Suggestions for suitable future for this TS please?

**Grandad-5** · 24th November 2011, 02:27 PM

Long story short, several years ago someone picked my life up, shook it around and dumped it on the ground. It's all good now, thank goodness.

But it has left me with a puzzle or two to work out.
All my machinery, including this TS were bundled off for storage in less than ideal conditions. Some had to be shifted many times.

Now, they are all home to roost at last, but the condition of many would make a man cry.

Here's the TS.
This WAS a ripper little machine. It's done a lot of work. At one point it was set up on the joists of a house under construction and used to rip some pretty big beams to size. One of the said beams, a HUGE piece of oregon fell on the table from a fair height and cracked the cast iron table. Right in front of the infeed area.
I continued to use it in more suitable surroundings for several years. It was good for ripping 8'x4' sheets down the gutts because the sheet would span to affected area.

At one point, I took the saw apart to take the table to a local engineer to see if it could be straightened up. Verdict was no! It could not.
You can see the severity of the dip in this photo.
Attachment 188786

I toyed with the idea of making up a table from thick MDF. Sandwich a piece of heavy steel in the middle to take the mounting for the motor assembly and laminate it on all sides. In my mind, it would work. But before I had a chance to try it, above mentioned bump in the road happened.

Now, I'm not certain all the bits I need are still there. The fence is gone for one thing.
So, I'm left with a bunch of bits.

Now, one thought I had, was to use the cabinet on its own as the base for a router table.
It's weighted at the bottom so would be very stable.
Here's the cabinet.
Attachment 188790
It even has a nice opening to get to the router and a hookup point for a dusty. (One of several items that mysteriously never returned)

Attachment 188791
The only downside to this idea is that if I made a table from scratch, I could incorporate some drawers etc for more storage. But, maybe not enough to make it all worthwhile. It would be dead easy to spray some foam inside this steel cabinet and it could make for a very quite little jigger. Maybe!
There is a very nice 2HP induction motor.
Attachment 188792
And some pretty crapped out rusty blades
Attachment 188793
So, all in all, what I seem to have here is a TS with nil value as a TS.
It would cost more to restore, IF that table could be fixed than it is worth.
So, I see it as a bunch of bits and bobs that I may be able to rebirth into something usable.
But what?
Any suggestions?
Is that motor on its own worth anything?

Oh yeah, I now have a Durden pacemaker, which is far more suitable for the type of work I now do, and will fit into my work area.
There is no room here for a dedicated TS and Buzzer.

Here's the buzzer BTW...its going to be sold as well.
It was a good little unit at one time, but not no more.
Attachment 188794

So, I'm open to ideas and suggestions.

Cheers
Jim

EDIT: Just wanted to add something after re-reading my own thread. Nobody knows me here, so I wanted at assure everyone that the condition of this machinery is due to circumstances beyond my control. Their current condition sickens me. When I had them last in my possesion, there was not a scrap of rust on them anywhere. The tables were pristine. The man who taught me was an old world wood machinist. He taught me to care for machinery. Not to let them get into this condition.

**Grandad-5** · 25th November 2011, 06:54 PM

Well, 50+ views and no suggestions. Or are you all just too polite to say its only future is the local tip?

I've made a few decisions which should about cover it.

I’ll definitely use the cabinet as a base for the router table. There’s a box that used to bolt to the outside to contain the motor when it was at full tilt. It’s pretty mangled but I’ll scavenge some steel from it to plug up that crescent shaped opening on the cabinet.

I went to a local saw doctor today to get a decent blade for the “new” Durden and took the old blades in so he could see the style of blade I liked. I asked him if they were too far gone or could they be brought back?
Without hesitation is said they could easily be brought back.

“It’s only rust. No problem. 25 bucks to fix and sharpen. Far too good a blade to throw out.”

So, I rang the local Menshed here in Bendigo and asked if they happen to have a 12” TS. Yup….So I’ll give them the blades. One is much better than the other. (The second one was the one I used if I suspected nails in 2nd hand boards)
I’ll pay the $25 to get the good one restored.

I also mentioned a sliding table I had here and they said they’d be happy to take that as well.

The table was in 3 parts. The two outer wings are still straight. I held one up against my Durden, and it’ll fit. Just need an engineer type person to accurately drill some holes so I can bolt it up. Will give me more rip capacity.

The other end, I think I’ll weld some legs up and use it for welding instead of my old Workmate. Tired of burning holes in the timber top.
I need to work out how to put a clamp of some kind on it.

The centre part of the table is in the trailer for a trip to the recyclers.
The only part of the saw that won't have a future somewhere, unless it comes back as some garden tools.

So, that only leaves the 2HP induction motor. I temporarily hooked up the switch to it and turned it on. No problems. So, I think I’ll hang onto it. I’ll find a use for it someday.
Cheers
Jim

**Avery** · 25th November 2011, 08:54 PM

That buzzer looks great. I'm sure it could be brought back to pristine condition.

Judging by the shape of the table and the round badge on the base, i'm betting it is a HYCO - probably made in Auburn, Sydney.

If I were about 500 miles closer I would make you an offer on that .

Your Idea of turning that wonderful, solid cabinet into a router table I think is a very good one. The only problem that I can see is access under the table to raise/lower, change bits etc.

I think if I had that cabinet , I would transfer the top and mechanism from my 10' contractor type saw onto it and throw away the pressed metal base that it currently sits on

What has happened to the arbor and tilt and rise mechanism for the table saw?

**pmcgee** · 25th November 2011, 08:57 PM

The cabinet top that was bent or cracked ... there are some posts in the metal-working area about metal-filler type material for lathe beds etc ...

Some bog and a straight-edge might be able to even up the top for your router table ... even if you still added another layer on top of the cast-iron????

Sorry to hear about your much-loved equipment.

Paul McGee

**Grandad-5** · 25th November 2011, 09:23 PM

Originally Posted by Avery

That buzzer looks great. I'm sure it could be brought back to pristine condition.

Judging by the shape of the table and the round badge on the base, i'm betting it is a HYCO - probably made in Auburn, Sydney.

Nup, it's a Woodfast mate. South Australia weren't they? Not sure.
Circa 1970's? At the time, I believe they were considered the handyman range. Similar to Ezycut I think. But solid as all get out.

If I were about 500 miles closer I would make you an offer on that .

I've made a descision on that as well. I thought about putting it on EBay or here, and suddenly I had a picture in my mind of another woodworker seeing its condition and I couldn't do it. It's still a sound machine so I'm going to bring it back. Then we'll see if I still want to sell it.

Your Idea of turning that wonderful, solid cabinet into a router table I think is a very good one. The only problem that I can see is access under the table to raise/lower, change bits etc.

One of the photos in the first post shows the huge opening on one side. Just have to work out a nifty way of putting a door on it.

What has happened to the arbor and tilt and rise mechanism for the table saw?

It's in the trailer for a trip to the recycling centre.
Do you want it?
If we can figure out how to get it to you, it's yours.

Cheers
Jim

**Grandad-5** · 25th November 2011, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by pmcgee

The cabinet top that was bent or cracked ... there are some posts in the metal-working area about metal-filler type material for lathe beds etc ...

Some bog and a straight-edge might be able to even up the top for your router table ...

I did think of that actually, but concluded that it was too big an area to fill. Plus, how would I mount the router under, cut a hole in etc.

.....even if you still added another layer on top of the cast-iron????

Ah, feeling of deja vu here. I suggested exactly that to the engineer I took it to years ago to try and fix it. I asked if we could put another sheet of steel on top and bridge the hollow. I'd loose maybe 1/2 inch of depth of cut and losing the mitre slots didn't bother me. I can still remember his answer. "Jim, you're a woodworker. Leave the engineering ideas to me. No!"

Cheers
Jim

**Avery** · 25th November 2011, 10:22 PM

OK , Woodfast. That was, is and will be great machine.

Look here

Woodfast 6" Jointer

Once you have restored it, you won't want to sell it - or maybe that is just the weird way that I think

I saw the opening in the side of the cabinet, I just thought that it might be a bit of a squeeze - of course i don't have a true perspective on the thing. It still sounds like an excellent idea to build a router table for it.

I don't know if you have ever watched the TV show "American Pickers" about a couple of guys that tour the country buying (sometimes valuable) junk from people that hoard stuff over many years. If I had the room and the money and the health/ability , I would be hoarding any and all bits of machinery and tools , particularly Australian made stuff from 1900 - 1970s, made by Tough, Durden, Woodfast, Hyco , Titan and others. I would like to restore it , sell it, give it away and provide parts to others. Mostly I would just keep it.

Your offer of the table saw parts is tempting but it really would be wasted effort. I don't have the space or the ability to use them.

Thanks but unfortunately, no thanks. I wish...

**Stewie D** · 30th November 2011, 12:31 PM

I'll take the arbor and the tilt & rise mechanism.
I have a router/shaper table project here I need parts for.

Cheers, Stewie

**Grandad-5** · 30th November 2011, 01:11 PM

Sorry Stewie,
Too late I'm afraid. They went for scrap at the local recycling centre.
Cheers
Jim

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