Craftsman Commercial Horizontal Bandsaw

[donthelegend]

I've been watching CL for a horizontal bandsaw at a reasonable price and came across a brand new Craftsman Commercial Horizontal bandsaw that someone's grandfather bought years ago and never even took it out of the box. I don't know anything about the Craftsman Commercial line, but it looks to be all metal construction and based on the parts diagram I found appears to have a downfeed cylinder as well. There are still some parts available for it through the Sears parts website. Anyone have a clue what it's worth? Is it appreciably better than current import saws? What would you pay for it? Seller is asking $400 or make a reasonable offer.

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/tls/4311531044.html


Thanks in advance!

 

[zkling]

To me? Honestly, half of that. It most likely doesn't come with a motor, no stand. IIRC they are a goofy size.

 

[nine4gmc]

Holy Sheez...NOS!!! :crazyeyes: I'm with zk though, $200 would be my limit with no base or motor.

 

[930dreamer]

Still a NOS saw, I'd buy that if I could get a good price.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Check for motor and base !

Older Craftsman power tools are decent quality, certainly better than most of the Chinese stuff out there today. Craftsman manufacturers code 101 is Atlas Press Co./Clausing Industrial. It is possibly made in the USA !

A new Grizzly metal bandsaw is $400. If it has a motor and base, $300 would be a good deal.

 

[rsanter]

I have that saw and it is a very nice one
It is a bunch if years old like late 60s to early 70s.
If you can get it for $200 that would be a deal but keep I'm mind what others say that there is Likly no motor or base with it

Bob

 

[donthelegend]

I have a 1/2 HP motor from a different craftsman bandsaw that ended up getting scrapped so that part isn't a huge deal, and I can build a base for it. Obviously those are big price factors though. 200 was my initial instinct for price as well, I think I'll at least contact the seller and get some more info. It started at 600 a couple weeks ago so it looks like he may just be trying to get what he can for it without knowing what it's really worth. Sounds like it's a quality piece though and for the right price I won't be disappointed with the job it does.

 

[930dreamer]

I have a 1/2 HP motor from a different craftsman bandsaw that ended up getting scrapped so that part isn't a huge deal, and I can build a base for it. Obviously those are big price factors though. 200 was my initial instinct for price as well, I think I'll at least contact the seller and get some more info. It started at 600 a couple weeks ago so it looks like he may just be trying to get what he can for it without knowing what it's really worth. Sounds like it's a quality piece though and for the right price I won't be disappointed with the job it does.

It sure beats a hacksaw.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I thinks it's pretty damned cool to see NOS for that vintage which has some value by itself, but you plan to USE it, not display it, so for that price, I'd go with new from Grizzly. You're going to be modifying it anyways to fix some design flaws.

 

[donthelegend]

It sure beats a hacksaw.

Lol. Right now I've got a HF abrasive chop saw that I hate but as you noted, beats a hack saw. My budget is limited at the moment but I'd rather wait a little longer than buy something I won't be happy with in 6 months.

 

[donthelegend]

I thinks it's pretty damned cool to see NOS for that vintage which has some value by itself, but you plan to USE it, not display it, so for that price, I'd go with new from Grizzly. You're going to be modifying it anyways to fix some design flaws.

This was pretty much my exact thought... I have started watching for older machinery on CL rather than buying new imports and I'm a big fan of old craftsman stuff. I already bought one old craftsman horizontal bandsaw that turned out to be junk though so I didn't want to rush into this one. Based on the picture though it's clear that this one is very different from the last one I bought so I'm a bit more optimistic.

But I'm buying it because I intend to use it regularly, not just look at it so it needs to work well.

 

[Outlawmws]

A NOS Atlas made cutoff? 60's vintage (crown top...) you guys are bitching about a stand??

I'd sure offer less, but it's really worth what he's asking...

W/O motor in 1969, $125 with a motor $150

What does HF get for China ****?

 

[Outlawmws]

that is $824.87 in 2014 dollars... Without a motor...

 

[zkling]

A NOS Atlas made cutoff? 60's vintage (crown top...) you guys are bitching about a stand??

I'd sure offer less, but it's really worth what he's asking...

W/O motor in 1969, $125 with a motor $150

What does HF get for China ****?

Collector vs user opinion. Unless people get a woody over NOS items in their shop a off shore saw in this case will do the job just fine, if not better than the craftsman unit.

 

[Outlawmws]

No, even as a user. (where do you get the idea I'm a collector??)
Grizzly or HF, unless you get lucky, you are going to have to do a bunch of loopy "tune up" **** to make it work properly, I'd bet that one works correctly out of the box.

I'm not saying not to offer less. I'm saying the $200 being tossed casually around probably wouldn't buy one of those USED. That one is about 45 years NEW.

 

[zkling]

No, even as a user. (where do you get the idea I'm a collector??)
Grizzly or HF, unless you get lucky, you are going to have to do a bunch of loopy "tune up" **** to make it work properly, I'd bet that one works correctly out of the box.

I'm not saying not to offer less. I'm saying the $200 being tossed casually around probably wouldn't buy one of those USED. That one is about 45 years NEW.

When you came up with the $800 "equavilent" I was just like Have you actually used one of those old small saws? Most of the older table saws, drill press, vertical band saws sure they were nice, but those little continuous hacksaw craftsman jobs are more of a headache than a modern off shore job IMHO.

And NOS is great, but keep in mind that bearing grease dries up, seals stick form no use so very rarely is it a good idea to buy an old piece of NOS machinery and use it as if it brand new without a bit of maintenance.

 

[Outlawmws]

Inflation calculator off the 1969 price ZK...

As for the grease, it has a cover on the gear box with 4 screws most likely this is difficult? seals? I've never see an seal on a H band saw... the only other area needing grease is the idler wheel, again not difficult.

Where do you think the Asians copied the design from? (Badly with **** QC...)

Again what does the "same Saw sell for from HF? And what gyrations will you need to go through to "get it right"? Have you seen all the threads, blogs and You Tube posts for "making this POS work the way it was intended to work"!

$350 list?

 

[zkling]

Inflation calculator off the 1969 price ZK...

As for the grease, it has a cover on the gear box with 4 screws most likely this is difficult? seals? I've never see an seal on a H band saw... the only other area needing grease is the idler wheel, again not difficult.

Where do you think the Asians copied the design from? (Badly with **** QC...)

Again what does the "same Saw sel for from HF? And what gyrations will you need to go through to "get it right"? Have you seen all the threads, blogs and You Tube posts for "making this POS works the way it was intended to work"!

$350 list?

Yes I know where you got the equivalent value from, but my point is why? It is useless information. Ok sure it maybe an equivalent to xxyy from back then to now but how does that help the OP make a decision? I'm talking strictly end use of the actual saw. Have I seen all the threads? Heck I own two of those off shore saws, have made many a cuts on them. Yes I agree they do need some work still they are miles ahead of those craftsman saws in end use.

I'm trying to think back but am pretty sure those craftsman saws use a plastic and die cast gear train. That is not the saw the off shore makers copied, not even close.

 

[rsanter]

I have had a couple of the HF horizontal/verticle band saws
They served me well when I had them.
I have the same saw from my dad, it's a better saw than the HF ones were.
I sold off the HF saws and am still using the craftsman one from my dad
Mine is not for sale and will not be as it is worth more to me for the job it does that the dollar value I would get for it
If I got that saw for $200 I would be very happy
For $250 I would think I did ok.
Saw and motor are time and money, we are not bitching about it we are just giving opinion to the OP who asked for it

Bob

 

[Outlawmws]

We are going to have to agree to disagree on this one. I also had one of the POS imports, and fought it for years as it would cut great on one thing and spit blades or cut crooked on something else. I had to make significant changes and replacements to it numerous times and when I found an old Wilton, and sold the import, I wasn't the least bit sorry to see it go.

That import I had is STILL the same one sold today at HF. Never again, and no, I don't agree the HF or Griz is the equal of that Atlas. It won't have Zamack gears, as Zamak won't take the loads placed on it with worm gear drives.

Go find a non-import H cutoff and compare prices to the imports and this one. That alone would convince me. My point with the inflation guide was to that point, Useless? only to a point, and only if you chose to class it as useless.

The only drawback I would have for that saw is capacity. If it meets the OP's requirements, it's not an issue. And I can count on one hand the number of times I would have needed larger, and then it would have had to have been MUCH larger. Even a 7" would not have cut it. (no pun intended)

Again I never said "Go pay the man $400! its a steal!" I said to go make an offer, but I believe it's not an unreasonable price, even if you had to pay the $400, all things considered.

And that is coming from a guy that doesn't like to pay full bore for ANYTHING.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

OP, IDK your local CL market. I know you said you've been looking for a while, but I'd keep looking.

I kept my eyes peeled for maybe 2 months and found a WF Wells A7 for $150.

Here's a link to one on ebay right now so you can check it out. Way more saw than the really cool NOS Cman or an import...and not terribly larger.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/W-F-Wells-M...ff-Band-Saw-7-x11-4-x-4-3-4-CAP-/390524611016

 

[RCStocker]

Look for a good used Jet band saw. They are very nice. I have a small one and I paid less than $400 for it new with motor and stand but that was 10 years ago. I would not pay more than $100 for the band saw. You would end up spending $200 for a good stand and used motor. You can do it for less but used motors have gotten expensive sense the price of scrap has gone up. I have been buying and selling tools, machinery along with estates and businesses for over 50 years. I don't think the band saw would bring more the $100 at an auction. I would pass and find one that was complete. This one is so far over price that the party will not come town far enough to make it worth while.

 

[nine4gmc]

$400 is not unreasonable, I would be asking more if it were mine But...I still wouldn't offer more than $200 if there's no stand or motor. I'm a tightwad...