I have an old Walker Turner 16 inch bandsaw that runs. The guides suck,
there is no fence and
I have put new tires on it. I've been thinking about upgrading it, new
guides (Carter $195.00)
fence (Kreg Precision Bandsaw Fence $145.00) and miter guide (??, maybe use
the TS one).

I've been looking at the Jet BS for $1k buck. Its a k buck vs $344 with no
assurance that
the Walker Turner will perform as a new saw. So what things should I look
for in my Walker
Turner that would indicate that its not worth upgrading ? I'm not concern
about resale value,
I don't sell my tools.

Thanks in advance.

Jer

Jer
I have two of these and they are the best. I think that these machines can
do everything modern machines can do and live forever. The new guides and
fence is well worth it.
max

I have an old Walker Turner 16 inch bandsaw that runs. The guides suck,
there is no fence and
I have put new tires on it. I've been thinking about upgrading it, new
guides (Carter $195.00)
fence (Kreg Precision Bandsaw Fence $145.00) and miter guide (??, maybe use
the TS one).

I've been looking at the Jet BS for $1k buck. Its a k buck vs $344 with no
assurance that
the Walker Turner will perform as a new saw. So what things should I look
for in my Walker
Turner that would indicate that its not worth upgrading ? I'm not concern
about resale value,
I don't sell my tools.

Thanks in advance.

Jer

Asking a question like that here is like walking into a
Denny's and asking the cook his favorite gourmet recipes.
You really need to get to the OWWM and do some searching
there. The saw (the Walker-Turner) is probably one of the
better saws ever made. Good enough that should you ever
decide to sell it for a J*t you'd qualify yourself for the
Darwin Award.

No really.

Anyway, I've a minute here before I head for the showers.
Let me see if I can find something you should really be
reading.

Wait here. I'll be right back. Talk amongst yourselves.

Here we go. Slide down to the article by Bob Vaughn on Fine
Tuning a Band Saw and start there.

http://www.owwm.com/FAQ/Default.asp

Bob's pretty much the man when it comes to 'chinery
tuning/maintenance. One thing I do know is he's not too
high on the Carters. Not knowing what exactly is wrong with
your guides I'd not know what to tell you on that.

In addition to that I'd also contact other 16" Walker-Turner
band saw owners and pick their brains. Start here.

http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/Detail....LL&#PhotoIndex

And take a lookee at Roger Van Maren's saw.

http://www.owwm.com/PhotoIndex/detail.asp?id=59

Roger builds his own fences and there was a thread on it a
while back. He posted plans somewhere but I don't have
them. Anyways, it's a pretty inspirational thing to see.

Now, in case you are the type that refuses good advice
(advise in WreckSpeak) and you are close to me (upper
Midwest/mid-coast) and you'd like a small nest egg to get
yourself going on buying the J*t, I'd be happy to help fund
you on that. Can't say I'll give you much but I'll give you
something. No really, I would.

I'm not assuring you sight unseen that the Walker-Turner
will be the best band saw you'll get your hands on but I'm a
betting man and I'd say it's worth the effort.

UA100

It was somewhere outside Barstow when "Jerry"
wrote:

I have an old Walker Turner 16 inch bandsaw that runs. The guides suck,

What's the bar that carries the guides like ? The guides can be
swapped easily, but rigidity in this bar is important and not commonly
found on modern machines.
--
Smert' spamionam

"Jerry" wrote in message
...
I have an old Walker Turner 16 inch bandsaw that runs. The guides suck,
there is no fence and
I have put new tires on it. I've been thinking about upgrading it, new
guides (Carter $195.00)
fence (Kreg Precision Bandsaw Fence $145.00) and miter guide (??, maybe
use
the TS one).

I've been looking at the Jet BS for $1k buck. Its a k buck vs $344 with no
assurance that
the Walker Turner will perform as a new saw. So what things should I look
for in my Walker
Turner that would indicate that its not worth upgrading ? I'm not concern
about resale value,
I don't sell my tools.

Thanks in advance.

Jer

Great links, thanks UA100. And I will take a look at the bar that carries
the guides.

I guess I need to tune the machine according to Bob Vaughn.
I obtained the machine when we bought the barn. I'm pretty sure I bonded
with it the first time I
used it. It hissed through the wood. I liked the machine instantly.

Jer

Jerry wrote:
I guess I need to tune the machine according to Bob Vaughn.
I obtained the machine when we bought the barn. I'm pretty sure I bonded
with it the first time I used it. It hissed through the wood. I liked the machine instantly.


And if I'm not mistaken the wheel covers and the stand are
all cast iron. You won't find that anywhere anymore.

UA100

Unisaw A100 wrote in
:

Jerry wrote:
I guess I need to tune the machine according to Bob Vaughn.
I obtained the machine when we bought the barn. I'm pretty sure I
bonded with it the first time I used it. It hissed through the wood. I
liked the machine instantly.


And if I'm not mistaken the wheel covers and the stand are
all cast iron. You won't find that anywhere anymore.

UA100


If the OP is on the left coast, and still wants a modern Jet 16, I'll swap
him mine, including the spiffy new fence...

Patriarch

"Patriarch" wrote in message
. 97.136...
Unisaw A100 wrote in
:

Jerry wrote:
I guess I need to tune the machine according to Bob Vaughn.
I obtained the machine when we bought the barn. I'm pretty sure I
bonded with it the first time I used it. It hissed through the wood. I
liked the machine instantly.


And if I'm not mistaken the wheel covers and the stand are
all cast iron. You won't find that anywhere anymore.

UA100


If the OP is on the left coast, and still wants a modern Jet 16, I'll swap
him mine, including the spiffy new fence...

Patriarch

Well, yes I am on the left coast, east Tennessee. I'm gonna tune it up and
take it from there.
Another question. I know next to nothing about bandsaws other than to keep
my fingers off the
blade when its running. I put new tires on it cause the old ones were all
cracked and hard. I think
they were original factory ones. Was I supposed to cut a crown on them?

Thanks
Jer

Jerry wrote:
I put new tires on it cause the old ones were all cracked and hard. I think
they were original factory ones. Was I supposed to cut a crown on them?

Hard to say (I don't have a Walker-Turner/sigh...) but a
quick look by you will tell if the wheels (the metal rims)
are crowned thus crowing the tires.

Now, if you find there's vibration you may need to grind the
tires. I think the Vaughn article covers this though it
would not hurt to search the OWWM archives as there was some
discussion on this a couple/few times over the last
couple/few months.

One guy came up with a fixture for tire grinding/crowning
using a 12" disk sander.

UA100