Photo Index - Sears | Craftsman - 103.23831 Model 80 Tilt-Arbor Bench Saw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Sears | Craftsman
Chicago, IL

True Manufacturer:
King-Seeley Corp.-Central Specialty Division, Ann Arbor, MI; Ypsilanti, MI

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Table Saw
Machine Size:	8-inch
Submitted By:	Curtis Garrett

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	103.23831 Model 80 Tilt-Arbor Bench Saw
Date of Manufacturer:	1950
Serial Number:	none
Last Updated	10/20/2024 10:58:03 PM

Comments:

This Craftsman/King-Seeley Model 80 8 inch bench saw was inherited from my Grandfather in 1994. He bought this saw brand new at the Lincoln Park Michigan (Detroit area) Sears store in late 1949 early 1950. The original manual is dated April 1949 so this is the earliest version of this bench saw (has the early separate parts motor rail mount) and was produced up to 1961. It has the original optional cast iron waffle extensions, blade guard, and maple out-feed roller extensions all bought new with the saw. I also have the dado insert and a early 1950's 5" Dunlap HSS stacked dado set. I have a Forrest Woodworker II blade on the saw (1st class blade) and a 3/4-HP Craftsman (115. Packard) 3450-rpm motor with Browning machined steel pulleys and a link belt. The original front cover with the engine turning (demasene) was missing so a fellow woodworker from this site e-mailed me to say he had an extra which I polished up and now is on this saw in these pictures. I have used this saw to cut up a bunch of teak wood for the interior project of my 1961 Rhodes Chesapeake 32 sailboat.
I have the original 1949 dated manual and waffle extension instructions for this saw posted to this site under the manufactures index in the Craftsman section under catalog reprints.

I have just fairly recently went through and did a total restoration on this saw cleaning and repainting everything. The paint on the body is US Paints Awl Grip two part polyurethane mixed by eye to match the original grey enamel used by King-Seeley. The original rip fence front chrome cam clamp was just worn out and not a great design so I found another fence off of a 1949 Craftsman/Emerson 8" Model 100 bench saw on eBay for $24.95. This rip fence is a huge improvement and is the same fence in a shorter version for a 20" deep table used on the Craftsman/Emerson 10" Model 100's. It now has a nice micro adjustment and clamps and squares up to the table perfectly.

Update 06/06/2013: I found a 1960 powder bronze Craftsman cast "Pedestal" style stand for a Model 80 bench saw off the Craigslist south of the Fort Worth, TX area that I bought for $60 with another complete Model 80 bench saw on it I sold off to a friend. The stand has been restored and painted in the Awl Grip paint system in the King-Seeley gray color.

Update 10/26/2018: Finally replaced the arbor and double row bearing on this saw. Saw had a factory pressed in (set by a tiny slotted set screw) "Water Pump" style arbor/bearings assembly. The original Sears part was #53190 that was supplied by MRC (Marlin Rockwell Co.) and their part number was MRC 5200 ZZ. I was able to buy a new assembly from Accurate Bearing Co. for $37.25 in an NSK Japanese HIGH quality unit part #885586. I left the shaft diameterat 5/8" and cut new (on a metal lathe) 5/8"-18 National Fine threads in lieu of the turned down 1/2"-20 original set up. Now I don't need any 1/2" to 5/8" saw blade bushing and the shaft is beefier on both ends by 5/8" and NOT 1/2" like originally made by King-Seeley.I also replaced the tiny 4-40 micro slotted set screw with a 1/4-20 hex socket head type.

Photo 1:

Comments: 1950 Craftsman/King-Seeley Model 80 8 inch bench saw on a 1960 cast pedestal stand. You can see that I added a larger front control knob with a handel off a Model 100 Emerson table saw.
Source: C. Garrett

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Photo 2:

Comments: Craftsman Model 80 front view showing single up front control knob
Source: C.Garrett

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Photo 3:

Comments: Rear of saw showing motor/mount, floating slide bracket and original optional out feed roller. This is not the original motor mount which I still have, this is a newer version with out the seperate parts type mount. I have a 1950's 3/4-HP Craftsman/Packar
Source: C.Garrett

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Photo 4:

Comments: Top front view on pedestal stand.
Source: C.Garrett

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Photo 5:

Comments: Right side view on pedestal stand.
Source: C.Garrett

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Photo 6:

Comments: Awl Grip painted part components
Source: C.Garrett

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