She finally died....

[doug hodder]

Born in 1975, a gift from a girlfriend, my 10" table saw. The workhorse of my shop, I remodeled 4 houses with her, built tons of furniture, cabinets, 2 boats, 2.25 tears. Hopped it up with balanced pulleys, notched V belt, stabilizers, Delta Unifence, extra extension tables...but at 31 years her motor went up in a flash of light and a whiff of smoke...got a new one ordered....ouch$$$...but I'm like a month out to get it rebuilt, + 2- 80 mile round trips and then what do I have, a 31 year old rebuilt motor...guess I can't complain too much...after all, a 31 year old Craftsman saw beats some of the new stuff out there....Doug

[dhazard]

Doug… don’t give up on her, you can rebuild her..

[doug hodder]

Dan...didn't give up...got a new "heart" ordered...Doug

[dhazard]

The new ones just aren’t the same.

[Dean in Eureka, CA]

Doug,
I'm glad it was just your saw motor... Was almost afraid to look.

[halfdome, Danny]

Born in 1975, a gift from a girlfriend, my 10" table saw. The workhorse of my shop, I remodeled 4 houses with her, built tons of furniture, cabinets, 2 boats, 2.25 tears. Hopped it up with balanced pulleys, notched V belt, stabilizers, Delta Unifence, extra extension tables...but at 31 years her motor went up in a flash of light and a whiff of smoke...got a new one ordered....ouch$$$...but I'm like a month out to get it rebuilt, + 2- 80 mile round trips and then what do I have, a 31 year old rebuilt motor...guess I can't complain too much...after all, a 31 year old Craftsman saw beats some of the new stuff out there....Doug

Doug, your doing the right thing in putting in a new motor. My Unisaw is 30 years old and I spent $400 for a new motor in February and change the arbor bearings when needed. The guys at the factory repair center said mine weighs twice what the old ones do with heaver trunions etc. and said to keep repairing it. I have a friend in Escondido CA who replaces his unisaw every 5 years, they must not hold up like the old ones. My son will inherit mine as he was 6 when it was new. Danny

[doug hodder]

Thanks for that Danny....When I was tired of the fence system....at least the guy at the machinery dealer told me to go ahead and upgrade the fence and not the whole saw. He said that the older Craftsmans were a really good saw and that I would be money ahead to just get a new fence system. I respected that as I was willing to plunk down the cash on a new saw. I'm happy with the decision I made. I don't do commercial work, but this saw has been through a lot and always done the job required...I'll get the original motor rebuilt and either use it as a spare for any of the other equipment I have, or a grinder etc....Now all I need is a new chuck for the drill press...Doug

[ALAN GEDDES]

I'm pushing 60 and using the saw my dad first let me use when I was a boy. I think it has had two motors and he upgraded the fence about 20 years ago. I'll give to my grandson when I've cut my last piece. Just wish I could find the person who stole all his old aluminum housing power tools.

[Podunkfla]

Doug... I've got two of those good old 50's era Craftsman table saws. I use one just for dados... The other one just sits now. I finally bought a new saw a couple years ago (the new Craftsman cabinet saw... very nice) on sale.

The one that is just being used as a table now is kinda stuck. You see I built it into a rather nice cabinet with a big extended table with an aftermarket fence and all... Worked out great for cutting plywood and bigger stuff. Only thing is, I built the sucker too dang big to get out the door.

[doug hodder]

Alan...I've got some really old vintage aluminum housing tools that are hand me downs back to grandpa...don't use them, with the exception of the 5" circular saw, old B&D...just hidden away in dads old WW2 foot locker. The old 1/4" drill is bullet proof!! Check my tagline...dad is gone now, but I'm sure he knows where the tools are....Doug

[Elumia]

Inventory of Alum body tools

Milwaukee Sawzall
Milwaukee circular saw
Milwaukee 1/3 sheet sander
Milwaukee 1/2 drill slow speed - gotta be careful with that one, when the bit stops (gets stuck in a knot or something) it can rip your wrist off is has so much torque.
The belt sander never worked when I got it. All hand me downs from my ex-wife grandfather. I suspect I'll be giving them to my Son.

I use all of them, especially the circular saw even though it is about 4 times as heavy as a modern one, but then again, I don't use them every day.

Mark

[dwgriff1]

I have a old Dara-James industrial table saw. 220v motor the size of a huge watermelon. It is older than I, and that is OLD. I've owned it about 15 years. Along the way I replaced the bearings, had some machine work done and even had the shaft extended 1/2" (Don't try that at home!!!) so I could use a stacked dado.

Then I put on a rip fence from Jet, and it is a sweet old saw.

Wouldn't trade it for any of the new. The only evil thing is that it is HEAVY.

Tool salesman told me the other day that there is no reason for any shop to use old equipment, the new is so much better. I didn't argue. However my Jet 14" band saw, new last year, is pretty nice too.

dave

[bledsoe3]

Doug,
I'm glad it was just your saw motor... Was almost afraid to look.

That's what I first thought when I read the title and author. Luckily it was just the saw.

[doug hodder]

Jim and Dean...semantics guys....semantics... made'ja look huh? Doug