A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00. It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw, and has never been used. It's got a gearbox which
he says can be jiggered with to get the proper speed out of it for cutting
wood,
so I've got some research to do, don't even know the blade size yet. Just
wondering if anybody here has had experience with this sort of thing.

On 07 Jan 2005 12:58:08 GMT, (BUB 209) wrote:

A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00. It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw,

That's a very big bandsaw for metal cutting? 18" is wheel diameter?
Usually metal cutting saws are either just small chop saws, or _very_
large industrial machines.

Converting metal cutting bandsaws for wood isn't an easy task. A metal
band is slower and higher tensioned. A wood saw uses a lower tension,
so it needs more precise guides. The big saws are convertible,
because they already have suitable guides (or at least the mountings
to fit some), the smaller "retail" grade saws generally don;t have any
way to do this wthout getting the welder out.

Take a look first. To be a useful wood bandsaw you need a decent sized
table and some usable guide - it will be unusable without them. _If_
you have any chance to install these, then it sounds worth having a
go.

Mark Duginkse's bandsaw handbook is well worth reading beforehand.

--
Smert' spamionam

This is an easy conversion, from what you describe. If it is indeed a
gearbox-driven, metal-cutting bandsaw for $200, go to the
rec.craft.metalworking ng and trade it for a wood cutting bandsaw and
probably get money difference as well. There are many more wood
versions available than metal, at the hobbiest cost level. This should
be a VERY easy conversion. Where are you located?
Respectfully,
Ron Moore

BUB 209 wrote:
A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00. It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw, and has never been used. It's got a gearbox which
he says can be jiggered with to get the proper speed out of it for cutting
wood,
so I've got some research to do, don't even know the blade size yet. Just
wondering if anybody here has had experience with this sort of thing.

Craftsman used to sell a 14 inch metal and wood cutting bandsaw. It was
based on the Delta 14. The gearbox was used for metal cutting and was
bypassed (throwing a lever and installing a direct drive belt) for wood
cutting. I sure wish I had one of these. You are not located in Maine are
you?
Dave
"BUB 209" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00.
It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw, and has never been used. It's got a gearbox
which
he says can be jiggered with to get the proper speed out of it for cutting
wood,
so I've got some research to do, don't even know the blade size yet. Just
wondering if anybody here has had experience with this sort of thing.

Is this the three wheel version?
If its a full size 18" two wheel model, snap it up, it can be converted
easily to slice wood.

Dave

"BUB 209" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00.
It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw, and has never been used. It's got a gearbox
which
he says can be jiggered with to get the proper speed out of it for cutting
wood,
so I've got some research to do, don't even know the blade size yet. Just
wondering if anybody here has had experience with this sort of thing.

On 07 Jan 2005 12:58:08 GMT, (BUB 209) wrote:

A friend of mine wants to sell me an 18" Craftsman bandsaw for 200.00. It's a
metal-cutting only bandsaw, and has never been used. It's got a gearbox which
he says can be jiggered with to get the proper speed out of it for cutting
wood,
so I've got some research to do, don't even know the blade size yet. Just
wondering if anybody here has had experience with this sort of thing.


does it look like this:
http://www.owwm.com/PhotoIndex/detail.asp?id=14

if so, I have the wood/metal version. I knew there was a wood only
version, but I didn't know there was a metal only version. there are
manuals and parts breakdowns and lots of helpful folks at www.owwm.com
and I'd be happy to help from here...

Dave W wrote:
Craftsman used to sell a 14 inch metal and wood cutting bandsaw. It was
based on the Delta 14. The gearbox was used for metal cutting and was
bypassed (throwing a lever and installing a direct drive belt) for wood
cutting. I sure wish I had one of these. You are not located in Maine are
you?
Dave

I got this Delta saw on eBay last year - excellent tool. I replaced the
original Delta ac motor with a 1 hp dc unit & control. Heaven.

Subject: Bandsaw Conversion
From: s

does it look like this:

Here's an update on my post. The
bandsaw is a Dayton model 6Y942.
The reason I'm getting it so cheap
is because the motor runs through
a gearbox that is too slow for
woodcutting, and I have to supply
the motor (no big deal) and rig it
up to cut wood. My friend suggests
I pull the gearing out of the gearbox
so the shaft spins freely, and attach
a 12" pulley (approx., that has to be
figured out) to the bottom wheel. It
should work if there isn't a balace problem.
By the way, if anyone's interested, he's
got about fifteen more of these saws
but wants more money for them because they're complete. (400-600.00) He's
also got an Atlas lathe and some Dayton
15" and 20" drill presses, a 3ph radial arm
saw, and other misc. He wanted 300.00
for the 20" drill press. The model number
is 4YG14. He is a retired buyer for Sears.
He doesn't want to hassle with EBay, just
wants to deal with cash-and-carry buyers.
And yeah, I will probably need some
backseat advice as I progress on this
thing, thanks. For one, I am having no
luck finding a wood selection of quality
133" blades online.

"BUB 209" wrote in message
...
Subject: Bandsaw Conversion
From: s

does it look like this:

Here's an update on my post. The
bandsaw is a Dayton model 6Y942.

Before you tesr that apart look here

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/pro...mId=1611787038

According to this you have a 4 speed model that will cut wood (high Speed is
2800 or 3000 FPM

Bring the machine home and then ask grainger for a manual. Also on this
page you will find the motor and the blades.

Grainger is also pretty good about selling parts for their stuff.


--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

Suffolk Machinery 1-800-234-SAWS with dimension and what you want to
do.

On 08 Jan 2005 13:19:40 GMT, (BUB 209) wrote:

For one, I am having no
luck finding a wood selection of quality
133" blades online

(BUB 209) wrote in
:

Blades can generally be made up to the length you need by your friendly,
local sharpening service. And if you have no one local, then your
friendly, mail order sharpening service / blade supplier.

You needn't stick with prepackaged goods, although you will need to plan
ahead somewhat, in order to have blades on hand. That's one of the costs
for getting a bandsaw that bigger, better & badder than you can buy at the
Borg, for really cheap.

Have fun with your new tools.

Patriarch

Just wondering about the additional saws that are available for
400-600. Are they the same model - 6Y942? Where are you/your friend
located? Do they have the 4 speeds as advertised on the Grainger
site?
Also, have you gotten yours working to a good level? Thanks

Russell