Vintage Find

[Becciasm]

Dad found this when cleaning out basement the other weekend. Belonged to my Grandfather (Mom's father).

Not sure of the date of manufacture, but it's a vintage Craftsman 2 speed polisher/sander, model #315.11510. Made in USA, when tools were made with real metal and when the name Craftsman meant something! hehe..

Probably hasn't been used in 30 years or so, at least not put to serious use. Powers up, runs fine! Speed switch works, variable speed trigger, trigger lock. All aluminum body, steel gears. 3/4 HP electric motor!

I believe 5/8" spindle, but I've not put a scale to it to measure.

Next plan is to disassemble and clean out 30 + years of dirt/dust accumulation and then polish it up and put it to work!

If anyone has used one of these or knows more about them, please clue me in. I think it's an awesome piece, regardless whether or not I use it in my arsenal. I'm over the moon with this find rops::buffing:Im the MAN

 

[BorisC]

How much does it weigh?

 

[Becciasm]

How much does it weigh?

Not a whole heck of a lot. a few pounds at most, ~ 5lbs i'd rekon.. I'll weigh and measure it tonight.

 

[BobbyG]

I have an older Craftsman 2 speed polisher I bought new in 1968 and still have it today. While it's seen better days, it served me well for a long, long time and still works today...rops:

I would feel safe to say yours might possibly be a bit older than mine....

 

[Becciasm]

I have an older Craftsman 2 speed polisher I bought new in 1968 and still have it today. While it's seen better days, it served me well for a long, long time and still works today...rops:

I would feel safe to say yours might possibly be a bit older than mine....

What is the diameter of the spindle? do 'modern day' rotary backing plate/pads fit on yours?

the ones that came with the polisher are not in proper working condition... yep, still have the OEM Case, manual, rubber backing pad, sanding disk, and polishing bonnet..

 

[Becciasm]

Not sure of the exact RPM, but searching for later generation models reveals that lo speed is ~3500 RPM, Hi ~ 4200 rpm....

 

[BobbyG]

What is the diameter of the spindle? do 'modern day' rotary backing plate/pads fit on yours?

the ones that came with the polisher are not in proper working condition... yep, still have the OEM Case, manual, rubber backing pad, sanding disk, and polishing bonnet..

The spindles even back then were 5/8-11 and fit everything that's produced today..rops:

I can pick up this vintage machine and start buffing with the best of them....it's just a bit heavier than my newer ones...

 

[Becciasm]

Seems that the speeds posted above may be tooo high for today's rotary buffing standard processes...

Any thoughts?

 

[BobbyG]

Seems that the speeds posted above may be tooo high for today's rotary buffing standard processes...

Any thoughts?

Compounding and polishing are generally done at speeds between 800rpm & 1400rpm. My 2 speed is 1400 and 2800 but it's what I used to use and at 1400 I got used to it..

I think the machine you have is more geared toward sanding. Those speeds are a bit too fast for polishing so if you do use it be careful...

 

[Becciasm]

Compounding and polishing are generally done at speeds between 800rpm & 1400rpm. My 2 speed is 1400 and 2800 but it's what I used to use and at 1400 I got used to it..

I think the machine you have is more geared toward sanding. Those speeds are a bit too fast for polishing so if you do use it be careful...

Truth.

BUT, in the manual, it recommends low speed for polishing paint. I guess with the trigger, one could vary the speed from 0-3500, but keeping a consistant velocity 'sweet spot' by varying a trigger is a difficult skill to master.

BUT, maybe this could lead to a new trend, cutting major sanding marks with rotary @ 3500 rpm, 7.5" black pad and wax... ?!

 

[HeavyD]

That is an awesome find! I have a few oldies myself. Eh.. whatever it used to do,still cool as hell.

 

[mikep288]

Great find! Thanks for sharing the story and pics with us. Looks like it should clean up very nicely.

 

[Becciasm]

That is an awesome find! I have a few oldies myself. Eh.. whatever it used to do,still cool as hell.

Aye. it'll make a good addition for sure.


He also brought over an older Craftsman 7.25" circular saw. Haven't tested that out. Should be good for building the kids' playset this spring...

Sent from my VS840 4G using AG Online

 

[Johny B]

Great find.

 

[rmagnus]

Very cool. Old tools are awesome. If nothing else clean it up a little and display it.

 

[NYV6Coupe]

I had something that looked like that back in the 70's and it's definitely an "I mean business" kind of tool. If you have one hand on the metal grip the other hand will be on the housing (for stability) and it gets HOT pretty quickly.

Have fun with it

 

[Becciasm]

I believe 5/8" spindle, but I've not put a scale to it to measure.

If anyone has used one of these or knows more about them, please clue me in. I think it's an awesome piece, regardless whether or not I use it in my arsenal. I'm over the moon with this find rops::buffing:Im the MAN

So i put a scale to it and it definitely is not 5/8"... more like 7/16".. I'll have to figure out an adapter to fit to be able to use 5/8" pads and BP's.. this is fun.

 

[Becciasm]

I had something that looked like that back in the 70's and it's definitely an "I mean business" kind of tool. If you have one hand on the metal grip the other hand will be on the housing (for stability) and it gets HOT pretty quickly.

Have fun with it

:dblthumb2: The housing has a removable handle to keep away from the motor as it heats up. Good catch though - if you do brush against the housing after a while on full-tilt, it's fairly warm, yes!

 

[BillE]

You say you DO have the manual?

Take a close look at all the numbers on the front/back cover, it/they may give you a clue to its' age. By just seeing that toggle switch, I'm really leaning towards the 50's.

Bill

 

[Setec Astronomy]

You say you DO have the manual? Take a close look at all the numbers on the front/back cover, it/they may give you a clue to its' age. By just seeing that toggle switch, I'm really leaning towards the 50's.

Hey, my Air Force Blaster has a switch just like that! From tools that I have and looking at Bobby's polisher, I'd agree that likely that tool pre-dates the 70's and could possibly be from the 50's, but that's not a 50's cord, not with that rubber strain relief, but of course the cord could have been changed.