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Thread: Gloat: Help me to identify this new (to me) toy - Vintage DeWalt RAS

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Colorado
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    556

    Gloat: Help me to identify this new (to me) toy - Vintage DeWalt RAS

    Saw an ad on Craigslist for a DeWalt RAS. Went by and checked it out as it appeared to be of the vintage I've been looking for.

    Inspected and it was in decent shape (very, very little rust and most tolerances are very tight). Sitting unused for 6 years, was left to the guy by a friend who passed away some time back.

    I'm trying to find a manual for it and find out a bit more. There are very few markings on it and of course, none that identify the specific model.

    My best guess is an 8-9" MBF circa 1961-65 but I'm hoping that folks here can tell me.

    I'll withhold the price I paid until we can identify the unit.

    Cheers,

    Mike

    (please forgive the pic quality, camera phone)




    Last edited by Mike Spanbauer; 02-27-2008 at 4:36 PM. Reason: typo

  2. #2
    Looks like a 10" but it's hard to tell from the pics. These are the best RAS ever made. I think this saw is earlier than '61 (red bakalite knobs). If the price is right buy it. Parts are available from Wolfe or Original Saw. Wolfe will completely rebuild the saw for you if you don't want to do it yourself.

    YM

  3. #3
    Join Date
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    Already did pick it up Those are photo's from the back of my Toyota.

    One critical piece of data I failed to mention was that there is the original blade cover / dust ejector and it measures very roughly 9 1/4" diameter.

    I agree though that the saw is likely earlier than my original guess. But it's still VERY tight... I suspect it was lightly used.

    Paid $80 for it.

    mike

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Bowling Green Oh
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    51

    Mbf

    Looks like a Dewalt MBF series. Most were 3/4 hp and take a 9" blade. Great saw. Yoy need to purchase the radial arm saw book called Mr Sawdust. It will expalin in detal all about the saw

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
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    15,332
    Hi Mike,

    I added a CRITICAL word to your subject heading; part of the TOS you know!

    Nice find!
    Wood: a fickle medium....

    Did you know SMC is user supported? Please help.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Saint Helens, OR
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    2,463
    I bought one last summer that looks identical, except mine is a little cleaner.

    It is a 9 1/4" blade. And it seems to come from the mid to late fifties. It's a heavy little bugger, isn't it?

    Congrats.

  7. #7
    Very nice score! Now do yourself a favor and order the Mr. Sawdust book.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Location
    Northern Colorado
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    Lol Chris. I wasn't certain it was a gloat until I had properly identified it though (although I had a suspicion). Thanks for the correction

    I do plan on getting the book by Mr. Kunkel.

    Just trying to get a line on the manual now though... which is proving tough since OWWM is belly up for the moment.

    Thanks for the replies! I'm excited about the slight restoration project as it's really in pretty solid shape. mostly cleaning and a bit of touch up paint from as far as I can tell.

    Mike

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
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    Waterford, MI
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    Boy does that bring back memories. My dad used to have the same saw when I was a kid.
    Use the fence Luke

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Saratoga Springs, Utah
    Posts
    863

    Smile

    Nice Find - Old Machines are awesome, don't you agree?
    Sawdust is some of the best learning material!

  11. #11
    "But it's still VERY tight... I suspect it was lightly used."

    Better yet.

    "Paid $80 for it...."

    Oh my.... you were robbed!


    YM

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    Northwestern Connecticut
    Posts
    7,149
    Nice Saw Mike...I own his big brother! Your's is the machine I grew up on...but I can't tell you the name/number.

    I was given a 1951 GR-47 14" X 24" cross cut...if you think that one is heavy, try moving mine! Wolfe Mahinery was great help to me getting parts and manuals. They also had original wiring diagrams for all the motors. I got the original owners manual from OWWM which included great instructions for setup. If they are off line maybe you can contact a human over there who might help you find one.

    When well tuned and setup these machines are beautiful, and they were designed to last. Every part you may need is still available. As precise as any machine in the shop (though I personally never use it to rip...that just scares me). I was in Sears the other day and happened to walk by a new Craftsman RAS...looked at how it was enginered...laughed out loud! My grand father had a drill chuck, shaper head w/guard, sander, and a chain mortiser for his if I remember correctly. I think the attachments are hard to come by these days.

    Good luck with it. I sure do get a thrill out of seeing others take the same interest in old dewalt iron. Mine is my mascot!

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Northern Colorado
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    Some additional pictures for posterity (post first pass cleaning)

    Here are a few more pics this evening after 2 hours of cleaning. The bearings are all TIGHT and I can slide the carriage with 1 finger and barely any pressure.
    Also, the motor absolutely purrs and has NO bearing noise whatsoever.

    Patents Pending tag, which I'm hoping might help to nail down a specific model year.


    Flip switch + 75º x 75º scale (Y rotation)


    18" rip scale


    Motor side plate with makers mark and the z axis gauge


    Back side of the support mast


    Shot of the entire unit with the motor cover on


    And of course the motor - 1/2 HP


    When OWWM gets healthy again, I'll certainly check there too. Unfortunately, it's kinda sickly.

    Thanks for all the help!

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Brent Ring View Post
    Nice Find - Old Machines are awesome, don't you agree?
    Completely. My saw is an '84 PM 66, my jointer a '61 8" PM 60 and I've of course the usual stable of hand tools which are all much older yet.

    mike

  15. #15
    Join Date
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    Northern Colorado
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    Quote Originally Posted by Yoshikuni Masato View Post

    "Paid $80 for it...."

    Oh my.... you were robbed!
    I don't think so

    The table will be kind of a hassle to rebuild, but I'm looking forward to having a more accurate miter station than my current DW708.

    Now, I've also to engineer a DC solution for this unit, which will likely present as much of a challenge as the MS was.

    mike
    Last edited by Mike Spanbauer; 02-27-2008 at 10:30 PM. Reason: typo

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