Old Black & Decker tools and old euro made power tools

[DennisCA]

I was at the thrift store again, the one with lots of tools and junk and I found lots of old Black & Decker stuff. I know the modern stuff isn't much to write home about, but the stuff I found was made in England and metal bodied some of it. If that stuff runs would you say it's worth buying? It was 5 euros for a vibratory sander that worked when I plugged it in, but it seemed to the lack the bottommost part of the oad, only two screws where it would go, perhaps something that could be replaced, maybe just a thin plywood sheet and some rubber backing? Not sure if that is worth the bother, but OTOH paying 30-50 bucks for some made in china stuff isn't any better.

Also found some jigsaws of the similar vintage though plastic bodied, and other brands, some said made in germany and switzerland. I'd have liked to have found a nice orbital sander, can't afford festool or mirka... I could definitely use a jigsaw now that dad wanted his old Bosch GST-60 back.

 

[blackrodd]

Really old technology you are talking here, my old dad had some!
B&D, Best thing they made was the Workmate, part ally body.
All the best with the collection, You can still get spares for some of the old stuff here!
Regards Rodders

 

[Jacob]

B&D cheap and good value but they did some good stuff too. They had a "pro" range, black and grey - as good as anything else. They also rebadged other makes - their routers were Elu (I think) etc.

 

[RogerP]

B&D now are just part of a huge US conglomeration which includes Stanley, Bostitch, DeWalt, Porter Cable and many other well known brands under the umbrella of the Stanley Black & Decker Corporation.

 

[AndyT]

I think the sort of tools you are describing were decently made, before the idea took root that diy tools should be designed to last only for a few hours total use. But the stuff I remember using (or still own) was pretty basic. Drills with small chucks and fixed, high speeds. Everything else as a bolt-on accessory for the drill. But ok if it suits the work you need to do.

 

[themackay]

I still have a Black and Decker drill metal bodied made in uk from 1971 still going strong

 

[graduate_owner]

I bought several B&D tools in the 70's. I still have them and still use them. My 7 1/4" circular saw, portable planer and several drills still work perfectly. The only thing that has gone wrong is my jig saw. It still works but the blade tends to swivel unpredictably as well as travelling up and down, so it is difficult to control. The problem is wear in a brass block, which I could probably repair without too much difficulty now that I have some metalworking kit.

So overall I think they were made for home users, not tradesmen, but well made despite that. You might have to change the grease if it has become hard - worth checking especially if they are noisy. However if you see a lot of sparking at the motor commutator (some sparking is normal) or if you smell that characteristic stink of melted (molten) plastic then I would say leave them well alone because that would indicate burnt out windings and you are not likely to get spares. Even if spares are available they would probably cost way more than the cost of the tool.

All the B&D tools were bought brand new, but I have since bought several used power tools and they have been great, and cheap. For example, Bosch (green) sabre saw for £4, a Ryobi chisel (like a small Kango) for £30, a scabbler for £30, and an AEG drill for £4. I bought one AEG drill just for the case and bits for £1. It didn't work and I wasn't expecting it to because it had that smell and the plug was cut off. I pulled it loose and could see the source of the smell was the electronics which controlled the constant speed and torque. I bypassed the electronics and now it works fine - for £1. I wouldn't bother buying a cheap make second hand tough, like Nutool and Power Devil - they would probably not be much good even when new.

K

K

 

[RogerP]

I still have a 2 speed white and gold B&D drill - must be 40 years old and still works perfectly.

I stick to Bosch blue these days and have a small collection of their stuff - very well made.

 

[DennisCA]

Well I went there and didn't get that B&D because I happened to fall into the festool swamp. In another shelf I found an RTS 400 EQ orbital sander, checked it out online via the phone and based on that it was nicely priced at 25 euros, it works nicely though the hook and loop pad looks a bit worn, not sure about a replacement and what that would cost, but it works and the amount of vibration felt in the hand is incredibly small, downside is I can't find the proper sandpaper in any local stores:

Also needed a jigsaw, I did find a sturdier and heavier makita saw but it was 38 euros which I thought was too much, this one was only 10 euros and I don't need a jigsaw often, or for much, still made in Germany though:

And here's the B&D I started the thread about, now that I got the festool I didn't buy it, but I wanted to see if it looked familiar to anyone here:

Also found this grinder of some german make for 35 euros that I am seriously considering going back for:

 

[davin]

You should come to the UK this spring.
Boot fair season begins, Its a kirpu Tori (flea market) in a field. Lots of earnest aging men (like myself) can be seen trying to find bargain tools we will probably never use.

 

[DennisCA]

I probably couldn't afford the plane ticket, it'd probably eat up my tool budget. But there is a similar early thing up north from me called Juthbacka market, they have lots of tools and junk there.

 

[memzey]

That grinder looks like a Slibette. I have a slightly smaller one. If it is one of those they are made in Denmark and are of extremely high quality. I can use mine with a 20p piece balanced on edge on the casing.

 

[DennisCA]

I don't remember what brand it was but it said VEB something on the back so I think maybe it was east german in manufacture.

 

[wizard]

a few of my old power tools

 

[Mark A]

a few of my old power tools

Hi wizard,

Apart from the drills, Tarplaner and Ripsnorter, what are the other tools up there?

Mark

 

[wizard]

electric screwdriver, hammer, router, and more

 

[Mark A]

Thanks for the pictures, Wizard!

I like that belt sander.

I've been keeping an eye on eBay but not many old power tools come up for sale. Where did you find all of yours?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[wizard]

eBay and car boot sales had to repair most of them