In addition to the usual (and some unusual) hand and power hand tools, these are the stationary tools which have been indispensable to this somewhat modern “traditional” boatbuilding process:
Click on any photo to enlarge and scroll through the galleries:
Monorail
Twin Cities monorail and trolley with 1/2 ton Yale 3-phase electric hoist
From an auction at the old Carborundum plant in Keasby, NJ for $25, including the trolley! I think it went low because it has a three phase motor.
The rails came from a Philadelphia company that sells used material handling equipment
The electrical track (red bars) and hangers were purchased new
Hanger hardware, every 4 feet
The support beam and diagonal braces are made from dimension lumber
Track runs about 3 feet outside for hoisting stuff from the ground
Had to add a new door section to accommodate the hoist
Planer
American Woodworking Machinery Company, near Williamsport, PA, model No. 1 1/2, 8″ x 24″ thickness planer dating to approximately 1920. The old machinery catalog pages included in the gallery are from a great website called VintageMachinery.org – highly recommended! (To easily read photos with text, click on “View full size” at bottom right of photo, then enlarge)
Purchased from Rudolph Bass, a used woodworking machinery seller in Jersey City
In Bass’ warehouse, it looked like it had been dredged out of the East River. I wish I had taken some “before” pictures.
I rebuilt it. The cutter head has ball bearings, very unusual for 1920’s vintage!
This machine predates the formation of Yates-American in 1925
From a company catalog dated around 1920. Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
In 1925, American was purchased by Yates, to become Yates-American. This is from an old Yates-American catalog. Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Jointer
“Famous” 16″ jointer by Sidney Machine Tool Company, Sidney, OH, from approximately 1910.
16″ Sidney “Famous” jointer
After rebuilding
The blades sharpened up nicely on my Norton 30″ straight knife grinder
I try not to think about how those nicks in the table came about
From a Sidney catalog around 1910. Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Purchased on craigslist near Freeport, Maine
Two massive blades, babbitt bearings
Each table has four adjustable supports for getting both tables co-planar
Interesting adjustment mechanism
Bandsaws
27″ Bandsaw from a Sidney Machine Tool Company Universal Woodworker dating from approximately 1900.
The bandsaw had been taken from a larger Sidney Universal Woodworker, thus only had two feet. I had to add a wooden base to support the machine
From a Sidney brochure early 1900’s. Upper left photo showing the bandsaw in combination with other units. Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Also added a wooden blade guard
Blade guard made by glue-lamination
It has a very interesting and effective blade guide
It allows the blade to swivel, with the teeth as the pivot point
Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Rockwell-Crescent 36″ Bandsaw from 1946
Huge direct drive motor is only rated at 3 HP!
Space limitations required locating the saw by the big doors in order to be able to swing the frames through it. Even there, we had to move the whole saw to different angles to avoid hitting columns and the framing platform.
This is the angle indicator Josh used to match the table angle to the desired bevel angle marked on the frame.
Using a great website called VintageMachinery.org, the 1946 manufacture date could be determined by entering the serial number.
From a contemporary Rockwell catalog, late 40’s. Courtesy VintageMachinery.org
Sharpening Equipment
Newman Model 71 straight knife grinder. Table movement is 30″. Handles 24″ planer blades nicely, but it’s slow. Since there is no coolant, depth of grind is limited to about .0005″ per pass, and the table is manually operated. Great workout!
Delta 6″ x 12″ surface grinder. Great for shorter knives.
Foley Model 367 Carbide Grinder. Here it’s set up for a steel spiral cutter, but it normally has a diamond wheel and a different fixture used for carbide circular saws up to 40″.
An ancient Foley machine set up for automatic filing of hand saws
Another Foley machine used mostly for steel circular saws
(NOTE: For latest work on the boat, check the Planking page.)
Comments on either the website or the equipment will be greatly appreciated. You can contact me (Mike Danesi) at [email protected].
