Warren,
Nice job. I too don't believe we should relegate every radial arm saw to the scrape heap. Many of those saws just need a little love and we would be good to go. In the past 6 months I have gotten 3 radial arm saws given to me. My intention is to use at least two of them. One setup with a dado set and one with a proper blade. I have two Dewalts and one Delta. The Dewalts are the 9" and the Delta is a 10". All three are 50's/60's vintage and in real good shape. I don't intend to take mine as far as you did on the refurbish spectrum but, I do want to get them working properly.
thanks for the post it looks great.

Marty

 

Looks a lot like mine, except for the color and and a few handle and switch differences. As you can see, it takes a prominent position in my garage. Still works great and I use it all the time for cross cutting.

Congratulations on your new acquisition and its beautiful restoration.

 

That's pretty much like mine.

Mine still has the original table. This was my Dad's saw, and I can't imagine ever getting rid of it. I use it for every project for cross-cutting.

http://lumberjocks.com/Ocelot/blog/22656

I have all the paperwork which came with it - including invoice.

-Paul

 

My, that looks purty after you cleaned it up. I've got a Craftsman RAS, but mine is quite a bit newer. I still haven't set it up yet, because I don't have a stand, but that's on my list of shop enhancements. I plan to make a cross cut super station, pairing my 12" SCMS and RAS on one long stretch. I'll install a dadoe stack in the RAS.

 

Wow, fantastic job on the Powermatic. What color is that paint?

 

You really did a nice job on that restoration. Well done!

 

Wow, fantastic job on the Powermatic. What color is that paint?

- Rick M.

Hey! don't insult that fine c-man RAS by referring to it as a Powermatic!

 

WOW! I love machine restores. That looks amazing. Great work

 

The paint is Rust-Oleum Universal Champagne Mist. It is a gold metallic almost the exact same color as original, slightly less green but more metallic. The back side of the power cord cover on the back of the main arm was painted and had never seen the light of day so it was a good place to check for a color match.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Universal-11-oz-All-Surface-Metallic-Champagne-Mist-Spray-Paint-and-Primer-in-One-6-Pack-261415/202814026

The date codes on my machine are G61 on the base and H61 on the motor. Just a couple of months newer than Paul's which appeared to be F61 on the motor. Based on how I would read those codes that would mean that part of the saw was assembled in July of 1961. A fact about this antique that I didn't so casually point out to my oldest brother born that same month.

 

The paint is Rust-Oleum Universal Champagne Mist. It is a gold metallic almost the exact same color as original, slightly less green but more metallic. The back side of the power cord cover on the back of the main arm was painted and had never seen the light of day so it was a good place to check for a color match.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Universal-11-oz-All-Surface-Metallic-Champagne-Mist-Spray-Paint-and-Primer-in-One-6-Pack-261415/202814026

The date codes on my machine are G61 on the base and H61 on the motor. Just a couple of months newer than Paul s which appeared to be F61 on the motor. Based on how I would read those codes that would mean that part of the saw was assembled in July of 1961. A fact about this antique that I didn t so casually point out to my oldest brother born that same month.

- warrenkicker

Was 1958 the first year of production?
I think mine was made in 1968.

 

The best I can tell 58 was the first year of production for Craftsman for RAS. They used the gold for 4 years and then changed to a grey for a couple of years and then finally to a black at some point in the mid-60's.

See this site for a pictorial history of Craftsman machines.

http://vintagemachinery.org/mfgindex/detail.aspx?id=222&tab=4

 

Hey! don t insult that fine c-man RAS by referring to it as a Powermatic!
- toolie

LoL, I have no idea where PM came from.

The paint is Rust-Oleum Universal Champagne Mist.
- warrenkicker

Thanks, I have a '58 Craftsman Lathe that I want to repaint it this summer and have been looking at goldish paints. The Champagne Mist looks like the winner.

 

Google around or check with Ermerson - I don't know what years the table recall affects - you might get a brand new table shipped to you for free.

 

Beautiful restoration of your old Craftsman RAS!.

Old Craftsman radial arm saws were well built, and can be fine tuned pretty easily for great accuracy. I bought one in 1975, it was my first major power tool. They still made them with solid cast iron columns then.

About 5 years ago I put a much larger top on it-1"DF with a white melamine replaceable surface. It is banded in thin oak. I've wanted to build a nice cabinet or built-in and may some day. It is my everyday "GO TO" saw for crosscutting. Rips disappeared from its list of duties maybe 10 years ago when I finally bought a table saw. I know this saw well and enjoy using it more than most tools, maybe with the exception of my Festool track saw.

 

No table or guard that I have found. Only $100 for the motor and it is worth more than that to me.

 

Great refurb, Warren!

I've used 2 of these saws. One, my dad's who sold it or gave it away without giving me dibs :-( and now, one exactly like it that was given to me by a friend. The one I have includes a steel, color matched, Craftsman base cabinet with a "lift and slide" door. Like yours, I have no key for the power switch so, I'll be rectifying that soon. Might pull the lock off the cabinet door and the key switch and take 'em to my local locksmith to see if they're keyed alike and, if so, have a set of keys made rather than replace things.

One day, I may undertake a refurb like the one you did. Until then, I need to build a new table for it. Looking at yours as an example!

Kerry

 

wow you did an incredible job bringin that old beauty back to life.ive got a craftsman ras myself and would be lost without it,used on every project.great job.

 

WOW!! I was just gifted the same exact saw and I've been looking around for info on it. Mind giving me some tips on how you stripped the old paint, if you did? I'm about to start refinishing mine.

 

Warren: Very nice restoration. I have the exact same radial arm saw, which I am also restoring, perhaps you might be able to help with a small detail. The graduations on the right hand side of the pull handle are gone. I would need to replace the badge, but in all likelihood will need to re create it. The aluminum strip is there, I would need a template or an image to duplicate the graduation lines and the degree number text. Based on the last posting date, I hope some one is still reading this thread.
Thanks
Sven

 

Warren: Very nice restoration. I have the exact same radial arm saw, which I am also restoring, perhaps you might be able to help with a small detail. The graduations on the right hand side of the pull handle are gone. I would need to replace the badge, but in all likelihood will need to re create it. The aluminum strip is there, I would need a template or an image to duplicate the graduation lines and the degree number text. Based on the last posting date, I hope some one is still reading this thread.
Thanks
Sven

- Sven60

theirs a good chance warren will respond he was last posting in april so hopefully he'll get back to you.

 

Thanks, I'll check back. (I'm new to this site)

 

Sven,

I have the same saw.

https://www.lumberjocks.com/Ocelot/blog/22656

I'll have to check to see if I can take a pic for you if I remember.

-Paul

 

Thanks Paul, greatly appreciated.
Sven

 

Ah! I forgot last night.