New (to me) General 350 Table Saw

[Doug G [OP]]

Finally pulled the trigger on a new saw. Still love my Rockwell Beaver 34090A but thinking of some bigger projects and decided to get a full size cabinet saw. I'll be looking for a new home for the Rockwell Beaver once I get the General up and running. According to the seller this saw was used to build one home and then stored for 20 years so it's low mileage, runs smooth blade moves up and down and tilts effortlessly. Don't have a precision straight edge but using what I have the top is dead flat. Missing the motor cover which I understand was optional so probably never had one, it's on my list to fabricate with a dust port. The catch for the access door is missing a part but I think I can fab one (the seller said he might be able to find one for me). It had the original General fence with the pipes front and back and an extension table, not unlike the original fence on the Beaver but a little better. I talked the seller into swapping the fence for a Biesemeyer he had on another saw (he's retired and buy, refurbishes and sells saws etc as a hobby business). The mounting angles and rectangular tube have seen better days and are a little shorter than I want so I'm getting replacements from a recycler which I'll clean up, paint and drill as required. The fence itself needs a little work. My Delta copy of the Bessy rides on a pair of nylon screws for adjustment, this Bessy gas a couple steel screws in that place so it's steel on painted steel, does the original Bessy normally have nylon screws in this location? The fence has nylon pads on the bottom where it rides on the table, my Delta fence has a nylon guide at the back which rides on the rear angle iron, the Bessy has a couple empty holes in the bottom near the back which look like they are for similar guide. Does the Bessy usually have a guide which rides on the angle or does it just ride on the table?
Other than those small mods, I need to make a mobile base for it with a router station in the extension (more on that when I get into it), don't have welding skills so I'm going for a wooden structure with some angle iron to support the saw. I've got some tropical hardwood from some stone shipping frames about 3" x 3", looks like some kind of Mahogany, very heavy and strong. Anyone care to share their wooden mobile base ideas or plans? Plan on 4 locking casters from Lee Valley, which I have on most of my shop tools and carts, they have a load capacity of 100 KG or 220 pounds, the saw itself is around 450 pounds plus say another 100 pounds for fence, storage, extension table with router etc so well under the 880 pound capacity of 4 casters. Need to add 240V to the shop for it, plan on adding a 20 Amp 240 Volt outlet next to my panel in the garage (12 Ga wire), I might cut the existing 20 ft cord leaving say 3 ft on the saw and making the rest an extension cord so I can unplug right at the saw. Make sense?
Last question, the serial number is K2164, according to the seller it should be around 2000 manufacture date, can anyone help dating it?

[redlee]

I bought my 350 new 25 years ago, been a good saw.
Only issue ive had was the sector gear and pinion needs greasing, has the original 3HP motor and came with a Biesemeyer fence which has been good.
Great saw , but not many parts anymore to be had. Looks identical to mine except switch.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgi...il.aspx?id=363

By your serial number its 1972.

[ErikM]

If you are running 30A you will need #10 AWG as #12 will only get you 20A. Enjoy your 350, they are a great saw.

[Doug G [OP]]

If you are running 30A you will need #10 AWG as #12 will only get you 20A. Enjoy your 350, they are a great saw.

Thanks, the motor is 1 1/2 HP so 20 Amps is all I need, 30 was a typo. Here's the motor nameplate, it's wired for 240V. Your correct, 12 Ga is only good for 20 amps so I'll go for a 20 amp breaker. Note the wire run will literally be a couple feet only, after considering it, right beside the panel is the best spot for the outlet, it's even close to the garage door if I ever need it outside.

[guylavoie]

What? The 34090A club is losing an esteemed member?

But wow, you now pretty well have the best saw you can get. Congrats, and enjoy!

[Doug G [OP]]

I bought my 350 new 25 years ago, been a good saw.
Only issue ive had was the sector gear and pinion needs greasing, has the original 3HP motor and came with a Biesemeyer fence which has been good.
Great saw , but not many parts anymore to be had. Looks identical to mine except switch.

http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgi...il.aspx?id=363

By your serial number its 1972.

Thanks, I tried looking at OWWM but couldn't find it. So it's 30 years older than I thought, maybe the one house build and 20 years storage was inaccurate. Does your Biesmeyer fence run on nylon screws on the front tube and a nylon guide on the rear angle or just on the table? I'll make sure to keep the sector gear and pinion well greased, any recommendation on the grease?

[Doug G [OP]]

What? The 34090A club is losing an esteemed member?

But wow, you now pretty well have the best saw you can get. Congrats, and enjoy!

Thanks Guy, don't worry I'll make sure the 34090A goes to a good home. I'm hoping I can find a young woodworker looking for his first saw and gift it to him/her. Considering I only paid $50 for it with over $100 worth of blades and accessories it's the least I can do.

[HTHM--]

Other than those small mods, I need to make a mobile base for it with a router station in the extension (more on that when I get into it), don't have welding skills so I'm going for a wooden structure with some angle iron to support the saw. I've got some tropical hardwood from some stone shipping frames about 3" x 3", looks like some kind of Mahogany, very heavy and strong. Anyone care to share their wooden mobile base ideas or plans? Plan on 4 locking casters from Lee Valley, which I have on most of my shop tools and carts, they have a load capacity of 100 KG or 220 pounds, the saw itself is around 450 pounds plus say another 100 pounds for fence, storage, extension table with router etc so well under the 880 pound capacity of 4 casters.

I attempted to make a wooden base for my Unisaw, same weight basically, this was the result:

I ended up buying a base from Tegs Tools, and have had much better results with that. https://www.tegstools.com/king-canad...strial-900-lbs

[redlee]

Thanks, I tried looking at OWWM but couldn't find it. So it's 30 years older than I thought, maybe the one house build and 20 years storage was inaccurate. Does your Biesmeyer fence run on nylon screws on the front tube and a nylon guide on the rear angle or just on the table? I'll make sure to keep the sector gear and pinion well greased, any recommendation on the grease?

Sometimes the older it is the build quality improves.
Ill take some pics for you on the fence queries.

[Doug G [OP]]

I attempted to make a wooden base for my Unisaw, same weight basically, this was the result:

I ended up buying a base from Tegs Tools, and have had much better results with that. https://www.tegstools.com/king-canad...strial-900-lbs

Looks like you just used construction grade 2 x 4's, as I said I've got some pretty skookum hardwood and plan to add some steel reinforcement at the corners so hopefully I'll have more success. How do you find maneuvering it with 2 fixed and 2 pivoting wheels? I find 4 pivoting wheels makes it more maneuverable in a small shop.

[timberframe]

Thanks, I tried looking at OWWM but couldn't find it. So it's 30 years older than I thought, maybe the one house build and 20 years storage was inaccurate.

Probably only used by a little old lady on Sundays.... 🙂

[redlee]

Just checked , mine was built in 1993, older than I thought. Hope this helps.

[Doug G [OP]]

Probably only used by a little old lady on Sundays.... 🙂

No the motor doesn't have a crochet cover.

[redlee]

Looking at your pics it looks to be in nice shape, was it a good deal, dont need price but was it a deal?
I think I paid about $2200 in 1993

I just use regular bearing grease, Ive read many times about not using grease, but ive tried everything under the sun as far as dry grease nothing lasts other than grease.
Yes it attracts sawdust but it doesnt seem to bother it.

[Doug G [OP]]

Just checked , mine was built in 1993, older than I thought. Hope this helps.

Thanks Rick, mine has similar glide pads on the bottom which ride on the table, kinda like the way my Delta copy rides on the rear angle, might add that to the Bessy. Here's a picture of mine with the steel bolts which would ride on the painted rectangular tube (ouch), maybe they were added to give some adjustment , how does yours adjust to make the face of the fence at 90 degrees to the table? Are those pads adjustable? On my Delta the nylon screws adjust to make the fence 90 to the table.