My Old Craftsman Powered Atlas
A faithful 1954 Atlas table saw helped build House 173 for more than two decades before finally giving way to a safer successor.
My First Table Saw
Back in '97, we had just bought 173 and we weren't exactly brimming over with cash, so a friend of mine gave me an old table saw. When I say old - I mean old! It was belt-driven, with the saw and the separate motor mounted on an old board. When I brought it home, I built a stand for it out of leftover pieces of 2x4, a chunk of plywood and some caster wheels I had salvaged from some long-forgotten project. Here she is:
Looking through the old catalog made me appreciate the saw even more. It's one thing to inherit an old machine without knowing much about it. It's another to see the way it was originally advertised, complete with proud descriptions and optimistic promises of performance. Somewhere in 1954, someone opened that same catalog and decided this was the table saw they wanted in their workshop. Decades later, it was still earning its keep in mine.
Built to Last
As you can see by the page for my saw, the specs and narrative advertise a pretty solid machine, and you know what? It was! Let's think it through, built in '54, given to me in '97, and still running strong = 63 years!
The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal allowance of time. - Henry David Thoreau
Why My Uncle Called It the "Table Saw of Death"
The rest of the story with my Atlas was that it had no safety features - at all. None. Nil. Nada. Zilch! There was no cover over the blade, no writhing knife, heck - there wasn't even a power switch! I added that the day I got it. The ol' Atlas was so devoid of safety features, my uncle (a bit of a woodworker) christened it the Table Saw of Death!
A Well-Earned Retirement
But that thing did every job I needed it to the whole time we've had 173! Then, that same uncle went out and bought himself a brand new, shiny Grizzly table saw, and gave me his old one, which was about 60 years newer than the Atlas. This one's a Ryobi, and has safety features!
I love it! It's got some power to it for sure, but somehow I just don't think it'll last as long as the Atlas.
One Last Job
Well, I gave the old one to a neighbor, but thought I could still use the stand I had made lo, these many years ago. So I painted it, changed the power switch out for an outlet, and figured I would use it as a general stand, particularly for the chop saw:
There ya have it, the story of the Table Saw of Death. So long old pal!
______________________________
Every woodworker knows there are tools you own, and then there are tools that become part of your life. This old Atlas clearly belonged in the second category. I appreciated that you didn't pretend it was a perfect machine, it wasn't. By today's standards it was downright intimidating, and your uncle's nickname was probably well deserved. But you also gave it the respect it earned by acknowledging how much work it accomplished over nearly seventy years.What struck me most was the balance in your writing. You celebrate the durability of older machinery without romanticizing outdated safety. Too many people fall into one extreme or the other. You managed to say, 'This was an incredible saw...and I'm also glad to have one with modern safety features now.' That's exactly the right message.I also smiled at the fact that the stand survived even after the saw moved on. That feels perfectly in character for House 173. Around your place, almost nothing reaches the end of its usefulness, it just finds another job. In a way, that old Atlas is still helping out in the workshop, even if it's only through the stand you built for it back in 1997. That's a fitting legacy for a machine that spent so many years helping build and maintain your home. - The Seasoned DIYer
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made Atlas table saws?
Atlas Press Company manufactured woodworking machinery for decades, producing durable tools that are still found in many home workshops today.
Why were older table saws considered less safe?
Many vintage table saws were built before modern safety standards. Features such as blade guards, riving knives, anti-kickback pawls, and magnetic safety switches were often absent.
Can old table saws still be used safely?
Many can, but they should be carefully inspected and, where possible, upgraded with modern safety equipment. Even then, extra caution is essential because many older machines lack important protective features.
Why do vintage woodworking machines last so long?
Older machines were often built with heavy cast-iron components and simple mechanical designs that can remain functional for decades with proper maintenance.
Is an older cast-iron saw better than a modern contractor's saw?
Each has advantages. Older saws often offer exceptional durability, while modern saws generally provide better safety features, improved dust collection, and easier adjustments.
Why keep the old stand?
Repurposing a sturdy stand saves money, reduces waste, and gives a well-built piece of shop equipment another useful life.
Keywords
Atlas table saw, vintage table saw, Craftsman Atlas, woodworking tools, table saw safety, old woodworking machines, workshop history, Ryobi table saw, cast iron table saw, DIY workshop, House 173