Actually, I just need an opinion. I have this older Craftsman benchtop band saw and I'm curious of it's age.  Take a look at the photos and tell me what you think.  Oh yeah, it is for sale, maybe.

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Ron is there a serial number or any number anywhere? I'm not seeing anything in the images that would indicate anything even as far as model. i think it would look great when all the rust is off of it. 

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nichollswoodworks

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

My wild guess would be 30+ years!

 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Pretty nifty looking bandsaw Ron.

Are you going to join the Old Woodworking Machine restoration group with this one?

I am betting that Larry will be able to put it in an age group when he sees it.

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

It was my father in law's saw and he bought it used in the late 70's. 

The Craftsman decal has a 60's look to it Jim so you're probably not far off. 

I think Larry will be able to ID its age. I have a woodworking friend coming to visit so I'm making the barn "presentable."

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Ron,

 

It's from 1935-1936. Manufactured by Walker-Turner for Sears.

 

List price $25.95 in 1935 catalog minus stand and motor.

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Wow, I didn't think it was that old. It is pretty but is it worth the catalog value?

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Ron,

 

It was 30+ years old when your Father In Law bought it!

 

 

Fix It Up! & enjoy it. It looks complete.

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Ron,

 

Here is what the decal is supposed to look like.

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Larry, it needs new rubber on the wheels and some guard work.

If I keep it, I'd look for a parts machine to make it whole. That is the decal.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Ron,

See I told you Larry would know.

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Can you use aftermarket replacement parts with that vintage machine, I mean, for sure it would be very difficult to find the original spare parts for that old machine. Will aftermarket replacement parts fit? 

 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

As for the wheels, I can probably get them but I have a guard that needs repaired and I may have to fabricate it.

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

 Well, good luck on restoring that VERY old machine, Ron! 

 

 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

James,

 

As far as replacing the tires there should not be a problem, they are available in both urethane and rubber.

From the parts diagram it appears that this unit uses bronze bushings, not bearings for the axle shafts.

From the photos that Ron supplied it looks like this machine has the often missing/damaged ( and hard to find ) blade guide parts.

 

Ron,

 

The guards can probably be repaired. There is a product called Muggy Weld that works with aluminum / pot metal.

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Larry,

 

 

Thanks for the thought. Yes, it isn't hard to find urethane or rubber tires for replacement.

BTW, I am confused between crowned tires and flat tires. Can you explain it?

 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

James,

 

Crowned tires have a slight arc that the blade rides on. Flat tires are just that flat.

Crowning of the tires normaly involves sanding or grinding the arc into the tire. Roughly a 4" radius.

The crowning is done so the blade will track to the center of the tire. It is also done to true the tire.

( Remove the high spots )

 

The better tires available today are supposedly more uniform in thickness, so should require a little less work to crown them.

 

There are several ways of doing it from using disc sanders to doing them on a lathe. If you Google it there will be hundreds of methods displayed.

 

I will be finding out when I get to replacing the tires on my Delta 785 10"  bandsaw. The Homecraft wheels that I am using have the crown built into the wheels. So I may be lucky and not have to crown the tires. 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

Thanks, Larry! It looks a little inconvenient to use crowned tires. Why not use flat tires so you won't need to crown them? 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

James,

 

The crown on the tires guides the blade toward the center of the tire.

The blade tends to follow the angle up to the high spot ( Crown ).

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk

So it is much better to use crowned tires because it keeps the blade staying towards the center of the tire?

Am I correct?

 

 

www.bandsawblog.com

Edited November 12, 20187 yr by Larry Buskirk