How much should a vintage miter saw and box cost?

[Gary Herrmann]

My wife doesn't like power tools so I was thinking of getting her a miter box for cutting basswood for carving, picture frames etc.

I saw a Miller Falls Acme(?) miter box with a Disston miter saw on the bay. It's almost $200!

I guess both the box and the saw are in really good shape, but wow. I had no idea.

[Clint Jones]

I dont know but I have an older Stanley Miter box with a disston saw in very nice shape in an antique mall for $65 and it has been there for 6 months. Its clean as a whip, works great, everything is clean, saw is nice...It isnt one of those rinky dink miter boxes its one of the big cast iron ones with the sliding cams I believe a 386. I guess it just depends where your located and if there is a market for them.

[Johnny Kleso]

Shipping is the killer on these as they way about 40lbs

On eBay they sell for maybe $35 but think shipping would be around $40 and shipping the saw would be a PITA if not in another box...

[Ganthan Rhodes]

The MF Langdon Acme mitre box on eBay is very nice, but the price is being driven up because it is in great condition and it's also collectible.

I've bought two Langdon Acme mitre boxes recently for $60 and $15 respectively. The $15 one I bought locally. I paid $40 for shipping on the $60 one. (You're right about shipping Johnny).

My primary user is an "All Steel" made by Millers Falls. It is lighter to lug around and less fragile than the iron mitre boxes. I got it locally with a nice saw made by Disston for $35. It was missing a few doodads, but nothing I typically need.

[Michael Faurot]

I saw a Miller Falls Acme(?) miter box with a Disston miter saw on the bay. It's almost $200!


That seems high to me. Unless there's something special about this one, I'd say there's some better deals to be had if you want to look a bit more.


I dont know but I have an older Stanley Miter box with a disston saw in very nice shape in an antique mall for $65 and it has been there for 6 months. Its clean as a whip, works great, everything is clean, saw is nice...It isnt one of those rinky dink miter boxes its one of the big cast iron ones with the sliding cams I believe a 386. I guess it just depends where your located and if there is a market for them.

I picked up one of these recently at an antique fair, possibly the same model or at least one very similar, for $65. My miter box came with what I believe to be an Atkins No.1 Mitre Saw, instead of a Disston. I suspect the one I got isn't as clean as yours, but it was in good shape and everything was still in adjustment such that it was producing 45 degree cuts that were right on the money. The saw was also in good shape and sharp. I think the combination of the miter box and saw I got for $65 was a very good deal.

[Derek Cohen]

Just for a reality check, what do you think it would cost to purchase a new Stanley #386 plus 26" long Disston backsaw in todays money? .....!

I'd saw that the saw alone would set you back at least $200. Double that when you include the mitre box.

What do you think?

Regards from Perth

Derek (with the slightly shorter but equally good Stanley #246 and 26" Disston)

[Ryan Cathey]

I have a Stanley miter box you can have for the price of shipping if you really want it. It's a 358. I'd have to check but I'm pretty sure it's all there. Just needs the saw, which is a different story all together...

[Rob Luter]

I've seen them ranging from $50 to $100 when on rust hunts. They typically have a 24" to 27" Disston saw whether a Stanley, Millers Falls, or other brand of Mitre Box. I got lucky and stumbled across this Millers Falls Langdon Acme at a garage sale. It has oilite bronze saw guide bushings and a 27" Disston:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=88789

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=88788

I gave $10.00 for it. It cleaned up real nice and cuts well too. Keep your eyes open. Deals are out there.

[George Sanders]

I paid $15 for a Goodell-Pratt miter saw with a 30" Disston saw at a flea market last year. $200 is waaaay too much money.:eek:

[Rob Luter]

I took a look on the 'Bay at the one (I think) Gary was talking about. It's a really clean older version with a copper nameplate. The saw is really nice too.

I guessing it doesn't cut any better than the one I found. :rolleyes:

[Bill Houghton]

They can be found occasionally at garage sales at that sort of price - or, as others have mentioned, for a little more on deBay.

I don't have enough experience to compare Millers-Falls to Stanley to Goodell Pratt. My limited experience is with a dynamite M-F Langdon Acme box, and a Goodell Pratt that turned out to be warped. The M-F box, with a Disston saw, unsharpened since I got it, is incredible - I can cut a shaving off the end of a piece of stock the thickness of the saw kerf. I highly recommend a good miter box.

[Don C Peterson]

I picked up a Miller's Falls miter box with a Disston saw (1920's vintage). Both the miter box and saw are in terrific shape, the saw is one of the longest back saws I've ever seen (the blade length is almost 28").

I found it on ebay and the price was only $9.00, but shipping was $50 from Hawaii...

[Kevin Brenton]

This is one I have just recently finished restoring ,a Stanley 346 with a 28" Disston saw.
BTW if any one knows what purpose the little round plate to the right of the saw in the board serves I would be grateful.
It has a 1/4 thread through the center and is held by two countersunk screws.

Thanks
Kevin

[Rob Luter]

Kevin - Nice Job with your Mitre Saw. I was going to leave mine alone after I cleaned it up but now I'm tempted to do a full scale restoration.

I think the round plate was an anchor for a sliding stop. A screw went through a slot in the stop and was tightened to hold it in place for multiple cuts.

[Tom Hamilton]

Gary, this one http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=58542&d=1172114882 followed me home for $35.00. Stanley 356 complete with the extensions and 28" saw. Nasty dirty and rusty at purchase but after a little TLC a pretty user.

I've watched them on EBay for a couple of years and the prices are all over. One google search turned up one in an antique shop in New Hampshire for $500! Asking price of course.

Enjoy the chase.

Tom, in Houston, using his 356 to cut pen blanks.

[John Powers]

Paid $20.00 for an old Craftsman with a long Disston saw. I think these are in the garages of a lot of those Greatest Generation age group. Best bet is garage sales. Those wiley guys at flea markets know what they are. Its a handy thing to have. I think if you pay more than you should for the box and have to look for a saw your really over a barrel. If I wanted it now I'd buy a new one. OK, I know there not like the old ones but when you got a project you need a saw.

[Kevin Brenton]

Kevin - Nice Job with your Mitre Saw. I was going to leave mine alone after I cleaned it up but now I'm tempted to do a full scale restoration.

I think the round plate was an anchor for a sliding stop. A screw went through a slot in the stop and was tightened to hold it in place for multiple cuts.


Rob ,
Thanks for the kind words and also for the insight .I was sure it was something to do with a stop , I have looked at old Stanley catalogues online ,but have never seen the part that fits to that spot .
The finish I used on the mitre box is actually Japanning I found a recipe online and mixed it up ,applied it and baked baked it in the kitchen oven for two hours and it came out perfect.

I had to make a new support strap for between the posts two screws to secure it and one screw to replace a missing one that fastened the feet onto the frame.
I also made a new cutting board from Tasmanian Oak ,using the original board for a template.
It was an enjoyable project ,fortunately having a metal lathe it made the task of making the new screws easy.

These come up on E-bay here in Oz occasionally ,but I think they are rather rare in this country I have seen three in the last 18 months including mine.There maybe a lot in old garages and such just waiting for a rescuer .
I tried to buy one from your side of the planet ,as another member pointed out postage cost killed the purchase.

I have found it is very accurate ,great for box making and mitre work.

Edit :
Just for interest sake ,I just looked at the PDF I have of the Stanley 1909 catalogue ,the cost of the 358 mitre box and saw was $13.00US and the shipping wieght was 36 lbs.You could buy the mitre box without the saw for $10.75 US.

Cheers
Kevin.

[Dominic Wellik]

Got both for $8.00. A few questions, any sites to clean and sharpen the saw, that you guys and ladies like? For the miter box where can I find parts? I enjoy this page, first post, take care, Dom91620

91621

91622

[Ganthan Rhodes]

I think $8.00 is a bargain, Dominic.

The miter box is a Langdon. I believe it's from around 1917 - 1920, based on it's design and the Disston saw medallion.

There appear to be some parts missing. I don't see the side guides. The good news is that the miter box will work without them. The bad news is that it's a bear finding replacement parts. A friend and I both have similar miter boxes and the only source of parts we've found are other miter boxes. Maybe some other forum members know of a good parts source.

Here's a drawing from an old catalog that provides a bit more info.


http://www.rarebit.com/tools/lang_web1.jpg

Hope that helps.

GR

[Dominic Wellik]

Hey Gantham, Thanks for the info!

[Kevin Brenton]

Here's a link to pages with information regarding Stanley mitre boxes and other hard to find Stanley tools and parts.

http://www.tooltrip.com/tooltrip9/stanley/stan-mbox/stan-mbox.htm

Kevin.

[Ganthan Rhodes]

Hey Gantham, Thanks for the info!

Glad to help. Here's the patent information on the early version of your Langdon miter box.

http://www.datamp.org/displayPatent.php?id=19094

GR

[Graham Wilson]

Does anyone know what this one is?

http://img329.imageshack.us/img329/1673/ee7320jr0.jpg

Looks like a Langdon Acme / Miller Falls but I'm not sure.

[Ganthan Rhodes]

Graham.

Yes, it's a Millers Falls Langdon Acme. If you do a search on 'Langdon' on that auction site, you can see one that has been restored.

GR

[Graham Wilson]

Another for sale locally... $25 for the saw + box.

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/7713/03ba20hm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Prashun Patel]

My wife doesn't like power tools so I was thinking of getting her a miter box for cutting basswood for carving, picture frames etc.

If you want a vintage hand miter saw for kicks, that's one thing. But if you want your wife to be able to trim pictureframes efficiently and cost-effectively, you'd to better to convince her to get comfortable with a power miter saw.

They're more accurate and you can sneak up on cuts which is important in fitting miters.

A mitersaw can be used very safely.

There are small miter saws that have 7 or 8" blades. While just as dangerous as their larger counterparts, the quieter motor and smaller size might be less intimidating for her.

[Charles McKinley]

Vintagesaws.com is one of my favorite spots for information on saws.
http://www.vintagesaws.com/cgi-bin/frameset.cgi?left=main&right=/library/library.html

This link takes you to their library of great articles.

The Disstonian Institute is another.
http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/

Great source of info to date your saw.

Enjoy the hunt.