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Planer Refurb

Project by ww_kayak posted 612 days ago 571 views 2 times favorited 22 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here’s a planer I recently finished. I found this at an auction for 60 bucks! It is an old Craftsman which is actually a Belsaw, later purchased by Powermatic.

At the auction there were fresh wood chips so I assumed it ran (I know, I know ), but other than that I didn’t really have a clue what shape it was in. At some point somebody had spilled a gallon of latex paint on it, which poured through everything all the way down to the motor:( So, I stripped it down completely, cleaned, scraped, and painted it. It’s only rattle can gray but it looks way better than it did and it works great. I dialed in the cutters, rollers, and surfaces using a dial indicator and after some minor tweeking… zero snipe :)

Rust 1

Rust 2

Rust 3

Rust 4

No Rust 1

No Rust 2

No Rust 3

Yes it will have dust collection ;)

-- Tom, Central New York


22 comments so far

View design_in_wood's profile

design_in_wood

11 posts in 627 days


posted 612 days ago

Very nice refurb. Nice heavy duty planer that should last you years to come! I’ve got a couple of old pieces of equipment I need to get around to refurbishing myself, got to find the time ;) Check out http://www.owwm.com/, you might be able to find what it looked like “stock” and info on replacement parts (any that you can’t just whip off yourself that is!). I’m actually in the market for a planer, this has given me some inspiration to look out for a used one!

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 612 days ago

That is fantastic. I wish I could find a good project jointer like that.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Sawdust2's profile

Sawdust2

1186 posts in 984 days


posted 611 days ago

You’ve made a diamond out of that unrougher.
Lee

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

530 posts in 896 days


posted 611 days ago

Holy smokes, you brought it back from the dead! How long did that take? Wondeful job and project to tackle. Congratulations.

-- Bob A in NJ

View FlWoodRat's profile

FlWoodRat

584 posts in 806 days


posted 611 days ago

Awesome job WW! Definitely shows that OLD doesn’t mean dead when caring hands are applied. How appropriate that you showed us the “Resurrection” of this treasure just after Easter.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20733 posts in 719 days


posted 611 days ago

Tom,

This is a wonderful renovation. I am not sure I would have the courage to attempt a project like this but obviously you are a multi-talented individual. Great job and now you have a nice tool, that has many more years of life in it, and on will give you a lot of woodworking enjoyment.

Thanks for the inspiration.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View Bob #2's profile

Bob #2

3046 posts in 918 days


posted 611 days ago

I’m on the prowl for a casting like that. They last a lifetime and you can’t buy motors like that now.

Good find and great refurb.

You’ll grin every time you use it.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

View Grant Davis's profile

Grant Davis

481 posts in 805 days


posted 611 days ago

That looks great, way to keep a piece of OWWM around for future generations.

-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"

View ben's profile

ben

158 posts in 767 days


posted 611 days ago

Tom,

That is a truly impressive result that speaks for itself. Bravo.

2 questions for ya—

  • was this the kind of fixup that required some experience, or was it mostly elbow grease and persistence?
  • did you replace the motor (looks like you kept) or anything else substantial, or keep all the original parts?

-b

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7666 posts in 1115 days


posted 611 days ago

That is totally amazing! Looking at the before photo, I would have sworn the only use left in that thing was as an anchor for a large boat.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

951 posts in 779 days


posted 611 days ago

That is just sweet. Thanks for the inspiration.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4013 posts in 859 days


posted 611 days ago

Great re-build, Tom. It will serve you well.

-- Thos. Angle

View ww_kayak's profile

ww_kayak

69 posts in 622 days


posted 611 days ago

Thanks guys,

It was pretty much all labor with the original parts except the 2 bushings I lost?! Belsaw actually still sells the parts and has pdf manuals online if I need them. Honestly it was about 40-60 hours of labor, but a year’s worth of time before I finished. . Fortunately I was running out of room in the shop so I had to finish it to free up that space ;)

Almost everything cleaned up great with a wire wheel on a 1/2 Hp motor (every nut, screw, and washer!). The table surface took the power of a 4” grinder with a wire brush on it. I definitely kept the original motor, there is nothing that can break on it? The bearings seemed ok, and the brushes are the size of an ice cube :o (each with it’s own access panel). If you’re like me and can never get enough pictures, the whole album is HERE.
Brushes

After seeing how nice this baby turned out, you can bet I’ll be going to more auctions this year :) Plus, now I have a compressor so I can put “good” paint on the next chunk of iron that follows me home.

-- Tom, Central New York

View joey's profile

joey

289 posts in 801 days


posted 611 days ago

Got to love them old Machines, I saw one like yours on craigs list for 300 bucks, almost went to look at it last week. looks like a great machine now I wish I did.

I have an Old shop smith 10e that works fine but I am going to redo the base cabinet soon and I picked up an old craftsman 4” jointer for 20 bucks at the flea market I think they are the two machine that I like best.

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/

View toyguy's profile

toyguy

724 posts in 734 days


posted 611 days ago

Great save! “A tip of the Hat to you sir”

-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1755 posts in 782 days


posted 611 days ago

GREAT JOB!!!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View ratchet's profile

ratchet

301 posts in 684 days


posted 611 days ago

Totally sweet refurb. The pics of the b4 and after are striking! This is highly motivating. You are to be commended as a tool saving hero.

As advice; If you haven’t done so already you might download the pdf manuals from the manufacturer and save on CD. This way they are in your possesion always. You might also consider buying a spare set of brushes for the motor (just in case). YMMV

Again nice work!

View blackcherry's profile

blackcherry

731 posts in 720 days


posted 611 days ago

Don’t let the ship sink…. and you sailed her all the way to port…. great job soldier!!!!Blkcherry

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

508 posts in 639 days


posted 609 days ago

Good gob. Looks factory fresh. Great before and after. I also have a Belsaw that needs refurbished. Mine isn’t nearly as tough as yours started. It looks like you have some metalworking capability as well. Is that a Bridgeport mill I see in the background? (& scattered across the floor?)

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

View ww_kayak's profile

ww_kayak

69 posts in 622 days


posted 609 days ago

Yes, it is a Bridgeport... but the scattered parts from the lathe. At the time I took these pictures I had just broken down the carriage to clean it. Those tools are also on my list of tools to refurbish. They both work, but the BP is a little “sloppy”. Unfortunately those will be a little more costly and time consuming, depending on how carried away I get :)

-- Tom, Central New York

View motthunter's profile

motthunter

2079 posts in 696 days


posted 609 days ago

really great work.. I envy those who have the skills and knowhow. really cool

-- making sawdust....

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

508 posts in 639 days


posted 609 days ago

I should have recognized the lathe parts, I mistook them for a vise. I used to have an Enco about that size. I have always regretted selling it… I just checked out your shop too; very nice.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

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