The last table saw purchase that I made was a Shop Fox 10 hp sliding table machine. We have some old Unisaw’s and while I do not think they are up to the same standard as some of the other machinery we have, they were not as costly either – and I would not call them “bottom of the barrel”. The first line of “professional tools” from folks like Powermatic and Delta may have been way over the top for those who were looking at tools in Sears. Before the Internet – Sears may have been the only place that a DIY woodworker might have been able to see a selection of table saws to make any sort of comparison – and may not have had the need or budget to move up the quality/performance scale from there. First cost, O&M cost, features and performance all should be compared. On the other hand, we all make compromises in buying tools. Jat 12:41 agree with you about an older model possibly being the right choice – especially if you get a gem. I got my Uni with many extras including a 2hp dust collector for $500. With some patience, your local Craigslist should yield something for 1/4 the cost of a new model. To an aspiring woodworker however, I would recommend trying out an older model table saw like a Delta/Rockwell, Jet, Powermatic, or even Craftsman. That said, I would certainly recommend any of the “hobbyist” brands to anyone who just uses a table saw a few times a year.
There are many other brands which I aspire to, but it took having experience on the lesser brands to know why I feel the way I do. Not speaking as some sort of elitist, but rather as a professional, I would say that a Delta Unisaw is the bottom of the barrel for me – and I own one today. Craftsman, Stanley, Black and Decker, DeWalt, Ryobi and many other brands still do the same thing today. That’s just sort of their MO copy or buy a patent then cheapen it. Īlthough I do admit that there were some well made Craftsman power tools and occasionally still are, the consensus is that they were always sub-par compared to their peers at any time in their history. I have in my life used many Craftsman tools and even owned one Craftsman table saw, the only Craftsman power tool I have ever owned. I am sorry to have to inflict my negativity on you all, but I think all three represent the look of junk tools aimed at home hobbyists through the years.
#OLD CRAFTSMAN TABLE SAW PROBLEMS PROFESSIONAL#
When, ironically, they ceased building tools for the professional craftsman and instead focused on the bigger numbers generated by the DIY market. I don’t care for Craftmans tools produced past about 1960. Starting I believe in the mid to late 60s their was a DIY movement among the department stores that ended up producing some truly, (in my humble opinion) disastrous tools, which continues to this day at the big box retailers.Īs for me, where I to find one of the old ’31 era saws for a reasonable price, it would be the only one of the bunch that would interest me at all, to be relegated to the collection, for my own amusement only. True, the OSHA guys would have a field day with their ticket books should they find you using one commerciallyįestool now produces a system (called the CMS) that can use their saw in an under table mount, Not for US consumption. I would think that cast iron saw would be quite an improvement over one of them, especially with an induction motor instead of a circular saws universal motor powering it. I believe the saws were outlawed in the US some time in the late 70s. Some even featuring pressboard or Masonite tops.
Back in the day there were some number of the circular saw bolted upsidedown models to be found, they were in fact junk. The pictured saw looks to be a cast iron top on a cast iron base, probably quite stoutly built.
#OLD CRAFTSMAN TABLE SAW PROBLEMS SERIAL NUMBER#
I can't quite make out the serial number in your picture.That old model is little more than a circular saw fixed upside down. They have some links to old manuals, too. Nowadays, the woodworking machinery sold by Sears is made outside North America and hence is outside the scope of this web site. Tables And Fences Part 2 Youtube Sears Radial Arm Saw Motor Problems make / manufacturer: craftsman. (model-number prefix 109)Įmerson Electric Co. 0 : 21874 Vintage Craftsman Table Saw Model 113. (model-number prefix 901)ĭouble A Products Co. (model-number prefix 534)ĭeWalt Products Co. (model-number prefix 410)Ĭlausing Industrial, Inc. (model-number prefix 306)īrown-Brockmeyer Co. (model-number prefix 149)īelsaw Machinery Co. Here is a list of known (North American-based) makers of their woodworking machinery:Īmerican Machine & Tool Co., Inc. Sears Roebuck introduced woodworking machinery in their 1926 catalog, according to one source.