Craftsman/Belsaw planer - $300 (Currie) GONE

[Martin Roper]

OMG - I should have figured that out...I am a total noob with planers. That is why I appreciate everyone's input here.


And Henry W, I wired my shop so I could add 220 and I have a bit of room so I think it will do very nicely. From everyone's input, I think this is the model I want even if this one doesn't pan out.

Anyone know how heavy this is? I will need to lift it into my pickup

The planer section can be separated from the base by 4 bolts I think. When I bought mine almost 20 years ago I was still pretty strong and waddled it over into the back of my station wagon by myself, much to the astonishment of the older fellow I bought it from. There's no way I could do that now.

 

[mkepke]

Anyone know how heavy this is? I will need to lift it into my pickup

It’ll be a couple hundred pounds. Have help available. And bring a tool kit so you can pull the motor and the stand if needed. That’ll make it much more manageable if you have limited help.

-Mark

 

[bob vaughan]

Anyone know how heavy this is? I will need to lift it into my pickup

Take some sockets and open end wrenches.
Four bolts and the planer comes off the stand once the belts are removed. Taking off the hood is good form also. Even at that, it still will be a two man job for the easiest way.

 

[ralitaco]

I did not get out there tonight because it was not in the town I thought it was in. New plan is to go tomorrow.
But I did get them to send me another picture.
It is a bit rusty and is missing the outfeed tables and crank.
If the price is right I think I will still get it.

Thanks everyone for the info about separating the top and bottom.
So as a noob, how do I get the belts off? Do I just roll them off or is there a bolt like on a car alternator?
Also, how is the top attached? Or more importantly, how do I take it off

 

[zdorsch]

So as a noob, how do I get the belts off? Do I just roll them off or is there a bolt like on a car alternator?
Also, how is the top attached? Or more importantly, how do I take it off

Yes, just roll off the belts.

The top is held on by two hinges with two bolts. Remove the two nuts and washers. Back out the bolts and top comes off. You’ll understand as soon as you see it—another benefit is that these planers are fairly intuitive.

 

[ralitaco]

Yes, just roll off the belts.

The top is held on by two hinges with two bolts. Remove the two nuts and washers. Back out the bolts and top comes off. You’ll understand as soon as you see it—another benefit is that these planers are fairly intuitive.

Thank you very much for the insight.

 

[bob vaughan]

Try this: [Sears | Craftsman - Publication Reprints - 306.2339 Planer-Molder [remake] | VintageMachinery.org]

checked the 1981 price. Adjusted for January's inflation, it comes to about $4K. Who knows what it will be by the end of February.

 

[ralitaco]

So I bought it!!! He did not have a 220 outlet so I could not test it, but I took a chance. I am hoping that I can get a 220 line run this weekend or next week so I can test it out.
Thank you all for the advice and input; especially regarding separating the top and base!!! Without that knowledge, I would not have gotten it into the truck!
So now...umm...who wants to help me figure out how to clean it and set it up - LOL!

 

[bob vaughan]

That planer seems to be in mint condition. You scored!
There seems to be little or no wear on the rollers. Whether or not sitting idle has allowed them to dry rot, only time and use will tell.
The 24 amp 5 HP motor is an Emerson. The motor alone will cost close to a grand these days.
It has a quality manual starter also.
A razor blade will get the rust off the bed.
The above manual should be all you need to set that planer up.
Know that that sheet metal top cover rattles and bangs a bit while the machine is running. That's normal.

 

[junquecol]

So I bought it!!! He did not have a 220 outlet so I could not test it, but I took a chance. I am hoping that I can get a 220 line run this weekend or next week so I can test it out.
Thank you all for the advice and input; especially regarding separating the top and base!!! Without that knowledge, I would not have gotten it into the truck!
So now...umm...who wants to help me figure out how to clean it and set it up - LOL!

View attachment 208644 View attachment 208645 View attachment 208647 View attachment 208648 View attachment 208649 View attachment 208650 View attachment 208651 View attachment 208652 View attachment 208653

SCORE!!!

 

[mkepke]

I would get some PB Blaster, WD 40 and steel wool (and disposable gloves). Pull the knives (did you get a knife setting jig?), then get to cleaning the cutter head, table and steel rollers with wd40 and steel wool.

Some strategically placed weather stripping and a cheap bungee should solve the rattling of the sheet metal cover.

How wide a board will the machine take? Get any molding knives with it?

-Mark

 

[mdbuntyn]

Buy a set of Sandflex blocks:

Set of Three Sandflex Abraser Blocks

Klingspor's Woodworking Shop is full line distributor of woodworking tools and supplies from respected companies like Klingspor Abrasives.

www.woodworkingshop.com

 

[Langd002]

Congratulations,

You new old Planer looks very similiar to my 1980's Woodmaster 712 (Still running well). Except your drive mechanism uses chains and mine uses v-belts.
Woodmaster is still in business. I suspect you might be able to get replacement parts like new bed rollers if needed.

Scott

 

[Langd002]

Attached is a RBI/Woodmaster model 612 manual. Not identical to yours but very similiar. Perhaps it will help.

Scott

 

[ralitaco]

Try this: [Sears | Craftsman - Publication Reprints - 306.2339 Planer-Molder [remake] | VintageMachinery.org]

checked the 1981 price. Adjusted for January's inflation, it comes to about $4K. Who knows what it will be by the end of February.

View attachment 208631

Thank you for the link to the manual.

 

[ralitaco]

That planer seems to be in mint condition. You scored!
There seems to be little or no wear on the rollers. Whether or not sitting idle has allowed them to dry rot, only time and use will tell.
The 24 amp 5 HP motor is an Emerson. The motor alone will cost close to a grand these days.
It has a quality manual starter also.
A razor blade will get the rust off the bed.
The above manual should be all you need to set that planer up.
Know that that sheet metal top cover rattles and bangs a bit while the machine is running. That's normal.

I would not say it is in Mint condition but it is definitely not beat up!
So, again, I am letting my ignorance show, but is the gray, hard rubber cylinder the "roller" supposed to rotate or do they just move up and down?
And it looks to me like a bit of dry rot on the right end.

Also, here is picture of the starter.

 

[ralitaco]

I would get some PB Blaster, WD 40 and steel wool (and disposable gloves). Pull the knives (did you get a knife setting jig?), then get to cleaning the cutter head, table and steel rollers with wd40 and steel wool.

Some strategically placed weather stripping and a cheap bungee should solve the rattling of the sheet metal cover.

How wide a board will the machine take? Get any molding knives with it?

-Mark

Thanks for the suggestions on cleaning it up and stopping the rattle.
I ended up getting some Evapo Rust from HF. I have to admit I was surprised at how well it cleaned up. Some folks might have gone even further but it was late and I was happy with the results.
I tried to buff it with some white grit polish stuff but I had no luck. So I just put on a coat of paste wax

I may have to go back and get the ends of the shafts but first I need to figure out how to get the chains and belts off.
So here are the before and after pics:

If I am reading things correctly, it will take a 12" wide board by up to 6" thick.
Unfortunately, not molding knives, but the seller did say he had the other feed table and he thought the crank too (which would be really helpful because using a set of channel locks and turning the shaft 1/2 way at at time took forever to move it down to be able to clean the bed.

 

[ralitaco]

Buy a set of Sandflex blocks:

Set of Three Sandflex Abraser Blocks

Klingspor's Woodworking Shop is full line distributor of woodworking tools and supplies from respected companies like Klingspor Abrasives.

www.woodworkingshop.com

Thanks for the suggestion. I may get these for future use and to try to get those ends done.

 

[ralitaco]

Congratulations,

You new old Planer looks very similiar to my 1980's Woodmaster 712 (Still running well). Except your drive mechanism uses chains and mine uses v-belts.
Woodmaster is still in business. I suspect you might be able to get replacement parts like new bed rollers if needed.

Scott

Thank you for the suggestion on parts and the 612 manual. There is a Belsaw page that had parts but I am not sure if they had the rollers

 

[bob vaughan]

Poke around in this thread I did in 2014 when I was rebuilding one of those planers. It was a slightly earlier model so some details will differ slightly
https://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=143202