Might just be a “decent deal”? Came with it’s own metal case, no less. Open up the well worn box, and found a SKIL saw. Not just any Skil saw though. This one is all metal! It also takes a small blade, about a ^, maybe a 6-1/2″ blade. With a diamond knockout, to boot. The olny thing I found wrong with this saw? Someone had cut the cord while sawing at one time, and just taped the two pieces back together. Oh, they did make an attempt at connecting the wires back up. White to white? Check. Black to green? Ah, NOT. Black to….to …nothing? Yep. Tape it up, and sell it. They even put a two prong plug on it. I un-did the “damage”, and installed a correct three wire plug. Runs like a champ now. Might make a nice little trim saw. 
worth the five dollar bill??
Replies
A Skill ! What a Classic !
Green is for go right ?
That's the "go wire". That's the important one to hook up.
: )
Nah . . . I know . . . ground.
Nice find !
Might need some lube in the bearings.
Here is my Dad's all metal circular saw. I inherited it when he passed away.
I think it is from Wards but I don't really know for sure. I think he bought it new so it is in great shape for how old it is. Probably fifty years there abouts. I have other blades and owner's manual. I even had the original cardboard tote box he kept it in. Not sure where that is now. Might be in the crawl space. You know . . . I think I even have the receipt now that I think about it. Provenance ! For what that's worth. Ha, Ha, Ha.
How old do you figure your Skill is ?
just old saws, like me
Both seem to be from the early 50s era. Might even have been the same company made them. The other saw I have like this one is a Craftsman all metal, 7-1/4" "home saw"
How old?
From the design/style of the label on your Skil, I'd guess early '50s or perhaps late '40s. By the '60s, most manufacturers changed their labels to appear more "modern".
Roc's father's saw appears newer to me - perhaps '60s vintage. Wards contracted with various manufacturers to make tools, so it might have been a re-labeled Skil.
Good find for $5, BTW.
lube for bearing?
what kind of lube, and where do I put the lube in at? Both saws are a might loud, but run real smooth.
Probably not
I think you meant to reply to Roc, not me. But, . . .
Most tools of this sort are made with sealed bearings, so no lube is required. When the bearings become worn (you can tell by a growling sound), they should be replaced, instead. Some tools aren't designed for service, however.
What Kind Of Lube ? Where Do I Put It ?
Those are two very good questions. I might even go so far as to say those are THE two most important questions of the modern industrial age. Perhaps any age !
I am being fairly serious believe it or not.
When the guys at work come to me with that look of "I give UP" the first thing I often ask is "did you put slicky on it ?".
Ok enough chit chat Chet . . .
If you disassemble the bearings or can see the ball bearings to rub grease in then use this :
http://www.amazon.com/Buzzys-Slick-Honey-Stinger-Syringe/dp/B0028MUTU4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1355251007&sr=8-3&keywords=slick+honey+grease
I LOVE this grease for many light machines such as small power tools and bicycles. I am a fan of very light grease because it will keep sloughing back into the bearings rather than get all pushed to the side with the bearings running dry after a few years. It is as close as I have found to the light gelatinous grease that comes in sealed bearing cartridges in modern power tools. Thick grease is good if you add oil to it occasionally.
or
you can just squirt in some ten weight motor / machine oil. To add to the grease that is already there. This wicks in better than 30 weight (the stuff you put in your car ). Ten weight is what is spec'd for my metal lathe so should still be plenty good for a circular saw.
Your saw is so old the grease , if original factory lube , is probably like varnish by now and should be removed with paint thinner or WD-40. Then put in fresh lube.
Or it may just be oil in a wick system. See elaboration, caution and photos bellow.
Where to put it ?
Hmmmm you are on your own there buddy. Just kidding . . .
but you may have to pull off the blade and do some investigation. There may be some oil ports, they may even be labeled "Oil".
SEE THE PHOTOS BELLOW for an example.
CAUTION : if it says "Oil" don't inject the grease I suggested or any other.
There could be a place to inject grease but I doubt that.
Have you ever disassembled an electric hand drill to get at the gears and bearings to lube those? If not I would recommend picking up some old pawn shop hand drill for five bucks ( the more ancient the better) and taking it apart and that will tell you much.
Often these have sealed bearings that you pick the cover off with a nut pick or other micro pry tool, rub or squirt some grease or oil into the cartridge and push the cover back in place. Rub some grease on the teeth of the gears (in the drill; your saw may have no gears ) . . . and . . .
here is another important learning moment . . .
there may be a bronze or copper colored block like thing one or more shafts of the drill turn in. This is a porous bronze bearing and you just put light 10 weight oil all in it. Your saw may have these on one end of the motor. The less stressed end.
I suppose your saw could even have rebuildable and adjustable bearings that you can disassemble rather than push in bearing cartridges.
More than likely this is the case.
There is probably a hunk of felt cloth that you just soak with oil and it gets filtered and wicked down to the bearings and you will just squirt oil on this felt. That is what the oil ports I first mentioned lead to from the outside. See photos bellow.
Pull her apart and post some pics
I would love to help with this.
PS: I just happened to run across your question. I was looking in to see if there were any lights still on.
PPS: can anyone get a message for me to Boss Crunk ? I been trying to send him a question from the privet message member thing but he hasn't been here for a year and may not have been notified.
Man it was so quiet around here - where were you helping Santa in the workshop ?
SA
Yah dog, you know it . Been working long hours too. He finally gave me a day off.
The ". . . chit chat Chet" line is from the movie The Santa Claus 3.
There really is a young reindeer named Chet. No really. It's true.
: )
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