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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 13, 2016 11:54:46 GMT -5
Those old saws were built like a tank. If the bearings are good, and the vice rides smooth on the rails, and the price is right I'd say go for it.
Is that a power feed ? If so, make sure the power feed works. Parts for those old power feeds can be nearly impossible to find, and expensive to have made in a machine shop.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194 
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 13, 2016 11:59:26 GMT -5
Those old saws were built like a tank. If the bearings are good, and the vice rides smooth on the rails, and the price is right I'd say go for it. Is that a power feed ? If so, make sure the power feed works. Parts for those old power feeds can be nearly impossible to find, and expensive to have made in a machine shop. Yes that's a power feed. I will have to check it out to make sure, but I am told its in good condition. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 13, 2016 12:10:49 GMT -5
With a good cleaning and a little maintenance from time to time, that old saw will still have a few generations left in it, unlike the junk they build now.
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quartz
Cave Dweller 
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 13, 2016 12:21:57 GMT -5
We have the identical machine, great machine. Bought it from the original owner, his son who I used to work with, said it wasn't much after 1959 when new. Other than a new blade I've done nothing to it except good maintenance for 16 years.
I do most of the mechanical maintenance for a friend who has three of them, obviously he likes them too, and don't find anything especially difficult to repair on them, feed mechanism included.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 13, 2016 12:28:00 GMT -5
With a good cleaning and a little maintenance from time to time, that old saw will still have a few generations left in it, unlike the junk they build now. Thanks Jake! I was hoping it was the case with the old saws. It's old enough that there won't be plastic parts! |
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 13, 2016 12:31:49 GMT -5
We have the identical machine, great machine. Bought it from the original owner, his son who I used to work with, said it wasn't much after 1959 when new. Other than a new blade I've done nothing to it except good maintenance for 16 years. I do most of the mechanical maintenance for a friend who has three of them, obviously he likes them too, and don't find anything especially difficult to repair on them, feed mechanism included. Really nice to know.......thanks! I am definitely going to go look at this one and pick it up. It's about a 7 hr drive to get it, so I just wanted to talk to the people that know about these. You guys have helped me out a lot. Thanks again! This one is a good deal so worth the effort to go get. |
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 13, 2016 13:58:21 GMT -5
You know that we want to see pics of that saw in use after you get it running, don't you ? There's a bunch of us that love those vintage machines, and we love seeing pictures of them in use.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 13, 2016 17:03:46 GMT -5
You know that we want to see pics of that saw in use after you get it running, don't you ? There's a bunch of us that love those vintage machines, and we love seeing pictures of them in use.
I will make sure that pictures and/or video are in the works once I get this unit!!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Mar 13, 2016 17:37:53 GMT -5
BUY IT!!!!!
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Post by Rockoonz on Mar 14, 2016 0:18:54 GMT -5
They were made in Portland Oregon, originally Jenkins Lapidary. They are still made on the Oregon coast.
All the parts to repair are readily available in a hardware store according to the folks who make them.
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richardi503
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by richardi503 on Mar 14, 2016 14:58:17 GMT -5
I have a Royal 18" saw. I have put a lot of rock thru it with no problems. They are well built and easy to repair. Grandkids of Jenkins Lapidary still have parts if necessary. One big plus is they are built of galvanized metal so no rusting. The tank usually needs to be sealed though, the soldering on the edges ages after a while.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 14, 2016 23:28:24 GMT -5
Well, I picked up the saw......its in really good condition. The bearings are good, the table slide is still tight, no movement and the rock vice is in good condition. The power feed works well. The only things I see that it needs done are: 1. Good cleaning. 2. New plexi glass window, if even needed. 3. New wiring from electrical at the back around to the auto feed...it looks original....cracked and wires starting to show. 4. Install a bottom drain! We searched all over, no drain. Looks like a new 1/2 hp motor was installed......not original for sure.
Question for you guys: this unit takes quite a bit of oil. The seller said he uses bricks in his to take up space, hence not as much oil required. Thoughts on bricks or other mods? I am going to strip this old gal down (don't get all worked up!) and clean her up, so now is the time to modify.
Thanks in advance. Brad
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 15, 2016 11:49:44 GMT -5
You can reduce volume but don't overdo to point oil runs too hot. The less oil the more frequently you will have to filter and clean too.
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rxscram
has rocks in the head
Member since August 2011
Posts: 519
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Post by rxscram on Mar 15, 2016 11:58:11 GMT -5
These look pretty much identical to my home built 18" saw that I did a few years ago. Now I know where the plans I used were ripped off from!  Hopefully if you have any problems, I'll be able to offer some help!   |
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richardi503
off to a rocking start
Member since June 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by richardi503 on Mar 15, 2016 15:43:56 GMT -5
The saw holds about 7 gallons if I recall right. I usually don't worry about quantity, just make sure I always have 20 gallons of backup on hand. I have put bricks in saws but don't recommend it. The smaller volume just gets dirtier that much faster is all. I have also found if I know I am not going to use the saw for a few days it is very easy to do a partial clean out. Just get as much of the gunk out that you can (maybe 70-80%) and let it drain back in till you need to run the saw again. Add a little fresh oil to top off and good to run again almost cleaned oil.
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quartz
Cave Dweller
breakin' rocks in the hot sun
Member since February 2010
Posts: 3,359
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Post by quartz on Mar 15, 2016 22:10:02 GMT -5
One suggestion: If you put a bottom drain in the saw, make sure it won't be in the way of a saw stand if you have to build one. Ran into that when I built a stand for one a friend has. Had to work the stand around the drain on front corner.
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 15, 2016 22:11:36 GMT -5
You can reduce volume but don't overdo to point oil runs too hot. The less oil the more frequently you will have to filter and clean too. Great point John. I was not thinking of the heat generation. Thanks! |
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 15, 2016 22:13:26 GMT -5
These look pretty much identical to my home built 18" saw that I did a few years ago. Now I know where the plans I used were ripped off from! Hopefully if you have any problems, I'll be able to offer some help! Lol! Nice saw! Wow,thats the saw alright! Nice job! I was discussing with the seller that if the main bearing ever did go that I would just modify it with two pillow blocks like yours. |
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es355lucille
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since February 2016
Posts: 194
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Post by es355lucille on Mar 15, 2016 22:30:46 GMT -5
One suggestion: If you put a bottom drain in the saw, make sure it won't be in the way of a saw stand if you have to build one. Ran into that when I built a stand for one a friend has. Had to work the stand around the drain on front corner. Thanks Quartz, I have about 14' of work shop bench so definitely will ensure that gets done. I seen another saw at this sellers with the drain at the front corner......so will be considering a few things here. Thanks for the comments. |
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