Photo Index - American Wood Working Machinery Co. - Model 16 Hand Block Sander

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
American Wood Working Machinery Co.
Rochester, NY; Williamsport, PA; Montgomery, PA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Sander
Machine Size:	6" X 255" Belts
Submitted By:	Phil Kezele

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Model 16 Hand Block Sander
Date of Manufacturer:	Unknown
Serial Number:	Unknown
Last Updated	7/24/2008 12:34:23 AM

Comments:

This machine (also known as a stroke sander) was purchased locally when I saw an advertisement here in the OWWM Classifieds. I wrote the seller and he replied within the day. I asked a few questions and received back the answers almost immediately. I told him i was very interested and wanted to come by the next morning.

Most of my hunts for OWWM include some interesting travel and meeting new friends and this journey was no different. The trip included two cross (Puget Sound) travel trips by ferry and ultimately a journey to my shop on Camano Island. I left my home in Seattle early to catch the Saturday ferry (MV Spokane) to the Olympic Peninsula. I was headed to one of the early towns in Washington State named Port Townsend--it was established in 1853. The drive to the sellers house was about 45 minutes north of the ferry landing and with his good directions, i drove to his shop without issues.

I was met by the owner who invited me into his shop. Wow!, what a shop it was, it was magnificent; separate rooms for metal and wood shop; radiant floor heating, and most importantly the best of OWWM--Oliver 16" Jointer, Model 88DM Saw, and "large" lathe from the nearby Navy shipyard, late model P24 Crescent Planer and 36" band saw, and some very nice Max oscillating and disc sanders. Oh, and I almost forget this pin router which was very heavy.

Now back to the sander, it was attached to the floor with two pedestals. We needed to unbolt it from the floor. The next task was to figure out how to lay each pedestal into my truck with the least amount of dis-assembly. I told the owner that this was a job for spatial relationships but we both took on the challenge and were able to lift nearly everything into the truck thanks to his Bobcat 5600 (OWWM alert, these Bobcats work slick for loading/unloading machines) and his neighbor.

Upon loading the truck, we broke for a final cup of 'joe and I was shown the shop in more detail. The trip home was via ferry via Whidbey Island; and the drive around the Skagit Valley back to my shop on Camano. It was a very long day, but very satisfying for this old arn lover.

Uploaded are the seller's pictures, I need to setup the sander in my shop and get it aligned. It is 81 5/8" between pedestals and each pedestal must be aligned properly to allow the belts to rise up on their crowned pulleys. I'll update the photos when I get the saw in my shop.

Regarding restoration work, it may need to have the custom dust collection tweaked some and possibly a new paint job; but like the seller said, "if you dont have color in the shop every day it's a gray day." Also, the table is height adjustable! Either a cotter pin has disappeared or something else is wrong with the gearing that prevents the table from moving up and down. You rotate the hand wheel which turns both the left and right gears separated by a 4' rod; then the side gears rotate the table arms up and down to just the correct height. The cast iron table must weigh close to 80lbs. It is built for heavy weights on the table like big slabs of maple. I will need to get into that and find the issue. The table height looks perfect for me (and the seller) but you never know when you want to raise the table (besides, the hand wheel needs to be shown off; don't you like those monster hand wheels?). The base of each table leg are adjustable so you can raise and lower the casters and move the table around; but the arm which raises the casters in unison and lowers the hard square legs on the floor is broken at the weak point in the elbow. I will need to find somebody who can braze this back together properly. All moving parts are lubricated with oilers (the ones with the spring loaded caps) and they are all bone dry.

I sincerely appreciate the days friendship of the seller and his wife (who entertained my lab with ball toss much of the day). I hope to stay in touch with them.

7-23-2008

Updated photos, this is a temporary place I'm trying out in my new shop to see if I like the location. Note: dust shute/guard removed to show details.

Photo 1:

Comments: This machine requires 55 sq foot footprint to setup, not including operator area!
Source: My Canon PowerShot SD1000

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Photo 2:

Comments: Sanding table; miscellaneous blocks and belts; motor setup
Source: My Canon PowerShot SD1000

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Photo 3:

Comments: Start/Stop switch and electrical starter, note the hand knob on the upper arm, that tilts the roller and is the only adjustment up/down you can make to the belt to keep it centered on all the wheels. Notice also the counterbalance weight arm.
Source: My Canon PowerShot SD1000

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IMG Code