Cheap bandsaw find...

oic0

oic0

Joined
Jun 16, 2012
Messages
368
I saw an old 10 inch bandsaw for $25 at a local store. Was a drill press for the same price ill probably go back for. Anyhow, I didn't know squat about them so after much debating I got it. It has no name on it and the wheels are plastic but in good shape. The tires are dry rotted and theres no blade. Looks like someone bought it in the 80s and never or barely used it.
What else should I look out for when making this thing work? All the bearings feel good but that's all I know to check. Its 1/4 HP and it powers on. I didn't check the fpm but likely too much for metal :( I didn't know to check that till later. What kind of tires and blades do you guys reccomend? If its too fast can I still cut thin metal stock if I move slow? I would love to have something other than an angle grinder for cutting oout blanks since you guys have convinced me those are the devil. I have a good variable speed portaband I could get a table mount for but would rather not if I can make this work.
 
I have rebuilt several of those. No don't buy it. It won't work for metal and with the small motor doesn't do much on wood either. Frank
 
I agree with Frank. These were counter top hobby units, and didn't work well at all beyond light cutting in 1/4" plywood.
 
Well crap. I've already got it. I guess ill let my old man have it for cutting wood if he feels like buying the tires for it.
 
You can find cheap ones at garage sales and such. I have scene countless delta's 12-14" I think around $70-$100 depending sometimes even cheaper. Lots of the older craftsmans at or below that cost. Look on craigslist often they show up. Something like these will be worth more of your time to go thru and fix up. I found an old atlas one 12" that has worked really well until the original motor burned up finally. I replaced the tires and bearings in it and it worked great. Got it for $40 and spend probably $30 or so on it. It will last another 80 years I dont doubt.
 
If you have an old bicycle inner tube you can glue that on with contact cement and it will work real well - that is for thin wood. Frank
 
You could always keep it and use it to cut micarta/G10 with.

It will save wear on the good blades you have on your portaband.

ditto on the bicycle inner tube as a tire = and check Sears as a parts source for other things.
 
If you have a good portaband, use it. :)

When I first got mine I was anxious to try it and didn't really have a dedicated spot for it. I simply took a piece of heavy flat bar, drilled a hole in it, and mounted it to the saw where the handle screw goes with a longer bolt. Then I would just clamp it down in the bench vise to use it.

As far as those little 10" bandsaws go, I'm surprised there have been so many made and sold, because IMHO they're almost good enough to be worthless. I suppose for a grandpa cutting out 1/4" plywood for wooden toys, they might be alright... but the handful I have seen/used were not any good for any aspect of knife making, IMHO.
 
I have one of the tiny craftsmen 3 wheel band saws. It is the crappiest bandsaw ever, but it works AWESOME for cutting kydex and leather. I am sure you can find a use for it, just probably not for cutting metal or handle material.
 
Buy or make a mounting table for the porta-band. The difference it makes in the usability of the tool is amazing. For 14 years our Porta-band languished in it's case, coming out once or twice a year. Now we use it at least once or twice a week, some days many times an hour. The tool is out, ready to go, and it is safe and easy to control small pieces on the table while cutting them. The couple hours I spent fabricating the 1/8" steel plate table and mounting it on a pedestal base were some of the most effective tool making time I've spent in a long while.
 
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