Hammond Ben Franklin TrimOSaw

I recently purchased a Hammond Ben Franklin TrimOSaw. I am looking for someone who has one and would be willing to answer a few specific questions about this model. I do have some pieces of documentation on Hammond saws in general, but no manual specifically for the Ben Franklin model.

John Johnson

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What are your questions?

Rob

From the accessories list, I found the part SA-470 (Batter & Line-Up Gauge). The one on my saw does not move on the rod. The set screw is missing so I presume it is just frozen from lack of use over the years. I will soak it with Liquid Wrench to see if I can gently get it free. On the left end of this part is the Batter Gauge Dial. Can you describe exactly how this is used? In the attached photo there is a knob with hash lines. It doesn’t seem to move. Is this a stop that is used to hold the selected Batter Gauge Dial in the selected position? How is it meant to operate?

On the left side of the saw table there is a bar that pivots. Attached are photos of the bar in three positions. What is this bar for?

image: Part SA-470.JPG

Part SA-470.JPG

Photos of the bar

image: Bar2.jpg

Bar2.jpg

image: Bar3.jpg

Bar3.jpg

image: Bar.jpg

Bar.jpg

The batter gauge is used with the mitering attachment. I haven’t done this, but I think you set the dial to the thickness of border rule, then butt against it before cutting. And you’d be doing one of the cuts face down, maybe cutting the rule to final length first.

Hi, I have the use of a Funditor Saw here in the UK and the batter bar is very similar. I cut the rules to length first and then mount the mitre block to the side guage then set the rule thickness and cut the mitres. On the Funditor the instructions are printed on a plate attached to the mitre block, which was very useful for me. I won’t be in the workshop now until next week, so I will take some photos and post them late next week if that helps.

image: IMG_9040.JPG

IMG_9040.JPG

Thanks, Frank. The photos would be great. John

I have been successful in freeing the adjustment rod and allowing the batter gauge to freely move left and right. Now I have some questions about the dial and the guide. The graduated dial (2pt to 36pt) does not rotate to all of the settings. The dial hits the end of the adjustment rod at the end with the hash lines. Is the stop/guide supposed to slide onto the area with the hash lines which would allow the dial to turn to all settings? The stop/guide does turn, with difficulty, on the adjustment rod. Should it be able to turn or is the pin shown in the photo supposed to keep it in place without turning?

John

image: Part SA-470 Dial.jpg

Part SA-470 Dial.jpg

The rod for the batter gauge is misaligned. The knurled section should be inside the gauge, flush with the end. I don’t know if that pin is original.
I downloaded a manual (BF-10) at
http://www.vintagemachinery.org/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=415&tab=3
It doesn’t explain use of this part, but if you also download the manual for the Trimosaw models G4, G44, G45 and G40, it shows how the batter gauge is used with the Any-angle attachment.

I’ve taken a photo of the batter gauge on my saw. Although mine is a Hammond Glider, you can see how much space there should be for the adjustment “dial” to turn.

I wonder if the rod has been replaced, or put in end for end. Perhaps the knurled part takes the place of the domed washer at the end of mine.

image: betterbatter.jpg

betterbatter.jpg

parallel_imp, I removed the pin and was able to remove the batter gauge from the rod. There is a hole drilled through the gauge and the rod. When the holes are aligned, the gauge fits on the rod with the gauge flush with the end of the rod as you suggested. I’ll put in a new pin and should be able to move on to the next area of the saw to work on.

jhenry, Thanks for the photo. When the holes in the gauge and rod on my saw align, it looks like your photo. One final (I hope) question on the batter gauge, in your photo there appears to be a machine screw on the right hand end of the rod. There is one on my saw as well. The head of the screw is a little larger than the diameter of the rod. Is the screw there simply to prevent pulling the rod too far to the left or is there an attachment that goes on the end of the rod?

image: Batter Gauge Rod.jpg

Batter Gauge Rod.jpg

image: Batter Gauge.jpg

Batter Gauge.jpg

I think the screw just limits the movement as you suggest.

As promised here are some pictures re the Funditor saw I have use of. The last picture showing the rule in position is wrong in so far as the rotating scale showing the various point sizes should have been set back to Zero before cutting the rule.
Having uploaded the pictures they have gone in the reverse order - sorry - see the file names for correct sequence.

image: saw7.jpeg.jpg

saw7.jpeg.jpg

image: saw6.jpeg.jpg

saw6.jpeg.jpg

image: saw5.jpeg.jpg

saw5.jpeg.jpg

image: saw4.jpeg.jpg

saw4.jpeg.jpg

image: saw3.jpeg.jpg

saw3.jpeg.jpg

image: saw2.jpeg.jpg

saw2.jpeg.jpg

image: saw1.jpeg.jpg

saw1.jpeg.jpg

Frank, Thanks for the photos, they help make sense of the dial and the mitre accessory. I was given a mitre block made by Nolan that looks just like the one in your photo. If you have the opportunity, could you take a photo of the mitre block with a lead in place and positioned just up to the edge of the blade? Thanks. John

Hi jn,
will do but again it will be later in the week, I only get to the work shop one day a week.

Jnbirdhouse, here are the rest of the photos including some of the trimmer block and blades on the Funditor. Hope they are of use. Sorry again the pictures are in reverse order again. Not sure if your machine has the trimmer option?
But I have not used it on the Funditor yet, will need to get the blades sharpened first.

image: saw16.jpg

saw16.jpg

image: saw15.jpg

saw15.jpg

image: saw14.jpg

saw14.jpg

image: saw13.jpg

saw13.jpg

image: saw12.jpg

saw12.jpg

image: saw11.jpg

saw11.jpg

image: saw10.jpg

saw10.jpg

image: saw9.jpg

saw9.jpg

image: saw8.jpg

saw8.jpg

Frank, Thanks for all the photos. They are very helpful. John