Replies

1. 
   PADDYDAHAT | May 19, 2008 04:04am | #1

   woody, I never thought I would hear the name of R. Bass again, WOW!

   As a kid in the mid 50's I was gifted a Rockwell 10" band saw that needed tires. It was my first entry into big time ww tools ha ha and I was overwhelmed in this old crusty place, not in the best part of town--all business -- and not Park ave. bankers. It cost me $2.25 each -a fortune- plus the subway fare all the way from Brooklyn. I walked in with the yellowed instruction sheet dated the same year I was born 1942, he looked at it with almost contempt walked down the parts aisle and threw two black rubber bands on the counter and said "and what else do you want? " I paid with two bills and the rest in silver.

   Had I been smarter I would have bought the bearings which are open cage balls on hardened races that are missing several balls. Now I know that I can source the balls and WILL refit this little saw. Thanks for the memory. Paddy

1. 
   woodenhead | May 19, 2008 02:33pm | #3

   I remember Rudolf Bass store it was on the corner,and i to took the train from Brooklyn. I now live in Breezy Point how about you.

2. 
   joinerswork | May 19, 2008 04:50am | #2

   wood,

   I have a Parks planer that I bought new in 1975.  It is a little workhorse.  Anything I can do to help with specific questions, let me know.

   the Old Woodworking Machines website may have the rehab info you need.  I think their site is OWWM.com

   Ray

1. 
   woodenhead | May 19, 2008 02:36pm | #4

   Thanks i will try that web site.

2. 
   woodenhead | May 27, 2008 03:17pm | #5

   Can you tell me what type of lubrication you use in the gear box and where i can purchase it? I was told that this planer was manufactured `1938-1942.

1. 
   joinerswork | May 27, 2008 03:45pm | #7

   wooden,

   My literature says to use 1/2- 1 lb of soft pressure gun grease, as available in auto garages, in the gear case. It's available at places like Autozone, Advance Auto, NAPA, or in the auto care section at Wal-mart. Use the same grease on the bearings at either end of the cutterhead (alemite fittings) and on the motor if it has the fittings there.  The feed rollers and bed rollers (bronze bushings) are lubed with 30 wt motor oil.

   Your machine may be that old.  They were mfd at least into the late 70's early 80's as far as I know.  My price list is dated March 1976, when I bought the machine. My literature shows the basic 12" planer as the model 95- no motor or base, model 96 has the motor directly attached to the end of the cutterhead, model 97 has a base with motor driving a pulley on the end of the cutterhead.

   Ray

1. 
   woodenhead | May 28, 2008 03:13pm | #9

   Thanks i will pick up the grease today.

1. 
   joinerswork | May 28, 2008 03:29pm | #10

   wooden,

   You're welcome. Good luck with your planer.

   Ray

3. 
   seajai | May 27, 2008 03:44pm | #6

   http://www.owwm.com/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=618  is a great source for info. Go to http://www.OWWM.Org  and register, this is the discussion forum,  the knowledge base there is incredible. It  can be a great help during the restoration process.

    

4. 
   Gnome | May 28, 2008 04:42am | #8

   The owwm.org (forum) site currently has a photo essay on a Parks restoration. The guy did a beautiful job on it. I picked up a Parks last summer and the info I needed to get mine running was on the site. My parks needed a bigger motor, proper size pulleys and belts, and a few minor adjustments. This thing will hog off 1/8" of white oak 12" wide without a hiccup.

5. 
   ChipTam | May 28, 2008 10:52pm | #11

   There's an excellent article in FWW from the 1980's or early 90's entitled something like "Tune up your Planer".  The author demonstrates using a Parks Planer.  He also shows how to make several jigs which help with the tune-up.  If you do a search, you should be able to find the article.  My Powermatic 12" planer is very similar to the Parks and I used the article to tune up my planer when I bought it used a few years back.

   Chip