Anyone know about old power tools?

That is great! You might be able to find an instruction manual online - Find the model number on the router and check it out!

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You might be able to find an instruction manual online - Find the model number on the router and check it out!

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I’ve looked around online and haven’t been able to find one.



I also got his old craftsman drill press and a bench grinder. The stuff is old and dusty but it still seems to be working. I really love being able to use a few of my pawpaw’s old tools

Shouldnt be any problems with it. I still have one like it.

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still have one like it.

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When you’re putting a bit in it, do you remove that nut completely? Or just loosen it up? I don’t have any of the wrenched that go with it so I might need to track those down. I’m assuming it’s 1/4” bit?

Not a whole lot of tools out there now that have a 35 year lifespan. Power tools anyway. Use them. I have a Skil worm drive 7 1/4” saw that is from the early 70’s and it’s a beast. Weighs as much as a Buick but I use the hell out of it.

I have a few of my dads and grandfathers as well. Neat to use them although I don’t use the Brace and Bit too often.

I would almost guarantee they are 1/4

While the router manual at LINK (router forums) isn't the exact same as yours, it looks pretty similar and might be helpful.

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GarageJournal

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Sawmillcreek would be a better resource as they are fully devoted to woodworking, garagejournal is more a mechanics forum.

The router is pretty standard for Craftsman at the time. I am almost positive it is 1/4" collet only (if you are even remotely serious about doing woodworking you will want a router that can use a 1/2" collet). It is fixed speed at 25,000 rpm so it is only useful for the smallest diameter bits, like the 1/2" collet if you get serious you will want a variable speed router. I think that router has a single collet wrench with a collet lock. It is one of those things that is cool because of who owned it and it would be useful in some situations but it would sit on the shelf in my shop.

In today's world the job people would use this router for would be covered by a small trim router or a compact router like the Dewalt 611 (which can also be had with a plunge base) Bosch Colt or Festool 1010. They would be smaller, lighter and have similar or more power. Woodworkers tend to collect routers over the year, I have north of 10 and I know guys with more than 20. The joke is one router for every bit and some guys actually get close.

I am not saying you can't get a lot of use out of it if it is your only router, it's just fairly limited compared to what a router can do. Also, routers are one of the more dangerous handheld tools that in some situations require you to read the grain of the wood. Also never climb cut with a router unless you know exactly what you are doing and do it the correct way. If you don't know what climb cutting is you need to brush up on the use of a router. Fine Woodworking magazines website probably has some free videos or there are certainly ones on youtube.

I got my Dad's old Black & Decker 1/2" drill when he sold his shop. This thing was made in the 1960's I'm guessing, big all metal drill with about a 6" pipe nipple screwed in across from the trigger. I made a mistake and fired it up when it was a little damp and discovered someone had pulled the ground pin out of the plug. That SOB lit me up like a roman candle.

Tl;dr Always make sure the ground is intact on a metal tool.

This is one like mine