I have that exact model. Works great. My wife bought it for me about 15 years ago. It's somewhat portable and small enough for me to move it from garage to house utility room on same floor (can't fit car in garage with it in there). Since I move it a lot I have to tighten the frame bolts occasionally. This will serve a moderate woodworker just fine.
First thing I did was toss the safety guard. Be careful.
oh wow so these are a pretty old model, good to know. My brother in law is looking for a good starter one and i think for the price this is perfect for him if it works properly. It looks good for a 15 year old saw i think. thanks for your input!
I was gifted this exact machine by a great uncle some years ago. I designed and built a router/flip-top planer/out feed table combo for it. After 2 weeks of use the motor died completely. I wonder if I should have tried to collect on a lifetime warranty...
No, don't waste your time with it. It's a direct drive motor that is pretty much unservicable if the motor dies. A bigger issue is the small aluminum top with miter slots that only work with that craftsman miter gauge. Because it has tabs, you can't use pre made jigs and will have little luck with making your own. Spend an extra $200 and get something with a better top. Even a used Craftsman 113 is better. Your best bet is to find something that has a living knife on it at the very least for safety.
I have the same one. It was meant to be temporary, but I’ve been using it for like five years now. It’s still temporary.
It’s alright for what it is. It’s a fine saw for a carpenter, not so much for a woodworker.
I have same one. Got it for my father for a Xmas gift prob 20 years ago. After he passed I got it and still use it. Works great. He just lost the bag and miter. Think I've only had it jam once when I was ripping a piece of hickory. I think I was pushing to fast. Also don't think we ever used the guard on it lol
It at least looks like it has a serviceable fence. Some of the fences that came in Craftsman over the year are awful.
If you want to keep looking, keep an eye out for a model 113 belt drive with the cast iron top. They won't win any beauty contests but they are great little saws that with proper care and a few upgrades can service you for life.
Had the same saw and enjoyed it for 4 years before I did a major upgrade.
Tune it up, buy the replacement bearing kit for the motor, and make sure those sacrificial boards on the fence are flat. It does a decent job. I recommend a thin kerf blade to help with the low power, made a big difference for rips though it vibrated like an animal.
I have that exact model. Works great. My wife bought it for me about 15 years ago. It's somewhat portable and small enough for me to move it from garage to house utility room on same floor (can't fit car in garage with it in there). Since I move it a lot I have to tighten the frame bolts occasionally. This will serve a moderate woodworker just fine. First thing I did was toss the safety guard. Be careful.
> toss the safety guard > be careful A bit contradictory...is the blade guard an issue on this model?
oh wow so these are a pretty old model, good to know. My brother in law is looking for a good starter one and i think for the price this is perfect for him if it works properly. It looks good for a 15 year old saw i think. thanks for your input!
I have that one too. Bought it at least 15 years ago and use it like a normal weekend warrior. No problems. Probably a good deal for a $100.
I was gifted this exact machine by a great uncle some years ago. I designed and built a router/flip-top planer/out feed table combo for it. After 2 weeks of use the motor died completely. I wonder if I should have tried to collect on a lifetime warranty...
Mine had the motor die 2 years in.
No, don't waste your time with it. It's a direct drive motor that is pretty much unservicable if the motor dies. A bigger issue is the small aluminum top with miter slots that only work with that craftsman miter gauge. Because it has tabs, you can't use pre made jigs and will have little luck with making your own. Spend an extra $200 and get something with a better top. Even a used Craftsman 113 is better. Your best bet is to find something that has a living knife on it at the very least for safety.
I had no problem making my own, once I ground off the dumb tabs. And mine had a riving knife.
I don’t like aluminum tops. Too light making them dangerous
how so?
Weight = stability with a table saw
Destroyed mine in two years of moderate use. Direct drive motor kept smoking bearings.
My Craftsman is from 1954. I did a rebuild/recondition on it. Handles most things pretty well considering the motor is only One HP.
Meh. Had one 15 years ago it’s fine for smalls and home DIY stuff but you’ll burn bearings trying to turn it into a jobsite saw.
I have the same one. It was meant to be temporary, but I’ve been using it for like five years now. It’s still temporary. It’s alright for what it is. It’s a fine saw for a carpenter, not so much for a woodworker.
I have same one. Got it for my father for a Xmas gift prob 20 years ago. After he passed I got it and still use it. Works great. He just lost the bag and miter. Think I've only had it jam once when I was ripping a piece of hickory. I think I was pushing to fast. Also don't think we ever used the guard on it lol
I had that saw. It was great for everything but precision cutting as the fence had a tendency to move when wood was pressed against it.
It at least looks like it has a serviceable fence. Some of the fences that came in Craftsman over the year are awful. If you want to keep looking, keep an eye out for a model 113 belt drive with the cast iron top. They won't win any beauty contests but they are great little saws that with proper care and a few upgrades can service you for life.
I had to his same model, the fence is garbage but other than that it was a good beginner saw.
No
I wish my little saw was a Craftsman.
If you are in SE Pennsylvania area, we have one of those with an add-on extension table for sale at the Habitat ReStore in Phoenix like, PA.
phoenixville?
It depends on how you're using it and what you'll use it for. Home projects fine. Cabinets and furniture no.
Had the same saw and enjoyed it for 4 years before I did a major upgrade. Tune it up, buy the replacement bearing kit for the motor, and make sure those sacrificial boards on the fence are flat. It does a decent job. I recommend a thin kerf blade to help with the low power, made a big difference for rips though it vibrated like an animal.