170f3288c9869c1a45448d9632d60bf5/f1bc0389.jpg

Atlas mod 62 drill press
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/pe1f621beb62fa42ca3e8fc952efdd56f/f1b94485.jpg

Atlas workshop mod 9320 (?) drill press
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid192/pc8ca49f25faf7ead4f58be5ea5fbf9d4/f1b9450b.jpg

If anyone has any parts for these, I'd entertain an offer.... smile.gif

[ 10-26-2005, 10:13 PM: Message edited by: Hughman ]

[Hughman]

I've edited the above post for confusion...

Manuals are available from the corporate descendants of the original manufacturers:

Emerson has King-Seely manuals:
Emerson Tool Co.
8100 W Florissant Bldg T
St Louis MO 63136

Atlas Machine Tool Manuals
Clausing Service Center
POB 877
Goshen IN 46527

Sears Home Services Library
1300 Louis Henna Blvd
Round Rock TX 78664

[Al Thomason]

I had to replace the arbor once on an old Craftsman tablesaw ('helpfull' boss decided to try and grease the sealed bearings...).

Turned out the whole unit is really a 'water pump' bearing set. Purchased a new one, and took it to a machine shop to have them turn the arbor thread on the end.

Was just like the origional, but in one piece :)

-al-

[ishmael]

Best of luck finding parts and such.

I don't much like tilting table saws. One of the last shops I worked in had a ten inch Inca. For really fine stuff we turned to it over the big Powermatic. It was more accurate, smaller scale anyway, but it was never comfortable. Something about having the work piece at a tilt. Gravity always wanted to intrude. In hindsight the shop would have done fine without it. LOL. But it was Bob's hobby, his first saw, and it did have an interesting horizontal mortiser. Inca, Swiss, precise little thing.

No matter, this one will do all kinds of good work for you. Good luck with the tuning and maintenance. Fairly standard stuff, I should think.

[Bob Cleek]

I have my old man's Craftsman table saw, 4" jointer, jig saw, lathe, and drill press. He bought them in 1950. I still have the sales receipts. As I recall, the table saw, with motor, cost him $50 new! Good iron. I've never had any problems with them at all, except for replacing a capacitor on the motor. Crappy fence on the table saw, but what do you want for free?

[Richard Smith]

Here is my "patent pending" dust collection system. Now, don't be copying my idea!

Steven, with the shown serial number, what do you think the year is? - Thanks.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b126/Rnismith/Tools/SawCollectw.jpg

[Songololo]

This Delta combi machine is a little far from home

http://images.qxlricardo.com/ImgUsers/5/515/51580/5158095/515809542_Big.jpg

http://images.qxlricardo.com/ImgUsers/5/515/51580/5158095/515809542_2_Big.jpg


http://my.ricardo.ch/accdb/viewItem.asp?IDI=515809542&ListingType=0&ListingSort=1&PageNr=1&Catg=39857&ArticleType=0&LanguageNr=0&ArticleCondition=-1

[merlinron]

katherine,

any decent lumberyard or good hardware store can order you a 9" blade, they're still made, just not stocked because there's really nothing that uses them any more. i have a 25 year old black and decker miter saw that is 9". i have the local lumber yard order mine from oldeham.... they aren't real good blades like that of freud quality, but they are pretty decent cutting. you can get them from freud also, but $$$$$$!

[Varna]

:rolleyes: I know that, I'd just prefer to get some more 9" blades for it.

Katherine - I think Forrest will make you a blade/s. Any tooth config as well I imagine. They have been easy to rebore arbor holes for my metric Delta saw and they say they do custom.
OOps - ancient thread- you prob'ly have the blades, but if not Forrest would yield excellent running blade with good carbide

[Bill R]

I have an older craftsman table saw as well. Anyone know where to get 9" blades for it? The craftaman catalog only sells 1 type of 9" and it's mostly for rough cuts.

McMaster Carr carries several with varying tooth configurations.

www.mcmaster.com (http://www.mcmaster.com)

[freddy550]

Was just wondering if anyone would have any idea what a Sears & Roebuck table saw would go for.......I have one with the serial number 103-02041 it is in good condition - we just used it last month and I have approximately 15 blades to go with it.

Thanks in advance for any help!