old walker turner yardsale bandsaw.. worth fixing?

Orionrising · Aug 20, 2016

Found this at a yardsale today.
Appears to be a walker turner BN100 from 1930s?
(Only could find one other on the net)

Upper guard is toast and would need to be replace. Runs, though tracking needs work.

I do not currently have a bandsaw, had been in the market. Is this one worth the time to repair and align? or just a collectors model in poor shape?

Doxhog · Aug 21, 2016

I have one very similar to this with the Craftsman name plate on it. Walker Turner made equipment for Craftsman back in the day. If you can scrounge up the repair/replacement parts it will be a good machine in my opinion.

The one I have was purchased by my grandfather back in the 40's or 50's. My dad used it for many years and now I have it in my shop. I think mine in considered the Walker Turner BN560.

Good luck with it. Keep us posted.

Rileysan · Aug 21, 2016

I always encourage the restoration of vintage tools/equipment. Go for it!

Brian

Orionrising · Aug 21, 2016

pretty sure the guards are cast aluminum

ollllddd repair to one of em.
Looking around the net, i think they only used this style gaurd the first year or so, all the others have much more solid an less ornate ones

lots of adjustments

zkling · Aug 21, 2016

You'd be better served by a delta 14" or clone.

rsanter · Aug 21, 2016

How cheap is it?
If it is cheap enough you can make the guards out of sheetmetal or even wood for just basic function.
Then you have a band saw.
As far as restore it I would not bother unless you found a good parts machine to combine with

Bob

Orionrising · Aug 21, 2016

It was 10 bucks... couldn't pass it up at that price.

a new belt to try it was more.
At worst I have a motor to hook a buffer to which is what I was actually looking for at the time.

I needed some opinions before I tried to fab a guard and spent some actual money on a new blade

lilredex · Aug 21, 2016

Who wouldn't want to use that saw?? with leather tires yet!!

Look around over at OWWM for some guards you can adapt and away you go. They do not have to be the "snowflake" design, just some thing you can adapt or make your own.

Look around in surplus places and get some blades cheap, you can cut and silver solder to proper length. Look on line for a soldering jig you can make.

You have a deal project for $10.

Orionrising · Aug 21, 2016

ahh It is referred to as a snowflake model, found more about them on the net under that.
And a guy parting one out for very expensive prices on ebay.

crguy · Aug 21, 2016

lilredex said:
Who wouldn't want to use that saw?? with leather tires yet!!

Look around over at OWWM for some guards you can adapt and away you go. They do not have to be the "snowflake" design, just some thing you can adapt or make your own.

Look around in surplus places and get some blades cheap, you can cut and silver solder to proper length. Look on line for a soldering jig you can make.

You have a deal project for $10.

Pretty much unworkable ideas there: The leather tires aren't original and will soon fail

You're not going to easily find guards you can adapt, nor is it that easy for most people to make the rounded guards needed.

The surplus blade idea is highly unlikely, and the idea of making a soldering jig to weld your own blades shows you have never done that yourself. FYI: You can buy any length new blade you need online.

Packard V8 · Aug 22, 2016

That W-T is a very light-duty homeowner model. The cost of parts will exceed the completed value. New tires are $30-40.

jack vines

Outlawmws · Aug 22, 2016

I agree its a light unit, but why replace the tires? I didn't see where he said the leather is disintegrating? Why would they fail?

Tires are over-thought IMO. I ADDED a rubber tire to a saw that had problems keeping the blade on and simply cut a strip of rubber the needed width, and glued it on with the old 3M weather strip cement (affectionately known as "gorilla snot...) That tire was still going strong 20+ years later when I sold the saw...

You have most of the guards right there, they are non structural and could be patched and used.

Before you spend time/money on it get it working and test it. if it will do what you want and you are satisfied with a light 'worker" go for it. Maybe someday you will fall into a complete guard or two.

I'd guess its age to be 1930's or so pre-Caftsman or right after Craftsman ramped up at Sears as Driver was a Sears sold brand. In fact I think it's on the cover of one of the catalogs (Not at home, so can't look up mine...)

Orionrising · Aug 26, 2016

the leather appears to be in amazing condition, came from a garage sale, the seller said it was in the barn 20 year ago when he bough the place, and he used it a but.

It currently works but the tracking is a little off, will need adjustment.
I could probably fab plywood and sheetmetal gaurds.

Outlawmws · Aug 27, 2016

I found the catalog: 1931-32, for 33 at least, it became the "Companion" brand for Sears; by '35 it was replaced. The cover I remembered was a different but similar bandsaw.

Orionrising · Aug 27, 2016

cool...thanks.

and odd... a jigsaw attachment for a bandsaw? never seen that before

Plombob · Sep 3, 2016

Jigsaw attachment for a bandsaw? I can't envision a use for a jigsaw if you have a bandsaw. I'll bet they didn't sell many of those kits.

Outlawmws · Sep 3, 2016

I can, as a band saw is near useless for fine fretwork. But I agree, I can't imagine they sold many of the conversions; on he other hand, this was the depression, and people bought tools without motors, and moved one motor from one tool to another... :dunno:

old walker turner yardsale bandsaw.. worth fixing?

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