Bandsaw made from wood

[darwyn]

First, sorry about the pics, my Flickr account went belly up and I never recovered it. Anyways, I needed a bandsaw to replace my tabletop unit, which also went belly up. I wanted something with more capacity when this interesting unit came up on Craigslist.

I'm told it was made in the seventies from a kit manufactured by Gilliam enterprises. The motor is a 1hp GE that is wired for 220. The throat size is 18" and the maximum cut is 10", at least in theory. I had some doubts about the frame being made from wood, and it sat on Craigslist for a while before I found it. But for $225 it sure beats the little $100 piece of **** I had before!

 

[crguy]

First, sorry about the pics, my Flickr account went belly up and I never recovered it. Anyways, I needed a bandsaw to replace my tabletop unit, which also went belly up. I wanted something with more capacity when this interesting unit came up on Craigslist.

I'm told it was made in the seventies from a kit manufactured by Gilliam enterprises. The motor is a 1hp GE that is wired for 220. The throat size is 18" and the maximum cut is 10", at least in theory. I had some doubts about the frame being made from wood, and it sat on Craigslist for a while before I found it. But for $225 it sure beats the little $100 piece of **** I had before!

For $225. you could get one of the old classic 14" Delta bandsaws.
I've seen several of those kit built saws over the years, and none of them was any good.

 

[1930]

Its a nice saw, its unique, I remember when these were advertised new and I have always thought Id like to own one.

You got a great deal and I am jealous

 

[1930]

Its a nice saw, its unique, show me just one other !! I remember when these were advertised new and I have always thought Id like to own one.

You got a great deal and I am jealous

 

[rlitman]

I saw a Gil-Bilt saw on CL a few years ago. It seems like a nice enough concept. Matthias seems happy with his wooden bandsaw of his own design. I wouldn't knock it.

 

[Zeke]

You can't go wrong with the throat and cut height.

 

[woody 73]

Very nice bandsaw I think you did well.

 

[Cruzan80]

Looks very similar to the Craftsman 18" in general design. I think a lot of it depends on the QC taken when being built.

For $225. you could get one of the old classic 14" Delta bandsaws.
I've seen several of those kit built saws over the years, and none of them was any good.

What have you seen that was good? So far, the last two things I have seen from you, you have been bashing equipment that the OP's were fairly happy about (radial drill and this). I agree that the price seems a bit high for what it is, but doesn't mean the equipment is bad, or that the OP wouldn't like it.

 

[crguy]

What have you seen that was good? So far, the last two things I have seen from you, you have been bashing equipment that the OP's were fairly happy about (radial drill and this). I agree that the price seems a bit high for what it is, but doesn't mean the equipment is bad, or that the OP wouldn't like it.

Yesterday, there was a nice Walker Turner radial drill posted. I like old quality US made stuff. The kind of tools that will last forever with minimal maintenance and do Good work.

The kind of tools that are a joy to use because they do a good job - not something you have to make apologies for every time you try to use it.

That wood frame bandsaw, and cheap radial drill don't fall into that category.

 

[darwyn]

For $225. you could get one of the old classic 14" Delta bandsaws.
I've seen several of those kit built saws over the years, and none of them was any good.

Not around here you couldn't. I've already used it and works fine for what I need, for the price I'm good.

 

[bisley45]

Very cool find.

 

[JZiggy]

Does it weigh as much as a duck?

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

Sweet band saw

 

[Cruzan80]

And my point was that someone could take a kit, and make one that needs very little maintenence and runs well that doesn't need apologies. Kind of like your response in the RAS thread, just because you don't see the value or had a bad experience doesn't mean it isn't there, or that it won't run well.

Don't want to continue the de-railment, but sometimes it seems like your posts are coming across as derogatory to people who don't share your same machine viewpoints.

 

[darwyn]

Sorry, couldn't help myself.

No problem! I knew what I was getting into when I bought it, and when I posted.

 

[ctb]

I like old quality US made stuff. The kind of tools that will last forever with minimal maintenance and do Good work.

The kind of tools that are a joy to use because they do a good job - not something you have to make apologies for every time you try to use it.

That wood frame bandsaw, and cheap radial drill don't fall into that cetegory.

If you're worried about the made in USA concept, read here.
http://gilliom-gil-bilt-tool-hunter.blogspot.sk/2009/01/conversation-with-gilliom-manufacturing.html

Just because it's made of wood doesn't mean it's not as good as its metal counterparts. Matthias Wandel proved there is less flex in the frame of a wooden bandsaw here: http://woodgears.ca/bandsaw/homemade.html
than there is in an equivalent metal bandsaw of comparative size. Also less vibration.

Gilliam sold their bandsaws as kits, which the user put together using his own choice of materials, with Gilliam supplying the cast parts like trunnions, wheels, tensioners, etc, so in putting one together you also learned what made it tick and how to set it up for optimum performance. That's something you don't learn from buying a mass produced one like Delta.

I used to have a 14'' Delta and while it was a good saw, it had its limitations - vibration, lack of power for re-sawing, wheels out of line. And I paid $650 (Can) for it new back in 1990.

I'm seriously thinking of building a wooden bandsaw myself.

 

[shedfullatools]

For $225. you could get one of the old classic 14" Delta bandsaws.
I've seen several of those kit built saws over the years, and none of them was any good.

Man are you everywhere bashing everything?? Nice old quality made equipment is great but not everyone can afford it nor have the space for it. Don't knock people and their stuff down a peg when they don't need it

 

[crguy]

I used to have a 14'' Delta and while it was a good saw, it had its limitations - vibration, lack of power for re-sawing, wheels out of line. And I paid $650 (Can) for it new back in 1990.

Every saw has its limitations, but a good old Delta 14 will run circles around every Gil Bilt I've seen.
By 1990, Delta was starting to slide in quality, and today they're nothing like the stuff from the 30s - 70s.
No excuse for wheels out of line on a bandsaw unless it was a gross manufacturing defect. Did you not know how to adjust it?

I used a Delta 14 with slow speed gearbox for a number of years, then moved up to my current Walker Turner 14 with gearbox that is better than the Delta.

I started to read about the guy that built the wood bandsaw. When I saw the part about bicycle innertubes for tires, I just laughed and deleted it.

 

[firworks]

Using Bicycle innertubes as tires on bandsaws is pretty common. I've seen people suggest using it even on metal wheeled metal framed machines. It's rubber or urethane. I don't think there's any kind of magical blessing for rubber destined to be bandsaw tires.

As for the wooden ones, that kit bandsaw looks a little... under framed perhaps? But I'm sure it will cut wood just fine! Use it and enjoy it OP. It works a lot better than the King-Sealy I have in pieces in my garage right now! It's not going to be cutting anything anytime soon.

Some related viewing about wooden bandsaws:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLE53A88B473C45889" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLA407E7AE327701FE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLF6EF6609E8BD58B9" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLE5DA9D51B09680D9" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[ctb]

It was easy to adjust, what I meant was it was out of co-planer, which meant putting the correct size shim under one of the wheels. This should have been checked and done at the factory. Even the old ones after 50 or so years have to be tuned.

Can't argue that the old machines were better, I bought an old Rockwell 3hp shaper and wood lathe from a government auction that I restored and used and they were great.
Problem is you can't always find the deals, and depending where you live, they can be non-existent.
If you're not using the tools professionally, there's nothing wrong with those wooden bandsaws, and if inner tubes work on the wheels then what's the problem? I'd still rather have a homemade wooden bandsaw I made myself than a cheap Chinese knockoff of an old Delta.

 

[darwyn]

As for the wooden ones, that kit bandsaw looks a little... under framed perhaps? But I'm sure it will cut wood just fine!

Not sure about the under framed. I did a little bit of research, and for that little money I decided to take a chance. I had to resaw some 2x8's for a project and it worked fine for that. That's really the only thing I've used it for since I got it.

It will probably see use a few times a month, for the rest of the time it sits with no tension on the blade. The guy that built clearly put some work into it, it's nice to be able to get some use out of it.

 

[JZiggy]

Since there's some discussion here about bandsaw frame stiffness, I thought I'd post a link to my little project where I added a stiffener bracket to a bandsaw to help it handle a heavier tension spring.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showpost.php?p=5694410&postcount=62

 

[AZ Pete]

I helped a neighbor build a Gil-Built saw in about 1979. He was a commercial wood carver. We were careful with our selection of wood for the build, eg. using old growth, clear, straight grained Douglas fir for the spine. He used the saw daily for many years, and had no complaints that I heard. Enjoy your new purchase!