Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the router
switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first car's
dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?

"C & E" wrote in
:

Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and
they don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's
and early '70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade
shaft and a nice small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll
saw because it's the best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it,
I can replace the router switch with a standard SPST electronic switch
(think, your first car's dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it
salvageable?



I recently cut out the old switch on my lathe-turned-sander. To control
it, I hooked a 20A light switch to a duplex outlet (also 20A--most stuff
is 15A) and connected a plug to the other end. Now rather than messing
with a bad on/off switch, I've got a good light switch. As a bonus, I
can plug the vacuum in to the outlet and turn them both on at the same
time.

Something like that might work with the scroll saw, where it would be in
the same place all the time.

Puckdropper

Puckdropper wrote:
"C & E" wrote in
:

Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and
they don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's
and early '70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade
shaft and a nice small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll
saw because it's the best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof
it, I can replace the router switch with a standard SPST electronic
switch (think, your first car's dashboard with the under-dash
lights). Is it salvageable?



I recently cut out the old switch on my lathe-turned-sander. To
control it, I hooked a 20A light switch to a duplex outlet (also
20A--most stuff is 15A) and connected a plug to the other end. Now
rather than messing with a bad on/off switch, I've got a good light
switch. As a bonus, I can plug the vacuum in to the outlet and turn
them both on at the same time.

Something like that might work with the scroll saw, where it would be
in the same place all the time.

A light switch is probably OK for a scroll saw but be aware that they are
derated for motor use--a 20A Leviton industrial switch for example is rated
for 1 HP at 120v and 16A max motor load (fwiw you can find the Leviton
industrial catalog at
http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibcGe...minisite=10021
or http://tinyurl.com/yzslmh7.

Grizzly has switches intended specifically for power tool use for under 20
bucks that are rated for 2 HP at 110V and up to 35A.
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2009/Main/243 and
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2009/Main/244

Puckdropper

"C & E" wrote in message
...
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the router
switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first car's
dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?

Seriously, I have found switches all kinds of places for various tools. I
noticed a lot of my older power tools had standard production switches that
I was able to find from third parties or in some cases the OEM manufacturer.
Its going to take some looking, and of course you are going to have to open
up the tool to see what it has. If it's a built to suit switch it may not
be replaceable, but if it was a generic production switch I am sure you can
find a replacement.

wrote in message
...

such as Ass and Turd Value, they often have a selection of these
switches in the "specialty" drawers.

Hey! We had a True Value Hardware store for many years. Ok, we had a
country hardware and auto parts store with a True Value franchise so we
could buy stuff through their name. We actually had as many lines direct
using the True Value name to get to the manufacturers as we had from the
True Value catalog.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"C & E" wrote in message
...
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the
router switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first
car's dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?


Seriously, I have found switches all kinds of places for various tools. I
noticed a lot of my older power tools had standard production switches
that I was able to find from third parties or in some cases the OEM
manufacturer. Its going to take some looking, and of course you are going
to have to open up the tool to see what it has. If it's a built to suit
switch it may not be replaceable, but if it was a generic production
switch I am sure you can find a replacement.

The sitch is like a trigger and built into the grip. It's sort of a rocker
being hinged on the forend of it and the back swings up when squeezed. I'm
guessing that I'm hosed.

"C & E" wrote in message
...

The sitch is like a trigger and built into the grip. It's sort of a
rocker being hinged on the forend of it and the back swings up when
squeezed. I'm guessing that I'm hosed.

Maybe, and maybe the plastic trigger operates a regular old switch
internally.

On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:11:02 -0500, "C & E"
wrote:


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"C & E" wrote in message
...
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the
router switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first
car's dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?


Seriously, I have found switches all kinds of places for various tools. I
noticed a lot of my older power tools had standard production switches
that I was able to find from third parties or in some cases the OEM
manufacturer. Its going to take some looking, and of course you are going
to have to open up the tool to see what it has. If it's a built to suit
switch it may not be replaceable, but if it was a generic production
switch I am sure you can find a replacement.

The sitch is like a trigger and built into the grip. It's sort of a rocker
being hinged on the forend of it and the back swings up when squeezed. I'm
guessing that I'm hosed.

It that the actual switch? In most tools, that trigger swings up to
press on a little generic switch inside the handle.

On 21 Dec, 04:32, "C & E" wrote:
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and they
don't carry them anymore. *

Portable stuff is a problem - it usually involves machining up an
adapter block and a well-rated microswitch inside.

For fixed stuff, or table-mounted routers, then it's time to upgrade
to a mgnetic contactor with two buttons, no-volt release and easy
addition of emergency-off knee paddles. An isolator switch too.

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:11:02 -0500, "C & E"
wrote:


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"C & E" wrote in message
...
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and
they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and
early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a
nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's
the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the
router switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first
car's dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?


Seriously, I have found switches all kinds of places for various tools.
I
noticed a lot of my older power tools had standard production switches
that I was able to find from third parties or in some cases the OEM
manufacturer. Its going to take some looking, and of course you are
going
to have to open up the tool to see what it has. If it's a built to suit
switch it may not be replaceable, but if it was a generic production
switch I am sure you can find a replacement.

The sitch is like a trigger and built into the grip. It's sort of a
rocker
being hinged on the forend of it and the back swings up when squeezed.
I'm
guessing that I'm hosed.

It that the actual switch? In most tools, that trigger swings up to
press on a little generic switch inside the handle.


Thanks for the thought, salty and Bob. I'll tear into it after C.mas but
the Craftsman circ saw had a similar looking switch and it was a specially
made switch. Thanks again.

On Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:09:03 -0500, "C & E"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 22 Dec 2009 22:11:02 -0500, "C & E"
wrote:


"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
"C & E" wrote in message
...
Many of my old Craftsman power tools have the switches going bad and
they
don't carry them anymore. Most of the stuff is from the '60's and
early
'70's - circular saw, scroll saw with the rotating blade shaft and a
nice
small router. I am mostly interested in the scroll saw because it's
the
best of the three. Actually, come to thinkof it, I can replace the
router switch with a standard SPST electronic switch (think, your first
car's dashboard with the under-dash lights). Is it salvageable?


Seriously, I have found switches all kinds of places for various tools.
I
noticed a lot of my older power tools had standard production switches
that I was able to find from third parties or in some cases the OEM
manufacturer. Its going to take some looking, and of course you are
going
to have to open up the tool to see what it has. If it's a built to suit
switch it may not be replaceable, but if it was a generic production
switch I am sure you can find a replacement.

The sitch is like a trigger and built into the grip. It's sort of a
rocker
being hinged on the forend of it and the back swings up when squeezed.
I'm
guessing that I'm hosed.

It that the actual switch? In most tools, that trigger swings up to
press on a little generic switch inside the handle.


Thanks for the thought, salty and Bob. I'll tear into it after C.mas but
the Craftsman circ saw had a similar looking switch and it was a specially
made switch. Thanks again.

Also check with both Graingers and McMaster-Carr. They would be my
final answer.

There really isn't much incentive for a tool designer to use anything
other than an off-the-shelf switch. You just need to find the right
shelf.