The Two-Bladed Monster Saw: 1940's Oliver Table Saw

[@patrickcraig6032]

It was so cool to see this saw.When in 9th grade wood shop 1967 we had this saw and a huge 48" Oliver planer. I was told it was war surplus. I was qualified to operate.

[@georgepelletier179]

When I was in High School in 1972 and 73 “ Lennox High “ we had that exact same Table Saw in wood shop. Every year during the summer the shop teacher, Mr. Alena would tune up the saw for the next year. A true cabinet makes saw.

[@BradleyMundy]

We had one in the cabinet shop I served my apprentiship in. My first task was to crank the blades back and forth from rip to cross cut for the journeymen.The fence was abused and missing minor parts, so I got to install a "T" square fence we had custom made. Power feeder cut wood as fast as you could push it through. You can't beat cast iron mass. Sadly, the last Oliver power machinery I've seen was made in Taiwan. Paint color is the same. Thanks for showing this😊

[@tonyn3123]

I absolutely love the Oliver saw. I saw it first on Dave Engel's channel and was totally fascinated. I would give an eye tooth to have one. It is more versatile that any saw I have ever seen. I am glad you finally uploaded a video using it and speaking to the various possible operations. Using a saw like this requires the understanding that things can just happen and may go awry. Know that and make any workarounds to mitigate the safety shortcomings and use it! Now clean up the rusted parts and table and make it pretty as well. LOL. Thanks.

[@datek75]

Dave Engel's saw is actually an old American Sawmill & Machinery Co. example. His was originally designed to run in a flat-belt shop, so the table on that machine tilts, rather than the saw arbor- terrifying. I've got a newer model Oliver 260d from 1965 and I absolutely love it.

[@JamesSmith-mz9ec]

Scott, I've cut on one of those saws 50+ years ago in the wood shop in High School in the early 70's, Lane Tech in Chicago they are an amazing unit! I'd give my eye teeth for the industrial equipment we had in the shops there!

[@canigetachannel]

Respect the Saw. It's like the Pacific Ocean, never turn your back on her! Been a craftsman for 4 decades, and 3 phase saws, make my hair stand straight up! One kick, and you'll know. I still have all of my philagies, because of respect. Now I have experience to protect them! Safety is always number one! You only get one body, and they don't make parts. LIVE ! Been subbed for a long time; love your content, thanks.

[@The_Mimewar]

My prosthetic leg would like to argue with you! I’m kidding. It doesn’t talk. In all seriousness, I agree with you 100%

[@WTFisupDennys]

Why the pacific and not the other oceans?

[@canigetachannel]

@WTFisupDennys If you'd ever been to the Pacific you'd know. The other oceans are just like ponds. That's why it is nicknamed "The Mighty Pacific"! The most dangerous place on the face of the planet, is around Cape Horn; because that's where the Pacific, drains into the rest of the world. I'm from the ring of fire and I know all about it. I've surf'ed the North Shore of O'ahu! INever turn your back on the Mighty Pacific, it's deadly and unpredictable! 😃👍🤙✌️

[@WTFisupDennys]

@canigetachannel I’m in Washington so I’ve only seen the pacific lol

[@canigetachannel]

@@WTFisupDennys Just left Sequim a few months ago, be back in another few months. 👍✌

[@rickringer]

I have a dear friend, Steve Hebert. He's a cabinet maker and furniture maker. 90 percent of his huge shop is made up of machinery built between the 20s and 60s. He insists on those machines because they're heavy, extremely well engineered and so precise. I believe that he has three Olivers like this. He has several old Tannewitz band saws that are huge, old DeWalt Radial Arm Saws and other gems. Scott would be in heaven visiting his shop and talking to him.

[@williammrdeza9445]

That saw is a beast, and quite terrifying! I marvel at the engineering and design that went into it. I can't imagine what a saw like that would cost new today. Another safety tip is to reduce the top of the blade to no more than the depth of the gullet (or lower depending on who is offering the advice) above the top of the work piece. You are spot on with the emphasis on fashioning a riving knife--please share with us the solution you come up with in a future video. Thanks for showcasing this beauty for us Scott.

[@The_Mimewar]

Maaaaan when you turned the saw on, that blade just SINGS!

[@TrevorDennis100]

I have a Laguna F2 saw that is as quiet as that. It's easily the quietest cabinet saw I've used, and I have used at least five that I can think of.

[@josephwinkler4863]

That is an incredible table saw and also a dream saw to any woodworker it backs the old saying they don’t make them like they used to. That’s a real saw for real work and true cuts. Not just anybody with a checkbook and own one of these Old souls they’re becoming more and more rare. Thanks for sharing.

[@krismckenzie7759]

Incredible saw. I'll never own anything like it, but it is a pleasure to see such a fine machine being used.

[@brithesaw]

Hello Scott , from Linlithgow in Scotland, That's a beautiful old machine. Our wood working machinery in the UK Was that green colour too Nice bit of nostalgia for a Scottish Sawyer. Cheers, Brian

[@timeflysintheshop]

It sure does have the most romance and elegance of any table saw ever designed! I saw that saw for the first time on the Engels coach shop channel years ago and was truly amazed. I can only fantasize about having one. You are living the dream! Keep living it well for the rest of us and keep the mentoring videos coming too! 😊😊😊

[@wolf-walker]

I have used a couple of these beasts in my career. They are awesome for heavier work than a unisaw can handle. Great machine!

[@ericbrideau]

What a beast saw! If avoidable never wear long sleeves or loose clothing in the shop or most jewelry or anything that can get caught in moving parts . Love this channel thank you from east Canada.

[@YoungbloodFamilyFarm]

My first time ever using a table saw was on an Oliver. Years later I started teaching HS Woodshop, there was that saw again. My shop now uses 2 5hp Industrial Sawstop and the Oliver was auctioned off.

[@CraigSchut]

Beautiful saw!

[@tomoaktree4951]

Like a few other folks, I was fortunate that my high School had one of these that I got to use in the mid 70's. My favorite part was the sliding table.

[@michaelpayne8102]

Oliver made great machines, nice to see one of the old ones running. My power company loves it every time I turn on my 3 phase rotary converter.

[@tvelektron]

The rotary converters are such a strange and kind of cracy thing in my european eyes. Actually here we have 3 phase 230V/400V in almost every single house. At least the kitchen cooker is usually connected to a 3 phase circuit. Maybe some very old and tiny apartments in the city or very remote places somewhere in the Alps - but thats usually not the place for a big workshop...

[@michaelpayne8102]

@ As most residential areas work just fine with single phase 120/240 wiring is limited to single phase, 3 phase is on my main road 150 m’s away, as they alternate phases between roads (load balancing from the main distribution). 3 phase is readily available in industrial areas. As mentioned while I have a converter I’ll planning on selling off my Holzer saw and buying a Felder at some point as now there are more options. If you through enough money at it you can often get 3 phase installed.

[@twinhillscreations1525]

My dad has been collecting Oliver saws for years. He has 2 of those along with 10+ other various models. Some day they will be mine and then some day my only child will sell them at auction for $50 each.

[@Janet-vx9qn]

Like mine with all my tools.

[@WoodworkingforAnyone]

He won't get $50 😅😅😅😢

[@michaelnelson188]

My dad started his cabinet shop in the late 60s with a similar but somewhat older saw. It had an externally mounted 3phase motor which powered the saw via a big flat belt and idler pulley. The scariest operation on that saw was ripping a bevel, which was accomplished by tilting the table to the required angle!

[@wconstructionco]

Put fence on low side of blade, have someone help tail and it's not too bad.

[@andrewtiefry5990]

That's a beautiful machine there. Keep up the work

[@Klamath1970]

We had that same table saw in high school wood shop back in the 80's. It scared me to death.

[@paulehlers2225]

I've had saw envy ever since I started watching Dave Engles channel years ago. Then I saw you pick-up this saw, and it doubled down on my envy. Oh, how I wish I could find one of these saws and restore it to perfect original condition. My Unisaw would be gone in a New York minute if I could do so. Dave is a master craftsman who uses and plays his Oliver like a fine-tuned instrument. I 'd sure like to see more use of this magnificent machine on Essential Craftsman as well.

[@archholder185]

A a teacher,s aid in 1971 I had the pleasure of working on an Oliver, I also was give the challenge of making it more accurate. Dr. Ballard felt in woodworking any gap in miters joints on a piece of furniture’s of matting boards with a gap greater then 1/64”, in his mind, “would be seen form the road” which was about 200 yards away. I achieved the accuracy desired, however I couldn’t correct for user errors. Unfortunately a few years after I graduated the university shut down the industrial arts and manufacturing program. They paid to have all the excellent and old industry size and qualities equipment & tools hauled off for the value of scrap weight the rest to a dump. Unfortunately, I was not aware of the university doing this until it was too late to save any of it. They also scrapped 3000+ board feet of 3+ centuries old virgin walnut, I harvested from trees on the university’s property which the state of Texas Highway Department took down for a highway. I always enjoy your videos.

[@J-WHO312]

My first day in cabinet making shop in H.S. Mr. O’Donald lined up the class on the back side of a similar table saw. Started it up and dropped a piece of wood on top of the spinning blade. That piece of wood shot back at about 60 mph and hit the clock that had a metal guard that was about 10 feet in the air. Looked at us smiled and said , “ lesson one, don’t F around with saw it will kill you.” I raised my hand and asked him to do it again. He pulled me to the side and told me to stay after class and wait for the next class to start. I absolutely love wood working and respect all those big powerful tools. A blade snapping on a 8 foot band saw is also a sight to hear and see.

[@The_Mimewar]

My shop teacher Mr Rumple did the same. Fired a piece of pine into the Perspex window wall so we could see and hear the impact. It made all the girls in class scared, and all the boys want to try it🙄😂. No injuries aside from a sliver in that whole class all year. I miss Shop class….

[@jayhitek]

That thing is a beast!

[@GarrettLaPolt]

I’m very impressed with almost no tear out on red oak that’s so impressive.

[@neocollective]

Wow, I haven't seen that one at Home Depot ! LOL....beautiful piece of engineering, can only imagine what it took to design and manufacture such beauty. Indeed, a riving knife is imperative. Enjoy !

[@NorthWoodsDiver]

We had that saw in my high school in the late 90s. It had been modified with a guard and riving knife sort of attachment. The sliding table would be so nice on modern saws

[@FCWW87]

A work of art, thanks for sharing. If you ever tire of its magnificence… My shop would welcome it with open arms, and a 6’er of your favorite lager.

[@grrobinso]

I had the pleasure of using one of these in college. I remember how smooth the mechanisms were and how smooth the machine ran. I remember pushing whatever I was cutting as hard as I could and that machine didn't even blink. Oddly enough I felt safe using the machine because it was robustly made and I had alot of table saw expirience.

[@BigCountrywoodworking]

Spent the entire video saying "whoa, that awesome" at all the features and all the possibilities with that saw. I immediately started my search for one for my shop

[@evanranson1512]

I've seen the exact same saw, on Engels coach shop channel. It's an awesome Saw 💯🤠

[@WPF465B]

Wonderful old saw. Nothing like it today.

[@LILMADERR23]

You seem like a genuine, pleasant, and wise human being. I aspire to be like you, Sir.

[@NVroom1]

I just picked one of these up from a state auction for a local high school. Got it for pennies on the dollar. It needs some work but I'm looking forward to starting it up for the first time when it's all cleaned up. Unfortunately it did not come with the ripping fence so I need to find one somehow.

[@buddyjames1347]

Awsome saw, thanks for sharing

[@KD-lq1sr]

That's always been my dream saw too. You even got it complete with all the accessories and in beautiful shape. I think riving knives mount to the arbor support so they'll follow the blade when mitering. Never seen one in action.

[@johnb5519]

That's one beautiful saw you have there. I've got an old cast iron monster made by Preston, from Preston Ontario Canada. It spent most of its life cutting hardwood all day long in a pallet factory. Not nearly as fancy as yours, but its got a lot of power too. I was cross cutting small pieces and one of them flew at me and hit me in the chest, and it was like getting kicked by a horse.

[@joelarson3528]

Truly a gem

[@D-B-Cooper]

They were popular in the ship yards I worked in. We were always cutting large stuff. I still have a new blade in my garage. We had all the other large tools but if you really want to soil your pants try a 16” radial arm saw.

[@meb3153]

Yeah I was thinking how horrible it would be to get in there with the side door open... What a cool saw, thanks for the write up!

[@krenwregget7667]

what an absolute unit of a saw. Like you said, the lack of a riving knife would definitely give me pause but it seems like you're going to solve that problem.

[@Nexanano]

Hey! Met you at World of Concrete! Great stuff you have here. Excited to watch more

[@The_Mimewar]

Oh my god! What a MACHINE!!

[@62forged]

Awesome!

[@munkytaint666]

that is truly incredible.... i have never seen or even heard of any table saw like that. they def do not make them like they used to!

[@N8SRQ]

I remember when the old Oliver factory on Clancy St burned some years ago. I road my bike up to the site, just up the road from my parents first apartment (address on my birth certificate). I walked into the wreckage and grabbed a brick. Took it back to my home in EGR. Left it there when I move across the country in 2018. I need to find the photos from that trip. They don’t make them like this anymore.

[@johnritchie3889]

I wish American toolmakers had stuck with the sliding table. I love your visit to Dave Engel who uses one of these on his KZbin channel. Awesome saw.

[@bltoth1955]

So you get the job done and a workout. 👍🏼

[@Pcj74049]

Dave Ingles coat shop is clean. Looks like a museum

[@nicholasmarino17]

My grandfather had a “big ole” Oliver in his cabinet shop like that. Wish I still had it. The machines in his shop were as big and heavy as old cars.

[@johnossendorf9979]

This is reminding me of a saw I saw 20 some odd years ago covered in saw dust in the corner of a semi retired contractors contractors shop. I know it was three-phase, green and he said he stopped using it at least 10 years prior and hadn't let anyone else use it for years before that.

[@tylermathis2876]

Wow that’s an awesome saw

[@terrygleeson8480]

Great video Scott. I’m so glad you are brain storming a riving-knife for that wonderful Oliver. The kerf difference between the two blades and their position variation will throw up some challenges in the design process. I can see solutions in my head as I write but unfortunately I’m on the other side of the Pacific. Do justice to the machine when you find the solution that suits you. A colleague of mine here in Sydney Australia has an Oliver 36” jointer. I believe it’s a rare beast even in the USA.

[@wconstructionco]

There are factory mounts for factory riving knives. They are clearly visible in the beginning of the video. They are shown in Oliver's literature from that era.

[@DFord-rv3nz]

That's an amazing soul never seen that before

[@QuietRiverBear]

Beautiful.

[@berndschlothauer7067]

This is the wood specialist who even talked to Mr Chickadee about original hand tools and working methods in woodworking.

[@rack391]

Did a tour on board the USS Prairie as a Patternmaker she had one of those double arbor table saws good machine we kept a combo on one arbor and dado on the other.

[@rack391]

The fence being set at an angle is for the Patternmaker the concave is used in the construction of a billet pattern.

[@Lewis-kf2pj]

What a thing! If you’re not aware of Frank Howarth and his channel Scott, I’ve a feeling you’d like some of his ancient but anazing machinery - all worked into an otherwise ultra-modern wood shop.

[@smartcarpie]

Nice machine. I passed on a chance to own the same model. Already had a 270. Aside from being able select a rip or cross cut blade, in a high production shop I believe a lot of the benefit was being able to get through a shift without shutting down to change the blade, especially with steel teeth prior to carbide. Don’t be afraid of full kerf blades. Some of mine are 3/16, it’s no problem and keeps the cuts accurate. Those fences were mostly to the benefit of the patternmakers as was the sliding table. The scale being engraved in the tables was beautiful, no indicator to come out of adjustment. Unless you’ve shimmed your blade it will never ever vary. I sold my Oliver 270 for an American Sawmill Machinery Co 20” pattern saw. Similar sliding table set up, fence not all that different in operation. Just a bigger machine, top is 4x5, and it will rip a 6x6 without issue. The only downside is the long wait times for the blades to spool down. Sometimes you’re looking at over 10 minutes, the bearings and the mass give a lot of momentum.

[@aaronaguilar8570]

3 ph motors are silky smooth. No noise, powerful, very reliable almost maintance free, long lasting, a thing of beauty.

[@christianlassen7027]

I worked in saw milling and this is standard equipment in the industry. The twin arbour gang saws we used saw clusters 2 clusters per arbour. They could cut up to a 14 inch thick cant 3 foot wide. They were built in the 1990’s.

[@shock6906]

What a hoss of an old saw. Sure wish I had the space for old machines like that. I'd love to have them.

[@peterbarlow8912]

My cousin has one of those. He fixes antique machinery. He has a saying “if it’s old enough I can fix it”. My Sawstop blew the brake without me touching the blade. Sawstop denied my claim basically saying I touched the blade. They are calling me a liar!

[@jamesmisener3006]

That happened here in Canada. My friends stopped working the moment he flipped the switch, and another local guy had one stop working in a light rain one day while he was cutting. There is video somewhere on that one. Both got repairs free but my friend waited 2 months for the claim to be approved. Cheers 🇨🇦

[@TrevorDennis100]

I've made a riving knife out of two thickness of an old hand saw blade which I silver soldered together. It was stiff strong and as far as I know, still fitted to the saw I made it for.

[@andrewhenseler1262]

I have an identical saw in my high school wood shop. Lately it has been used as a table for CNC machines while the SawStop got all of the students use. Might just have to find a new home for the router and fire the saw up.

[@kfwkfw4123]

BEAST!!!!!

[@Jim-Wade]

Awesome machine! I used a lot of 3 phase equipment in the past (straight line rip saw, planers, shapers, tables saws and sanders. The ability to do work is incredible but it can be scary. The shop I worked in first was really well set up: a separate shaper for each function. I did a lot of cabinet door building, and raising small panels was truly limb threatening. I hated making raised panels with only a 1/2 inch square raised. Occasional the blade would hang on end grain, destroy destroy the panel and send pieces sailing. Quick finger check and back to work.

[@philbunston9663]

Thought I'd seen one of those before - Dave Engles Coach Shop

[@ricc136]

Matthias Wandel has a excellent video about cove cutting on a table saw

[@mikevincent2811]

Scott, I can't believe that you did not have a proper push stick for the off cut side when you did that rip. Especially with that much blade exposed.

[@geordiecs]

Early American electrified big woodworking equipment is some of the best. If you have to the shop for it, invest in it. Oliver, Crescent, Atlas, Yates. Always a process to hab them but worth it in my opinion especially when it comes to jointers.

[@andrewebensberger235]

My high school wood shop had a twin blade table saw. I believe it was Yates-American. That saw in particular was driven by one motor, thus both blades spun simultaneously.

[@wconstructionco]

None were designed like that. An idler or something was missing. Flat belt dual arbor saws will have a brief moment where both will be spinning while belt comes off one arbor and picks up next.

[@Hugh-e5i]

that's very cool.

[@RobertSherman-h9d]

A boy and his dogs and a man and his Tools !!! That’s a beast of a Saw

[@richardbrobeck2384]

When I was in high school, I we had old delta built lke saw it only had one blade but it had the sliding table !

[@euphgolf]

Saws like that are literally why Sawstop exists. The kick of ONE real horse can kill. Why we make a saw with the power of five boggles the mind. Putting any part of your body in the linear path of a table saw blade is outrageous. This is the one video you’ve made that I will be taking zero tips from. Otherwise, you are a legend!!

[@wconstructionco]

Biggest direct drive saw I've ran is a 10hp tannewitz that held a 20" blade. All newer saws are 10+ hp. More hp is safer than not enough.

[@paulkramer4176]

I used to have a very similar saw, (dual arbor, sliding table) but it was from F&E. It was a good saw, but it was a tilt top, and I didn't care for that. I now have an Oliver 88D. no dual arbor, but I have a sliding table attachment. Great saw, though can't say that they aren't equaled by the Euro saws like Martin or the like. Still a great saw.

[@MJA5]

I am not a craftsman, but that is one amazing piece of kit. So well made. Thank you for showing it.

[@bernkondret9981]

The day my grand kids ask to use my table saw is the day I buy a SawStop!

[@treepop1550]

I used an oliver intermittently for 10 yrs.,an an amazing HD machine. It was a 14/16 " and the height of American industrial quality woodworking machinery!! However, I have a unisaw with a biesemer fence and is much easier to use for 95 % of what most woodworkers use a table saw for. But the oliver machines are wonders of engineering and durability and none better in my opinion!

[@jeffwisemiller3590]

Engel's Coach Works. 1920ish dual arbor saw used quite frequently for hard wood cutting in carriage manufacturing. Look up Borax Wagons.

[@scottperry8388]

Interesting that the rotation is also the height adjustment which puts the blade at a different point at the top of the table for each thickness of cut. I've worked with tools for 40 years and I don't think I'd give the Oliver a try just like the old radial arm saws with 20 in blades. I just like my fingers, hands and arms too much to risk it. Thanks for showing it off for us though. :)

[@Centercreek]

Jaw dropping.

[@masonlopez7795]

Scott you need to talk to Jack Forsberg, In all of your endless free time (haha) look up Jack English machines, nice guy.

[@brandono.4945]

There is nothing like using older machines. I always think of who all used them before me and it has always been a respect thing with me and a privilege to use them. I used a Mattison 202 Straight Line Rip Saw for years. Machine was always so spot on with cuts and I cut multiple jobs at one time. The company was a family run company so the owner bought it before he even starter the company. Both the sons started there in production and than me and a few other workers started after they moved up. I always cleaned it and maintained it and kept it looking good. There was nothing like coming into work in the morning after cleaning it and the owner was just staring at it because that's where it all started for him. I've moved on from that line of work but, that job always holds a special place in my heart.

[@procrastinator41]

Awesome and Terrifying

[@jamesmisener3006]

5:03 Be cautious, my friend. You were lucky the rip rail didn't bounce that cut-off piece into the blade. The Oliver is a beautiful saw Scott. I wonder what the purpose of having two motors, arbors and blades is? I can change a blade inside of a minute. I do it all the time, so why two? Cheers 🇨🇦

[@mkrug1149]

Impressive saw, but would like a longer fence.

[@trawlertravels6376]

Scott, you need an outfield table for the beauty. Keep up the great work

[@Hoaxer51]

It would make that beast safer to use, at least make it feel safer. And you’re not dropping you cuts on to the floor.

[@colinstu]

first thought. No protection anywhere.. and no table.. so things just want to fall and bind and have that massive blade and motor launch stuff at you.

[@artyfhartie2269]

Amazing you still have limbs seeing the way you harbor a complete disregard of safety

[@michaeljgraff]

may the wind be at your back and the ground rise to meet your feet. thanks for emphasizing that this thing is a widowmaker the wrong hands. hell of a saw.

[@cj7jeep81]

My brother has one of those that he picked up at an auction. Absolute beast of a machine.

[@josephburke2553]

A motor on that saw crank seems like it would do a lot for quick transitions; I’m thinking in the store of the machinists quick traverse adapters

[@jasperrodrigues7026]

What a beautiful and terrifying machine, nothing quite like those old machines.

[@adnacraigo6590]

Cool.

[@MDAdams72668]

I have an old radial arm saw that has the same treatment my son and soon his son (my grandson) have never and will never run it just too dangerous No guards of any kind On the really bright side I convinced my wife we need a new radial arm saw to "protect the kids"

[@brokendad2222]

Graduated in 74 it was the first year for the new high school and we had a industrial level shop. Woodworking, leatherwork and small engines. The instructors would not allow the students use any of the woodworking equipment. I graduated a year later and never saw anyone other than the instructors use the equipment.