Yet another project... Power (Arhh arhh) Hack Saw.

**Luva65wagon** · February 28th, 2021, 12:57 AM

I get bored if I'm not working on something. And not going anywhere these days (much) has prompted me to work on a lot of projects I've had (some of them) for many years. Some I just picked up. As some of you know... I can fix or restore anything. Falcons are the thing I do here, but being a guy who for more than 50 years of my (current) 60, has had his hand on a tool of some sort - I just like it. I have a picture of me at 2 years - looking like I'm trying to disassemble a rotary telephone. Lucky for you (and maybe me) I don't have that picture on this computer.

A couple weeks ago Lila and I drove to an estate sale on the southend side of Tacoma, a horse farm, and though they didn't have much, I saw a pretty cool old power hack saw in the barn. Not that I need one since I have a horizontal band saw, I had to ask what they wanted for it. And dang it, it was too cheap. For $5 they said "Take it. Tomorrow it's going to scrap metal if we don't sell it today." The biggest part of me doesn't want to see cool old tools turned into Fords and Chevy's so I loaded into the van and paid the lady her $5.

It sat for a couple weeks as I worked on other projects and last week I finally pulled it apart. Shoot! The main gear was missing a couple teeth here and there. They still "engaged" a bit, but it wasn't something I would "sell", which is the end-goal here. Sell this when done. So I looked everywhere for a replacement gear for the brand 'as shown on the saw' and nothing, nowhere, nada. Then I found an original ad for the saw I had (attached) and on that page it indicated they sold this same saw through Sears and Roebuck. So I searched for a Sears (Craftsman) Power Hack Saw and - BAMM! - a guy in New York had the gear on eBay... for $50. (Sad face). I hate it when people offer me half-price for things on eBay, so I offered him $40 - and he took it. The gear arrived today and it's like new. Yay! Because I knew a gear was on the way I cleaned, bead blasted, and painted all the other parts and will have it together next week. I had to replace the main shaft and get a new oil-lite bushing for one side, but it's looking good so far. The base (Hand made and heavy) gets cleaned next.

If anyone is looking for a cool old power hack saw... it'll be a cool addition to anyone's shop. And you'll know it was ... lovingly... restored.

**Falcongek** · February 28th, 2021, 11:17 AM

I love such barnfinds.
These are the moments i hate not having a proper shop.
Good luck with the resto and hope you get a nice price selling it.
Do post some pics of the process

**dhbfaster** · February 28th, 2021, 02:25 PM

Yep, yep...sounds like a neat find. We're looking for the before and after pics now.

**BadBird** · February 28th, 2021, 02:49 PM

You should get a lot of lookers for that $44.75 price. Heck, I might even give it a go. Let me know if you will go lower than that. KIDDING!!! Looking forward to pictures. Larry

**Luva65wagon** · March 1st, 2021, 12:20 AM

And here I forgot to take before pictures! Doh! Didn't think at the time of making a thread on it. But I took some 'today' pictures. And will take some 'after' pictures.

And Larry, I got at least $55 into it now, so will probably have to see about adjusting the Ad price. Let's see, what is $44.75 in 2021 dollars? I just looked... $900.00!!!

**BadBird** · March 1st, 2021, 12:38 AM

I hate it when that happens. Looking very good and can't wait to see the finished product. Larry

**Luva65wagon** · March 2nd, 2021, 12:55 AM

Almost got it put together today. Needed to drill a new hole for the drive gear into the new shaft... and that was a tedious setup. But I also applied a few of my typical While I'm At It™ additions. The red areas are lube points. I also had to order a new oil drip cup for the main saw arm. Shoot, that was $12 by itself. This thing is costing me a fortune!

**Falcongek** · March 4th, 2021, 02:30 PM

It looks absolutely gorgeous

(looks around for a place to put it, so the wife won't notice.... Nah not a chance)

**BadBird** · March 4th, 2021, 07:13 PM

Roger, does this saw come with the motor??? The ad you showed for $44.75 says without a motor. If yours has the motor then you can charge a lot more without me suing you for false advertising. YOU know I am kidding. The work you are doing with this is just another reminder of not only your abilities but your attention to detail. Beautiful work.

Larry

**Luva65wagon** · March 5th, 2021, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by Falcongek

It looks absolutely gorgeous

(looks around for a place to put it, so the wife won't notice.... Nah not a chance)

I think it would cost more to ship it to you than it would be to buy it. HA. No worries.

**Luva65wagon** · March 5th, 2021, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by BadBird

Roger, does this saw come with the motor??? Larry

Indeed it does. Tested it yesterday and then just finished cleaning it up and painting it today.

Will assemble it tomorrow and then work on the stand. The stand is actually pretty decent for a cobbled together thing. They'd welded the motor to the pivot and so I'll fix all that and put my signature on it. Not sure yet what that'll be, but it'll come to me.

Will go get a new cord and belt for it tomorrow too and do the "raise the blade on the forward stroke" adjustment (it's a pull saw) and then, hopefully, call another project - done.

**Luva65wagon** · March 12th, 2021, 12:27 AM

I know you've all been sitting on the edge of your seat awaiting the completion of this saw. I know I have. It is officially done and works pretty well. It needs a real power hacksaw blade, and they're out there, but it works fine with a regular hacksaw blade.

Thanks for following along and if you know someone who's a vintage tool fanatic, let them know it's available. I'm trying to research whether it has more of a scrap weight value or something more than that.

**dkutz** · March 12th, 2021, 02:35 PM

That thing is pretty sweet!

**SmithKid** · March 12th, 2021, 06:56 PM

Are you thinking it may cut faster with the proper blade?

**Luva65wagon** · March 12th, 2021, 10:54 PM

I made a few runs with it today to actually test it out. I woke up this morning knowing how to adjust the lift part. Funny (at least with me) I apparently dream how to solve things. Anyway, got that lift system working correctly and it cuts fine with a regular saw blade. I think it was designed originally to use them. I actually found the manual for it online and it shows a small-ish blade. I also found where a part on the flywheel was rubbing on the guard and did some clearancing on it. Might get a video of it tomorrow.