Craftsman Lathe Banjo Tuneup

2,763 views · Published 9 June 2014 · 1:58 · Indexed 29 September 2026

Channel: Rick McQuay · 2014 · Howto & Style

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King Seeley cranked these out by the bajillions for Sears without taking a minute to remove casting flash, smooth or machine any surfaces other than the ways. Plenty of owners hated these machines but they can be good lathes with a little work. Here I'm smoothing the bottom of the banjo (tool post holder) so it will slide easier. Over the summer I'll add videos of tweaks I've done to improve performance.

Craftsman model# 103.23870 wood lathe; manufactured by King Seeley for Sears. I believe this one dates to 1958.

Music:
"Cigar Box Blues" by Brenna McQuay

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