How much should a vintage miter saw and box cost?

[Gary Herrmann]

My wife doesn't like power tools so I was thinking of getting her a miter box for cutting basswood for carving, picture frames etc.

I saw a Miller Falls Acme(?) miter box with a Disston miter saw on the bay. It's almost $200!

I guess both the box and the saw are in really good shape, but wow. I had no idea.

[Clint Jones]

I dont know but I have an older Stanley Miter box with a disston saw in very nice shape in an antique mall for $65 and it has been there for 6 months. Its clean as a whip, works great, everything is clean, saw is nice...It isnt one of those rinky dink miter boxes its one of the big cast iron ones with the sliding cams I believe a 386. I guess it just depends where your located and if there is a market for them.

[Michael Faurot]

I saw a Miller Falls Acme(?) miter box with a Disston miter saw on the bay. It's almost $200!

That seems high to me. Unless there's something special about this one, I'd say there's some better deals to be had if you want to look a bit more.

I dont know but I have an older Stanley Miter box with a disston saw in very nice shape in an antique mall for $65 and it has been there for 6 months. Its clean as a whip, works great, everything is clean, saw is nice...It isnt one of those rinky dink miter boxes its one of the big cast iron ones with the sliding cams I believe a 386. I guess it just depends where your located and if there is a market for them.

I picked up one of these recently at an antique fair, possibly the same model or at least one very similar, for $65. My miter box came with what I believe to be an Atkins No.1 Mitre Saw, instead of a Disston. I suspect the one I got isn't as clean as yours, but it was in good shape and everything was still in adjustment such that it was producing 45 degree cuts that were right on the money. The saw was also in good shape and sharp. I think the combination of the miter box and saw I got for $65 was a very good deal.

[Derek Cohen]

Just for a reality check, what do you think it would cost to purchase a new Stanley #386 plus 26" long Disston backsaw in todays money? .....!

I'd saw that the saw alone would set you back at least $200. Double that when you include the mitre box.

What do you think?

Regards from Perth

Derek (with the slightly shorter but equally good Stanley #246 and 26" Disston)

[Johnny Kleso]

Shipping is the killer on these as they way about 40lbs

On eBay they sell for maybe $35 but think shipping would be around $40 and shipping the saw would be a PITA if not in another box...

[Ganthan Rhodes]

The MF Langdon Acme mitre box on eBay is very nice, but the price is being driven up because it is in great condition and it's also collectible.

I've bought two Langdon Acme mitre boxes recently for $60 and $15 respectively. The $15 one I bought locally. I paid $40 for shipping on the $60 one. (You're right about shipping Johnny).

My primary user is an "All Steel" made by Millers Falls. It is lighter to lug around and less fragile than the iron mitre boxes. I got it locally with a nice saw made by Disston for $35. It was missing a few doodads, but nothing I typically need.

[Ryan Cathey]

I have a Stanley miter box you can have for the price of shipping if you really want it. It's a 358. I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure it's all there. Just needs the saw, which is a different story all together...

[Rob Luter]

I've seen them ranging from $50 to $100 when on rust hunts. They typically have a 24" to 27" Disston saw whether a Stanley, Millers Falls, or other brand of Mitre Box. I got lucky and stumbled across this Millers Falls Langdon Acme at a garage sale. It has oilite bronze saw guide bushings and a 27" Disston:





I gave $10.00 for it. It cleaned up real nice and cuts well too. Keep your eyes open. Deals are out there.

[George Sanders]

I paid $15 for a Goodell-Pratt miter saw with a 30" Disston saw at a flea market last year. $200 is waaaay too much money.

[Rob Luter]

I took a look on the 'Bay at the one (I think) Gary was talking about. It's a really clean older version with a copper nameplate. The saw is really nice too.

I guessing it doesn't cut any better than the one I found.

[Bill Houghton]

They can be found occasionally at garage sales at that sort of price - or, as others have mentioned, for a little more on deBay.

I don't have enough experience to compare Millers-Falls to Stanley to Goodell Pratt. My limited experience is with a dynamite M-F Langdon Acme box, and a Goodell Pratt that turned out to be warped. The M-F box, with a Disston saw, unsharpened since I got it, is incredible - I can cut a shaving off the end of a piece of stock the thickness of the saw kerf. I highly recommend a good miter box.

[Don C Peterson]

I picked up a Miller's Falls miter box with a Disston saw (1920's vintage). Both the miter box and saw are in terrific shape, the saw is one of the longest back saws I've ever seen (the blade length is almost 28").

I found it on ebay and the price was only $9.00, but shipping was $50 from Hawaii...

[Kevin Brenton]

This is one I have just recently finished restoring ,a Stanley 346 with a 28" Disston saw.
BTW if any one knows what purpose the little round plate to the right of the saw in the board serves I would be grateful.
It has a 1/4 thread through the center and is held by two countersunk screws.

Thanks
Kevin

[Rob Luter]

Kevin - Nice Job with your Mitre Saw. I was going to leave mine alone after I cleaned it up but now I'm tempted to do a full scale restoration.

I think the round plate was an anchor for a sliding stop. A screw went through a slot in the stop and was tightened to hold it in place for multiple cuts.

[Kevin Brenton]

Kevin - Nice Job with your Mitre Saw. I was going to leave mine alone after I cleaned it up but now I'm tempted to do a full scale restoration.

I think the round plate was an anchor for a sliding stop. A screw went through a slot in the stop and was tightened to hold it in place for multiple cuts.

Rob ,
Thanks for the kind words and also for the insight .I was sure it was something to do with a stop , I have looked at old Stanley catalogues online ,but have never seen the part that fits to that spot .
The finish I used on the mitre box is actually Japanning I found a recipe online and mixed it up ,applied it and baked baked it in the kitchen oven for two hours and it came out perfect.

I had to make a new support strap for between the posts two screws to secure it and one screw to replace a missing one that fastened the feet onto the frame.
I also made a new cutting board from Tasmanian Oak ,using the original board for a template.
It was an enjoyable project ,fortunately having a metal lathe it made the task of making the new screws easy.

These come up on E-bay here in Oz occasionally ,but I think they are rather rare in this country I have seen three in the last 18 months including mine.There maybe a lot in old garages and such just waiting for a rescuer .
I tried to buy one from your side of the planet ,as another member pointed out postage cost killed the purchase.

I have found it is very accurate ,great for box making and mitre work.

Edit :
Just for interest sake ,I just looked at the PDF I have of the Stanley 1909 catalogue ,the cost of the 358 mitre box and saw was $13.00US and the shipping wieght was 36 lbs.You could buy the mitre box without the saw for $10.75 US.

Cheers
Kevin.