Long overdue update: the table saw lives!! Here’s the whole story:
Purchased from guy who was using it in 220v config, he switched it to 110v for me before I got it.
The saw would run, but with a couple issues:
It would take a little bit to reach full speed (turns out the motor wasn’t aligned well, my fault)
It would trip the GFCI (fixed, rest of the list is basically about this)
After asking for help here and on Reddit, multiple people told me it wasn’t wired correctly, but wouldn’t tell me how to wire it correctly (bastards )
I made a wiring diagram and shared it with Opus asking for help. LLM-hate aside, it was the most helpful thing! It actually simulated the path each wire should take, which was just neat to see. The whole LLM thing of “predicting the next thing that makes the most sense” works very well for electronics (at least in this experience, using an expensive model).
After checking everything, it turns out that the previous owner wired the power cable backwards, and instead of fixing that, wired the mag switch in a way that would work. This explains why the saw still worked, even if the switch wiring was wrong.
I have the LLM to thank for this too. It was like “The saw literally shouldn’t work, unless that power cable is inverted”, and sure enough, it was!
I fixed the power cable wiring and then fixed the mag switch wiring. Checked for continuity and the saw works perfectly now! I also went to an 8” blade, it cuts what I need it to but with more power (and technically less deflection than a 10”).
I am now making sleds and dust collection for it! Then I’ll remove the rust spots and get it prettied up
That’s a hell of a set up you got, looks really nice!
I recently added to my antique tool collection, a similar vintage Craftsman sander! 6” belt with cast iron surface, 9” disk with cast iron disk and table. Pics are from when I first got it, it looks much better now but no pics atm. $35 with the motor!! I put a new belt on it (belt cost as much as the machine and motor lol) and ran the disk’s table thru the ultrasonic cleaner to get rid of the gunk on it. The big belt surface basically makes it a jointer. I want to make a cover for the disk cuz it’s a major hazard to have it spinning while trying to use the belt, would be incredibly easy to run your arm or something into it.
But yeah, absolutely in love with buying old school tools for dirt cheap! Thankfully I live in Ohio (Ohio and the rest of the rust belt are historically the manufacturing hub of the US) so used tools like these are a dime a dozen, everybody’s grandpa had a craftsman set up in his shop lol. Got my eye on a 12” (capacity!) Delta bandsaw locally for a cool $100… the 10” at harbor freight is $700 by comparison!
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