JayhawkCRNA Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 I came across a 1924 Fay and Egan 506 Lightning 12" Jointer for sale. It is single phase and seller says it works well. Anybody have any input on the machine? Is it worth buying? What should I look out for? I like the idea of a vintage machine and love the 12" size. I have a 30x30 shop that could accommodate the machine. It is an 1.5 hour drive for me so I wanted to get some info before I committed to making the drive to look. Also any ideas how to load/move such a beast of a machine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 Love to have that, but no space for it. Can't help with info. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 Can't believe it's single phase, I'd avoid it only because of the nightmare of what it will take to move it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 14, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 24 minutes ago, sjeff70 said: Can't believe it's single phase, I'd avoid it only because of the nightmare of what it will take to move it. That is the biggest thing I am worried about. Seller says it is about 1500#. The seller says he used a skid loader and tilt trailer to move it a few years ago and offered to use the skid loader to put it onto a trailer I would have. I have access to tractors but not sure if they could lift it off the trailer. He is asking $750 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 14, 2018 Report Share Posted July 14, 2018 The cutterhead has been replaced to a modern, safe design. I'd pay 750 for it. It probably has babbet bearings, if they haven't been replaced. A hobbyist would never wear out a set, but you would need to find someone close to you who could, if they need to be repoured. That's a real mobile base too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 2 hours ago, Tom King said: The cutterhead has been replaced to a modern, safe design. I'd pay 750 for it. It probably has babbet bearings, if they haven't been replaced. A hobbyist would never wear out a set, but you would need to find someone close to you who could, if they need to be repoured. That's a real mobile base too! Thanks for the info. I am having seller send me some more info and pictures. He said there is some pitting around the edge of the beds. He bought it a couple years ago from a cabinetmaker closing up shop. THat cabinet maker had replaced the motor at some point. He bought a large drum sander so he says he doesn’t use this anymore. Also said he would hone the knifes after use. Any idea about if the blades are bad what the options would be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 It shouldn't be any trouble finding replacement blades. That cutterhead looks pretty standard. The old ones, like what was probably on that one to start with, were square, and the knives bolted onto the outside of the square. There are more than a few stories of knives going through roofs with those old cutterheads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 2 minutes ago, Tom King said: It shouldn't be any trouble finding replacement blades. That cutterhead looks pretty standard. The old ones, like what was probably on that one to start with, were square, and the knives bolted onto the outside of the square. There are more than a few stories of knives going through roofs with those old cutterheads. Thanks for the info and appreciate it. I am leaning toward offering a little lower just for my drive and hassle of getting a forklift from a friend to unload it at my place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 You have a friend with a forklift?! And he's just gonna drop by with it? Man I want a friend like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Moore Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Aside from loading unloading, watch out for what Tom said about the cutter having babbit bearings, unless you know or have someone who does know how to fit new ones you could be buying a big boat anchor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 3 hours ago, Larry Moore said: Aside from loading unloading, watch out for what Tom said about the cutter having babbit bearings, unless you know or have someone who does know how to fit new ones you could be buying a big boat anchor. How can you tell if it has these types of bearings? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Do a Google search for: pouring babbitt bearings 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 1 hour ago, Tom King said: Do a Google search for: pouring babbitt bearings Thanks again. After researching that I may have to pass if it had Babbitt simply for the fact I can’t handle that fix and wouldn’t want a large paperweight to get rid of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 Here are some more pictures. The seller doesn’t know if they are Babbitt or ball bearings. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 I don't know about the bearings, but I suggest going for it. At that price, you could recoup a significant portion of your investment just selling it for scrap metal, if things don't work out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 That motor is worth more than half the asking price. That's the best 3 or 5hp (can't read the hp on the plate) motor made. A hobbyist will never wear out a set of babbitt bearings, if they are good to start with. Find the old woodworking machine forums, and ask about it there. It's something like owwm.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Moore Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 The first picture in your original post shows what looks like an oil cup on the bearing end cap. That would lead me to think Babbitt bearings because they need a lot of oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JayhawkCRNA Posted July 15, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 32 minutes ago, Larry Moore said: The first picture in your original post shows what looks like an oil cup on the bearing end cap. That would lead me to think Babbitt bearings because they need a lot of oil. Thanks for the reply I posted over at Owwm.org and the 1 rely so far says it is a ball bearing machine. I have decided to purchase it and will be picking it up tomorrow. I feel like I may be starting down a rabbet hole of old machinery. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post drzaius Posted July 15, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 1 hour ago, JayhawkCRNA said: I feel like I may be starting down a rabbet hole of old machinery Or possibly a babbitt hole... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 You might check this out. http://vintagemachinery.org/pubs/305/208.pdf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted July 15, 2018 Report Share Posted July 15, 2018 So the round cutterhead is original too. The 16" square head jointer I owned for a few days must have been older than I thought it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 The PDF from vintage machinery says it is 1750 lbs. But that could include a crate, 2250 lbs for export. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted July 16, 2018 Report Share Posted July 16, 2018 That wouldn’t be my first choice for a jointer, but at that price, it’s hard to argue. Especially it being single phase with a newer motor. 12” covers most of my needs, and a 7’ bed can handle 8-10’ lengths effectively. I like the look of that fence design it seems very stout. I will say the fences on the old machines are better than modern counterparts. This fence looks like I could beat it with a dead blow and it wouldn’t go out of square. Same for the tannewitz and north field table saw fences. Make sure you you attach the forklift harnesses to the chassis of the machine and not the beds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted July 17, 2018 Report Share Posted July 17, 2018 Please post pics of it once you get it cleaned up and set up; and don't hold back any of the details. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JayhawkCRNA Posted July 22, 2018 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted July 22, 2018 Got it all unloaded and working on getting ready to adjust the beds coplaner today. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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