I bought this table saw when I first started out years ago. Since then, I have a newer, better, stronger, faster, lighter, etc. tablesaw.
But I can’t face getting rid of it. The top is solid cast material, heavy and flat. I’ll probably never use it as a table saw again but I was wondering what other use I could get out of it. I would love to make a router table out of it somehow, any ideas?
Replies
Tell your wife it would make a lovely table lamp.
You could turn it into an interesting coffee table.
It would make a nice disc sander. If it's running at 3450 rpm, you probably will want to slow it down.
Dedicate it to a dado blade?
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I had the old Craftsman model 100 for several years. They were great saws. I ran miles of lumber through it and even upgraded the motor and fence system and it did beautiful work. I sold it when we moved.
I like the suggestion of the dedicated dado.
shaper...
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I was thinking the same thing as calvin. But if you don't want to do that then an end table is your only other option. That would be cool.
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Flat table for glue ups.
dado saw.
Had one in our shop years ago, cheap old table saw.
Mounted a good dado blade and it made drawer side dadoes all day long .
Cast Iron router tables cost a mint and you already have one. If you don't mind working from below you could simply cut a router base plate to match the throat plate opening if your router base will fit into that narrow of a width. Second option and the one I'd choose is to take it to a shop with a mill and have them cut an appropriate size hole with a lip in it.
That thing is so cool and Art Deco-y I'd have a hard time taking it apart. I'd find a use for it or go the coffee table route...
- Kit
That thing is so cool and Art Deco-y...
Thanks for naming the style. I was looking at that thing and thinking that it looked like it had a specific style, but I couldn't remember the name. Of course, it's Art Deco. I find it interesting that they took the extra effort to make a fashion statement with tools. I don't think they do that anymore.
same family and era as Art Deco, but to pick nits, it's more specifically what's known as Moderne or Streamline Moderne. I love that style too, and my dad's workshop is full of it.Have you seen the animated movie "Robots" that came out a few yars ago? all you vintage tool afficianados would love the look of it. The art direction relies on the look of machines and parts from 1920's - 1950's. beautiful colors and textures, and a fun story too. nice message to fix what's broken rather than scrap it for new.
Edited 12/13/2007 12:58 pm ET by msm-s
If you ever decide to part with it... my brother is in Elgin and using one just like it that was Dad's and I'm sure he'd be interested in another.
Do you think he'd want the base parts? I may just keep the top.
I'll ask.
That's same kind of saw that Dad had that I kind of learned on, but it was a pain to use especially so after using the nice stuff at school and then even nicer stuff in the cab shops.
The dado idea is attractive.
With two blades and a spacer it could become a tenon saw.
With PSA sandpaper the top could be a sharpening center. Jig up something for the miter slot for your sharpening angle. One side of the slot could be coarse paper and flip to the other side for fine sharpening while never changing the angle.
It's perfect size for a hefty disc sander. Make a 10" disk with a 5/8" center hole out of mdf. You can true it up on the arbor later. Then seal the sides and the edge with varnish,shellac, whatever. You can use the preglued sand paper disks or get a bottle of disk sander cement and use regular paper. Glue a rough grit on one side and a finer grit on the other side. I used an old table saw for this purpose for years. Sometimes I removed the disk and replaced it with a grinding wheel or cutoff wheel. Because you can bevel the wheel as well as adjusting the height it is very accurate for grinding.
One guy liked it so much he offered to buy the sander ,saw , grinder whatever from me. I got enough out of it to buy a brand new disk sander, the new takes up a lot less room but doesn't sand any better than my old machine. If my saw was as compact as yours I would not have sold it.
mike
I got a perfect steel plate from sears back in the 70's with my Radial Arm saw, just for that. Never bought any new discs tho'.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"People that never get carried away should be"
I knew the disks were made, if I recall they had a 2° taper. I used the mdf because I'm cheap,worked very well though.
mike
I am pretty sure mine is just a flat plate, no taper. Wonder what use that would be?
I absolutely hate sanding, so thats why I never used this disk, but I just know that if I give it away, I'll need it (G).Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"People that never get carried away should be"
Not sure what the taper is for, I vaguely remember the 2° on the package.I'd like to know myself.
mike
The taper makes it so that the contact on a flat workpiece is a line rather than the entire surface of the workpiece. Permits more effective shaping, reduces "grab", and reduces the load on the motor.
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Thanks Dan, that makes sense.
mike
I had one that was given to me. I never used a table saw for much and I finally gave it away.
The thing I liked about it was the weight. Your idea to recycle it makes sense because the weight of it will dampen any vibration from the router table or whatever but the skills needed to create the entire setup would be beyond my capabilities (or patience).
I understand about keeping some of those first tools. I still have my original framing square. It's not square anymore but I can't throw it out for sentimental reasons.
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that saw in your pictures is a late forties or early fiftys sears craftmen. I have one just like it. was my Dads, I could never part with it. Have upgraded the fence (beismeyer) and is a very smooth runniing saw, but the bevel adjustment is terrible. These are even starting to become collectible (My brother has 3) Use it for something,anything,but hang on to it.