1982 Martin T-23

[Patrick Walsh]

Yeah but that means it sits in the back of my van in the driveway till Tuesday night as I have no way to get the dam thing to his shop without asking him to give away his Sunday.

I’m pretty sure the van will live but you know I have destroyed the suspension of a couple vehicles now pushing them to far. But you know they never cost $67k

As impatient as I might also be to get this unloaded and into the shop...I think I'd choose the Uncle's shop option because of its advantages to the overall restoration project. Oh, and yea...forklift.

[David Kumm]

Patrick, were all machines wired 220 or do you need a 600v transformer? Dave who would like a tenoning table for a T21.

[Patrick Walsh]

220,

The machine actually came from a auction in New Jersey. I think rent is cheap up where I got it for shop space.

What’s your comment to Dave.

Are you speaking of yourself in the third person. I have been trying to buy a tenon table Martin from overseas from the various emails I get from online retailers or online conglomerate dealers or whoever they are. Nobody ever gets back to me. I’m totally considering a trip to Germany when my dog dies to get at the least the a machine with a tenon table.

I’m not kidding either. You watch I’ll do it. But I’m never leaving my dog while I go on vacation. I have not been on one in eleven years.

And at this point I am fully committed to a t23 tenon table. I have been in front of the gamete now of Martin shaper from these 50-70’s machines to a couple year old top of the line and I can day without doubt I would prefer a 70’s t73 tenon table to any other Martin I could have.

In photo they kinda look wimpy but in person they are so substantial and quite massive in comparison to anything but a brand new cnc Martin. Then even those are just bigger in mass not heft. I guess they have the heft but it’s concrete not metal and I prefer the metal.

Patrick, were all machines wired 220 or do you need a 600v transformer? Dave who would like a tenoning table for a T21.

[Ron Selzer]

Yeah but that means it sits in the back of my van in the driveway till Tuesday night as I have no way to get the dam thing to his shop without asking him to give away his Sunday.

I’m pretty sure the van will live but you know I have destroyed the suspension of a couple vehicles now pushing them to far. But you know they never cost $67k

put a jack under the trailer hitch and raise the back end up some, old farmers trick I learned way too many years ago.
I want that aircraft deck jointer in my basement bad, just need the money to buy it and the new outside entrance to the basement dug and installed. Then the crane can drop it in the basement entry way from the street
good luck
Ron

[Patrick Walsh]

I actually had my first jointer/combo machine lifted over my house with a crane as I was to insecure at the time to think I could move it. I know better now but at the time it was probably a smart decision. That machine weighed 1800 lbs and was maybe 30x86. I’ll move my Martin jointer in 128x36” probably by myself something this next year.

You live your learn but hopefully not the hard way.

Great suggestion on the jack im gonna run out and do it like right now. Thank you, sometimes the most simple things.

put a jack under the trailer hitch and raise the back end up some, old farmers trick I learned way too many years ago.
I want that aircraft deck jointer in my basement bad, just need the money to buy it and the new outside entrance to the basement dug and installed. Then the crane can drop it in the basement entry way from the street
good luck
Ron

[David Kumm]

Yes, Patrick, bring home two tenoning tables as I would like one. Dave

[Darcy Warner]

Good luck with Germany, or Europe in general.

I could write a lengthy post on why buying parts from a Euro manufacturer is almost impossible.

It took over 2 months to come to a dead end with Martin on part availability, ok I could sort of get some parts, but didn't know exactly what they were or if they would fit.

I have been waiting 4 weeks for another company to have a meeting to see how much they want for a part that is way obsolete and they didn't know they had.

Buying parts in person in Europe is almost no better, the only better part is an actual person says you can't have it. Lol.

[Darcy Warner]

Also, that is one reason people are buying the high end grizzly stuff, they will send you whatever part you want, because they like money.

Basically the Eruo manufacturers almost have a sort of organized crime ring going on with parts and service.

I repaired a 2007 43" 2 head Buttfering sander recently. The dealer that sold it to them used can't/won't service. Only dealer that is an authorized service center as well, wanted 1850 just to show up to take a look at it, plus 250/hr.

I had it figured out, parts ordered, and machine checked over in about 10 hours including drive there.

[Patrick Walsh]

All the above is a real shame but nothing I have not heard before in some manner.

I have never heard grizzly makes high end anything however but I don’t know so I’ll leave it at that with my grizzly attitude.

This all is why I’m pretty smitten by heavy duty vintage machines built simple but like tanks. If something does break and your really committed to getting it up and running you can fix it. And if you can’t someone else can if your pockets are deep enough.

Also, that is one reason people are buying the high end grizzly stuff, they will send you whatever part you want, because they like money.

Basically the Eruo manufacturers almost have a sort of organized crime ring going on with parts and service.

I repaired a 2007 43" 2 head Buttfering sander recently. The dealer that sold it to them used can't/won't service. Only dealer that is an authorized service center as well, wanted 1850 just to show up to take a look at it, plus 250/hr.

I had it figured out, parts ordered, and machine checked over in about 10 hours including drive there.

[Patrick Walsh]

Made the decision mostly per Jim’s advice lol.

All kidding aside..

To leave the machine in the van and bring it to my uncles shop clean it up then trailer it home.

Funniest part is my door has to be taken completely out jamb and PT that’s lagged to the foundation to carry it. I kinda knew but figured just taking the table off would do. No dice so away we go. It’s ok I was gonna cut the foundation long term “maybe this year” put in a reinforced header and then a double door. So who knows maybe now I gotta do that way sooner than I thought also. The freaking onion peel know as my life addicted to huge machines in a week munchkin shop fit for a pack of elves.

So I couldn’t restrain any longer. I started by pulling a few bits off the machine I knew need repairs regardless of restoration or not that have no need to make there way to my uncles shop.

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[Darcy Warner]

High end for grizzly, lol. Their top tier stuff.

[Patrick Walsh]

I was kinda thinking that but you know, you never know and I didn’t want to say something to question you as. This maybe insult you.

High end for grizzly, lol. Their top tier stuff.

[Patrick Walsh]

I couldn’t just leave the machine sitting in my van all dam day and do nothing. This stuff is like crack to me.

So after a relaxing morning with the dog and family I found myself in the back of my van going completely buggy with a vacuum and some simple green. To my surprise “honestly my first impression of the machine was it’s kinda a dog” it’s defiantly been a workhorse as it is intended to as it has the sighs you would expect of a machine made in 1982 meant to make money would have.

Anyway under all the dust and dirt and grime I found a machine in such nice condition I honestly feel zero need to restore it. And that’s not just because I’m being lazy but because it really is in good condition. It has a few scars. The same crack in the fence dust port JOe Calhoons t23 had. The louvered Side and back vent are plastic unlike the earlier machines metal ones and they are pretty much trash. And the cast table does had a maze of dings all over it all be them minor and typical of a old machine that actually got used.

I did not clean the cast table as it’s covered I some spray on wax coating I forget the name and I wasn’t going to stink out my van anymore than a old machine already does. But I did give the machine. A good old Italian bath, take no offense people I’m Irish Italian. As I was cleaning I cloud hear my Nanas voice saying “patrick don’t forget to clean behind your ears” in the thickest of Boston accents. In all seriousness I really gut up underneath this old Betty and got very familur with her in dear workings.

Typical Martin, built like a tank, simple as simple gets design and still attention payed to a aesthetically pleasing design. I was a bit disappointed in the trunnion on this machine vrs that of the t23’s just a few years older. But you know that’s probably just because that giant trunnion is like my favorite part of these old martins. It’s not that this one is wimpy or bad it’s just not as big as my arm.

So here ]s what I came up with.

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All up in there, isn’t she sexy I like her stature...

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The return spring for the trunnion is also different but similar to my t75 and earlier t23 machines like joes. None the less still very well done.

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The electrical box is like new inside.

It’s even got the key and the original locks intact. It’s been my experience that on machines much newer these locks are often trashed by someone whom lost the key.

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And I even have that little lightning bolt sticker I had once upon a time on the control panel of my t75 but trashed to repaint it. Now I can take this someplace nd have them make me a few.

[Patrick Walsh]

The hand wheel side is also in exceptional condition considering the machines age.

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To my surprise that black handwheel on the never machines is painted and not anodized. I fully expected from online pictures it would be anodized. Again it’s in good enough condition I don’t feel the need to do a dam thing to it. The scale that I’m paying dearly to reproduce for the t75 and have had to fight tooth and nail to even find someone capable and willing is in actual perfect condition on this machine.

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[Darcy Warner]

Cleaned up very nice. That is a well kept, honest machine that has made its owners money.