Hello Old Machinery folks out there! I have a question posed to us by Irish Marquett on our Facebook Page and I am hoping someone can point this woodworker in the right direction. Here is the question below.

Irish Marquett

• hello,
  
  i was searching for a couple of hours on information on an old craftsman jointer. and if i recall i saw that you had acquired one, via a pic i had found. im talking pre 60's era. 100% steel and cast iron. i just got my hands on one due to a death in a friends family.
  
  i am really hoping to make this jointer work w/in my own shop. i was just wondering if you had any luck finding replacment blades for it. or even an opperators manual.
  
  any help/assistance would be well recieved,
  
  Irish Marquett

  
  
  
  
  

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John,

Did they post a picture or model # of the jointer? Is it a 4" or 6" machine?

Sears had quite a few suppliers for their machines.

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

I will get more info Larry, this is all they gave me. I posted the link for them so they may jump in here and join us.

Larry Buskirk said:

John,

Did they post a picture or model # of the jointer? Is it a 4" or 6" machine?

Sears had quite a few suppliers for their machines.

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

This is where I bought my jointer blades for a 40's era Craftsman jointer. Great blades and resonable.

 

 

http://www.morriswoodtool.com/Jointer-Planer.htm

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

sry, busy weekend. thanks for the invite, John. 

     its a 6", model number 103.23320. with some hunting on the web, and time. i was actually able to find a PDF of the owners manual at vintagemachinery.org. after a few phone calls and sales reps, i was able to find out that sears actually still makes the blades. However, they no longer make the wedges that sit against the blades in the wheel assembly. so, i guess i will have to be cautious when i go to replace them.

     as it stands now, i have rebuilt the original motor. and the machine is running better then i had expected it to. i still have some work to do on the fence and tables, as the years have taken its toll on it. nothing a little tlc and elbow grease wont fix though.

Hi Irish,

Glad you found the manual.

Nice 1940's era King Seeley machine!

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Irish, I have the exact same jointer that I bought at an auction for $20.  With a bit of paint, love and adjustments I have a great machine and so will you.  Does this look familiar.  The blades are 6 1/8 long X 5/8" high X 1/8" thick.  In fact, I have a used set if you're interested.  Just send me an email.

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

Ahhh, Ron !!!! that is the picture that helped me to identify what model i had !!! i have new blades from sears coming w/in the next couple of days, thanks for the offer though

one hellofa nice job on the restoration ^5

i will try and post a few pics of the machine later this week, time permitting, but it is in pretty sad shape. she does joint true though

Ron Dudelston said:

Irish, I have the exact same jointer that I bought at an auction for $20.  With a bit of paint, love and adjustments I have a great machine and so will you.  Does this look familiar.  The blades are 6 1/8 long X 5/8" high X 1/8" thick.  In fact, I have a used set if you're interested.  Just send me an email.

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

The cutter head has an adjustment screw on each side so you can really trim thw head in close.  Put your blades in and sweep a dial indicator across the top of the blade on each side.  Keep moving from front to back macking adjustments as you go until you get the same reading front and back.  Then you're good to go.

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

I forgot what a beautiful job you did on that Ron, absolutely perfect. On a noise level what is it like?

Ron Dudelston said:

The cutter head has an adjustment screw on each side so you can really trim thw head in close.  Put your blades in and sweep a dial indicator across the top of the blade on each side.  Keep moving from front to back macking adjustments as you go until you get the same reading front and back.  Then you're good to go.

---

Ron Dudelston
Site Administrator

Above and Beyond WoodWorks

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Irish,

We like train wrecks.

Most of the machines I start with would be considered parts machines, or scrap by most people.

It makes for a little better challenge.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Actually the jointer is very quiet.  About 80db or so.
 
John Morris said:

I forgot what a beautiful job you did on that Ron, absolutely perfect. On a noise level what is it like?

Ron Dudelston said:

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

yes, even with the original craftsman motor, after rebuilding, she is no where near as loud as i expected. i will have to replace the belt at some point soon. i think i will go with one of the V-belts and see how much more quiet it becomes.

---

Never tell a woodworker that he cant put a square peg in a round hole. He will only change the rules with his tools

Irish are you talking about the link belts or and actual traditional v-belt fan belt style?

Irish Marquett said:

yes, even with the original craftsman motor, after rebuilding, she is no where near as loud as i expected. i will have to replace the belt at some point soon. i think i will go with one of the V-belts and see how much more quiet it becomes.

---

Never tell a woodworker that he cant put a square peg in a round hole. He will only change the rules with his tools

---

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

I would use an AX belt.  The cogs allow better power transmition on those small pulleys.

Dan Coleman

Dan,

What's an "AX belt"? My jointer is a bit newer than Irish's (not much newer) and a bit more power would be nice.

Daniel Coleman said:

I would use an AX belt.  The cogs allow better power transmition on those small pulleys.

Dan Coleman

An AX belt is a 1/2" vee belt that has slits to make cogged.  It will go around smaller pulleys better.  The length code is a little different, so pay attention to the actual length when buying one.  They also make BX belts that are 5/8".  If they are Bob Vaughn's favorite, who am I to doubt their qualities?

 

Dan Coleman