Anyone know where I might get a replacement part for a Bridgewood bandsaw? I broke the "support" that holds the upper guide blocks and thrust bearing. I could replace it with a Carter product but they cost about half as much as the bandsaw did originally.

Thanks

Lew

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Oh man I feel for ya Lew! I have no answer for ya, did ya try ebay?

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

What I have been able to pull up Lew costs around 150 to 200 bucks for the part!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Can't justify a new saw for this part, much as I'd like to. I think I'm going to overlay the broken part with a metal strap and J-B weld it into place. I know I can make a completely new bracket from a block of aluminum but that will take some time and I need the saw back up and running in the mean time. Grizzly is only 2.5 hours away if worse comes to worse. 

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Are you talking about purchasing an upper blade guide bracket from Grizzly? It may work!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Contact these guys, they can help.

http://www.chwilke.com/

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Yes, the old Grizzly machines and the Bridgewood machines were virtually identical.

John Morris said:

Are you talking about purchasing an upper blade guide bracket from Grizzly? It may work!

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Richard,

Got a message into them and waiting for a response, thanks

Richard McComas said:

Contact these guys, they can help.

http://www.chwilke.com/

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Lew,

From what I could find you have an orphan, Wilke no longer manufactures machines.

The "support" bracket in your photo looks like quite a few of the Delta clones. JET, Shop Fox,etc..

There is a product called Muggy Weld for repairing cast pot metal parts. It's similar to silver solder in it's use.

A good tig welder may also be able to repair the one you have.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Thanks, Larry.

Before Wilke got out of the Bridgewood business, I was on a first name basis with all of the folks there. Not that does any good now. I know I have gotten my money's worth from the band saw and should replace it. It just seems a waste to have to do it for such a small part. Of course I broke it at the thinnest location so that really complicated the welding procedure.

As for the clones, I looked at the Carter site and realized there are dozens of varieties of sizes within each of the clone group but unfortunately they don't give actual specification for their units. The same with the Grizzly site. No dimensions/specs on the parts. Hate to order something and not be able to use it. Carter has the upgrade kit for the Bridgewood but it costs half as much as I paid for the saw when I bought it new!

Larry Buskirk said:

Lew,

From what I could find you have an orphan, Wilke no longer manufactures machines.

The "support" bracket in your photo looks like quite a few of the Delta clones. JET, Shop Fox,etc..

There is a product called Muggy Weld for repairing cast pot metal parts. It's similar to silver solder in it's use.

A good tig welder may also be able to repair the one you have.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Lew,

Laguna lists guides for the Bridgewood, maybe they have something that will fit.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

Lew, if you need me to pull my guide bracket off my Grizz 14" and take photos and measurements I will, just give me the word.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

Larry, I'm pretty sure this bandsaw was manufactured in Asia (Taiwan). I see Laguna lists them as European.

Larry Buskirk said:

Lew,

Laguna lists guides for the Bridgewood, maybe they have something that will fit.

 

Larry

Old Woodworking Machinery Forum Host

John, Thanks. I may get you to do that. I have a message into Grizzly about a part that I think may work but not sure if they still stock it. I will let you know.

John Morris said:

Lew, if you need me to pull my guide bracket off my Grizz 14" and take photos and measurements I will, just give me the word.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker
Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops and Wounded Warriors Project

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Exactly which Bridgewood band saw do you have?

Back in the day those band saw were pretty well respected. Many of those saws were made by AMC of Italy.

Here's a copy and paste from the Felder's Owner's Group in 2001.

>
> I thought I would clarify who is who in bandsaws.
>
> ACM makes the following:
> 1)Laguna 16HD and larger
> 2)Wilke/Bridgewood PBS series
> 3)Felder
> 4)Tannewitz ??? (see below)
>
> Agazzani makes the following:
> 1) Rapid series through Adwood
> 2) Pan Hans
> 3) Agazanni/Euroshop through Eagle Tools
>
> Centauro makes the following:
> 1) Mini Max MM16 and larger
> 2) SCM/SCMI 20" and larger
> 3) Akhurst/Casadei America 24" and larger
>
> Meber makes the following:
> 1) S16 for Mini Max USA
> 2) Powermatic 36"
>

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Well, in an effort to get the bandsaw working, at least temporarily, I made a "U" shaped piece out of some steel strapping. It was a little thinner than 1/8" and 1 1/4" wide. Created access holes for the adjustment/mounting hardware and then JB Welded it in place. I'll post a picture of the Rube Goldberg contraption when the Weld sets up. Needed to heat the steel in order to bend it and it bent a little crooked but I think it will be OK.

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Thanks, Richard. I got mine in '92 and it is a WA model. Bridgewood had a really expensive line of equipment. This bandsaw was not from that pedigree. :^)

Richard McComas said:

Exactly which Bridgewood band saw do you have?

Back in the day those band saw were pretty well respected. Many of those saws were made by AMC of Italy.

Here's a copy and paste from the Felder's Owner's Group in 2001.

>
> I thought I would clarify who is who in bandsaws.
>
> ACM makes the following:
> 1)Laguna 16HD and larger
> 2)Wilke/Bridgewood PBS series
> 3)Felder
> 4)Tannewitz ??? (see below)
>
> Agazzani makes the following:
> 1) Rapid series through Adwood
> 2) Pan Hans
> 3) Agazanni/Euroshop through Eagle Tools
>
> Centauro makes the following:
> 1) Mini Max MM16 and larger
> 2) SCM/SCMI 20" and larger
> 3) Akhurst/Casadei America 24" and larger
>
> Meber makes the following:
> 1) S16 for Mini Max USA
> 2) Powermatic 36"
>

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Somewhere in Kenya.... a village is missing its idiot!

Alaskans for Gobble Warming

Got a response back from both Wilke and Grizzly. Sent them more specific info including pix and waiting to see what transpires. In the meantime, the JB Weld has hardened but I will wait another 10-12 hours before putting the piece into service. It ain't pretty but it may hold until I can get the replacement.

Thanks for all the ideas, suggestions and links!

Lew

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Lew Kauffman-
Wood Turners Forum Host

Time traveler. Purveyor of the world's finest custom rolling pins!

Hoping they com through with a piece for you.

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John Moody
Site Administrator


John Moody Woodworks
http://www.johnmoodywoodworks.com