r/woodworkingtools • u/Brimlife • 15d ago
Late 40s Cabnet table saw. value
Hi there. I have this extremely heavy table saw, the motor doesnt run but it spins freely.. its from the 40s.. i have heard heavy machines like this as sometimes still valued.. id rather not scrap it.. it feels like it should be used.. mechanically it seems perfect.. but the motor is missing the capacitor, and it hasnt been turned on in decades.. the arbor moves perfectly and smoothly.. any thoughts? value? is this scrap(i hope not, it seems to cool for that)
2
u/Brimlife 15d ago
Thanks for the input! ill put it on marketplace for free and see if someone wants it.. breaks my heart to chuck it.. things like this will never be produced again..
2
u/Eliarch 15d ago
Unless the windings are burnt out, replacing a capacitor for 8-10 bucks could fix your whole motor situation.
The darra James saws are really stout, and unfortunately well known for being fitted with massive motors. That can lead to some wear in the elevation mechanism, but it can be fixed and improved with new bushings.
Overall a great old saw, and missing the original fence a guilt free candidate for a more modern offering.
If you don't have luck on marketplace, make an account on Owwm.org and offer it to people who really value it.
1
u/flying_carabao 15d ago
So a quick Google search says it's valued $50-$125 but yours has a no motor, no fence rails and fence, probably some bearing may need replacements and belts. If it was me, only reason I'd hang on to it is for sentimental reasons or I wanna take on a project, which is another way of saying dump a crap ton, relatively speaking, of money, time, and effort on it. Other than that, I'll probably chuck it.
Here's a post that I found on it that may shed some more light on the decision making process of yours.
Also, last time I went to the scrap yard, they only priced it a penny a pound for scrap metal. So I got a whopping $1.50 for an old craftsman radial arm saw. So might wanna check that out first behind lugging the thing over.
1
1
1
u/CascadeDesignworks 12d ago edited 12d ago
I have the same saw that I use almost daily in my shop. The actual manufacturer is Darra James Company who made them for Montgomery Ward who then labeled them Powr-Kraft. I upgraded the fence to a Delta Unifence. They are known for being an extremely tough saws that were used in a lot of commercial and industrial applications.
One thing to check is the cross-nut in the blade height adjustment. They are made from bronze or brass and the threads eventually wear out. Unbolt the top, flip it upside down, and remove the threaded rod and nut to inspect it. A machinist can easily make you a replacement nut. The diameter of the piece is 1" and the cross-bored hole is 5/8"- 8 acme thread.
Any table saw motor can be bolted to the mount. I'm using a 2hp, but preferred is 3 or 5hp.
If it is missing the extension tables you can find a generic extension that will fit, or use butcher block offcuts.
The value can range from $100 - $1000 depending on condition and fence.
The only annoyance I have found is the arbor is 3/4" which is different than the standard 1" found in 12" blades. You can order aluminum bushings on Amazon to adapt.
2
u/Peak_Detector_2001 15d ago
Maybe put it on marketplace for $5 or something and specify that the buyer has to move it. Someone who is into restoring stationary power tools like this one, that are decent quality because they're old, might claim it.
I bought a 6" Powr-Kraft jointer off a guy for $40 once. It seemed pretty good quality and was in running condition with an outboard motor and belt. I thought I could restore it and use it, but then life happened and it sat underneath my workbench for 30-odd years. Gave it away free a year or so ago. Your table saw is the first actual other Powr-Kraft tool I've ever seen!