Tool Addicts

New addition to my tool collection

Matthew Kenney, associate editor

6 users recommend

An Art Deco beauty. Here's my "new" jointer, after cleaning up some surface rust, putting on a new plug, and wiring up a better switch.

Matt Kenney

Brought home in pieces. This little guy was too heavy to move about in one  piece, so the previous owner broke it down into the base, jointer, and fence before I met him. I used some naval jelly to clean off the rust.

Matt Kenney

An Art Deco beauty. Here's my "new" jointer, after cleaning up some surface rust, putting on a new plug, and wiring up a better switch.

Photo: Matt Kenney

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I'm fortunate that I have access to a 16-in.-wide jointer here in the Fine Woodworking shop. It means that I don't need a big one at home, which I wouldn't have the space for anyway. And, oddly, when I lived in SC I also had access to a 16 in. jointer. So I'd never needed a jointer at home. But I do need a jointer at home now, as I'm about to start making new drawers and doors for my kitchen cabinets (we're switching from overlay to inset as a way of sprucing up the cabinets). For that type of work, a 6 in. jointer is fine. So I started to look around for one. Of course, fond as I am of old iron, I was looking for a vintage machine (see my previous posts about my tablesaw and a big jointer). I found a nearly original 1959 Delta 6 in. jointer for sale in New York (I was checking the classifieds, called the Bring Out Your Dead forum, over at www.owwm.org) and boy am I happy. It is in great shape. All I had to do was put on a better switch and clean up some surface rust. I probably order some new blades too. And the best part? It cost me less (much less) than any new 6 in. jointer I could find.

What I like best about the jointer is that it is entirely cast iron, even the base. It ways several hundred pounds. I also love the art deco look of the base.

If you've got some old iron that you love, tell me about in the comments below.

Care and Repair of Shop Machines
by John White A Complete Guide to Setup, Troubleshooting and Maintenance $19.95 more info...

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Comments (9)

seyit writes: Years ago I bought a Sprunger 6" jointer, and a 14" bandsaw of the same brand as goverment surplus here in Turkey.Both machines are rather good in condition and I use them almost daily.
Except for the base ,Sprunger( jointer) looks entirely the same.

Seyit.
Posted: 10:52 am on December 16th

Rundle writes: That is really cool looking unit.
It is good to hear that the old iron can be reworked and used. On that note - I have a chance to get an old Craftsman 6 1/2" jointer for about $100. The beds look clean and I am told the motor is in good shape. The machine comes with the original stand as well. Is this a good deal? I have read that it could be hard to get new blades and that the outfeed table is non-adjustable. I hear that that can make fine tuning difficult. I am in need of a jointer and am really at a loss. I can't afford anything remotely close to new so am looking as far afield as I can.
Any help would be really helpful.
The jointer is model # 113.20621 and was made in the late 60's or early 70's.
Posted: 6:59 pm on November 29th

woodchuck1954 writes: I was born in 1954. My father gave me his Walker Turner 6" Joiner. Its older than me by about five years. He bought it new. Its the basic machine with a home made wooden stand. The beds are too low, in my opinion, so I am going to redesign a taller stand and add mobility to it. The one feature I like the most is the motor sits level with the beds, with a triple V-Belt system, a lot like cabinet saws. It has the original 1/2H.P. The one feature I don't like is the rear-mounted fence. I sure wish it had a center-mounted fence. It needs a lot of care, but overall it is in fine shape.

woodchuck1954
"A Legend in his own mind"
Posted: 2:59 am on November 25th

CDH writes: Matt,

In the mid 1960's, about the time my first child was born and I was starting my first job after graduate school, my brother-in-law, Will, asked me if I wanted some tools.

Wills’ father had died, and Will offered me his set of vintage power tools, mostly Craftsman. My shop was now equipped with a 8" table saw, W/T 4" jointer, drill press, lathe, polishing arbor cum grinder, and jig saw.

These tools are from the late 1930's and early 40's (pre-WWII). They are as old as I am. When I got them they had not been used for many years. I rehabilitated and adjusted them over the years. I still use all of them except the table saw, which I replaced five years ago. (I simply did not have space for it in my shop beside my new 10" hybrid table saw.) They are excellent tools, all well-aged American made cast iron.

In those days (the late 1930's, I mean) power tools did not come with motors. Most of these tools were powered by motors mounted to rocker rails that could be switched from machine to machine. I gradually bought some (slightly) better motors, but my drill press, lathe and buffing wheel still run off of old 1/4 or 1/3 hp induction motors taken off of washing machines and clothes dryers.

This experience has greatly influenced my attitude about power tool ads in magazines.

Best regards
Posted: 7:22 pm on November 23rd

RalphBarker writes: Congrats on the find, Matthew. Old Delta iron is tough to beat, unless you have a bush out back that grows cast-iron sticks. ;-)
Posted: 10:22 pm on November 22nd

Ras writes: Matt, You might want to be careful, the slope gets really slippery really fast. I was given a Walker Turner 10" table saw just over a year ago. I decided to restore it and in doing so I found owwm.com. Since the Walker Turner I have found and restored a 1968 Delta 14" bandsaw,1965 Delta unisaw and purchased a early 30's Crescent 8" jointer. Unfortunately the restorations have taken away time from wood working projects and now I am pushing myself trying get them finished for the holidays.
Posted: 11:31 am on November 21st

1oldsarge writes: Old tools are wonderful. If I had a barn to keep them in I could imagine a complete shop of pre-1950 machine tools, especially a big 30" bandsaw. Unfortunately, I work out of a double car garage that is already overly full of stuff. And since modern tools are much safer by design, I'll just happily look at everyone elses. :-D
Posted: 9:12 pm on November 20th

MKenney writes: JLYoung,

You should be able to find a manual at www.owwm.com. Look under "Machine Info" and then under "Publication Reprints." I found a manual for my jointer and my tablesaw there.

- Matt
Posted: 3:44 pm on November 16th

JLYoung writes: Just this morning I bought an old Delta Lathe. I believe it's a vintage 4 speed Delta model 1460. It's an all cast iron beast with a 3/4 hp motor and variable speed using a pulley system. The motor was replaced with a Craftsman motor at some point and I can tell that the wiring was replaced though it still needs to have a new plug installed and a cover plate on the switch (I got a good buzz of of it turning it on for the first time!) The only thing that's missing is an MT#2 Live center for the tail stock which I see is at Lee Valley for about $35. I've never turned anything before so I can't wait to get some turning tools and try this baby out. I took a look at www.old-woodworking-tools.net to try and find a manual or date of manufacture from the serial number but I'm not sure how to find this. Anyone have any suggestions?
Posted: 8:32 pm on November 15th

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