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New Machine Day! DoAll Bandsaw

dr_clyde

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Jan 7, 2009
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6,438
Location
Holland, MI
I swear I must have stepped on a rusty nail or something as a kid. I have the disease. You know, the one where I can't get enough iron?

I have 2 horizontal bandsaws already. One is a nice Kalamazoo, in about a million pieces at the moment being restored. The other is a huge steaming pile of **** import that won't cut straight and is underpowered and generally garbage. I thought the wimpy import would get me by until the Kzoo was put back together. I came to the realistic conclusion the other day that I won't have the Kzoo back together in time for a big sawing job I have on the horizon.

So the search began. My buddy has a large machine shop, and does a LOT of sawing. He has an old DoAll that he has used daily for over 30 years. I've used it. It is a fine saw. He says, "My brother in law Dave has one he never uses just like this one. I bet he'll sell it to you." We call Dave. Go look at Dave's saw. Its a nice saw. We make a verbal deal at $1200. I tell him give me a few days to see what else I can find and I'll let him know.

Fast forward to yesterday. I want to show a picture of Dave's saw to a co-worker, and I realize I don't have a photo. So I google the model number and find a picture. I see the website under the picture is a local machinery dealer. I figure for grins I'll go on his website and see what he wants for it. Its a little rougher than Dave's, but its only $500. I arrange to go see it. I decided to roll the dice and buy it. Its old enough that everything is repairable if needed in my shop.

It's dirty and needs some TLC, but it looks like its all there. Pinion and ring gear are in nice shape. It has carbide blade guides, and all the original levers and knobs, with the tach and blade tension meters. It has an auto shuttle table, but I'll probably remove that. Hydraulic vise, blade tensioner, and head raise. Infinite blade speed adjustable, like a Reeves drive. This thing is built like a brick **** house.

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I take delivery on Wednesday, I gave him the cash last night. I bought it "as-is" so hopefully there is minimal work required to make it cut. I need it working soon. It weights between 4-5000 lbs, so if its totally shot, I can get most of my money back at the scrapper, but I don't think its bad. Just needs some love.

More photos when its in my possession. Thanks for looking.
 
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aptdweller

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Apr 16, 2013
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95
Location
Ottawa, ON
Nice saw! I'm still messing around with two small imports that don't do a wonderful job. I'd love to have something like that in my garage, but I'm not sure I could justify using that much space for it.

Let us know how it runs.
 

bimmer1980

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Feb 5, 2009
Messages
2,104
Location
York, PA
That seems like a decent deal. I would be prepared to check the band saw blade guides and other key points.

I bought a 9x16" bandsaw that needs some work for $240 over 2 years ago. I ended up buying two new wheels and bunch of bearings for it (blade guides, wheel bearings,etc.)... unfortunately, it is still in pieces as I haven't taken the time to get it back together....

I guess I need to get on that...

Best of luck with your project...
 
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dr_clyde

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Jan 7, 2009
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Holland, MI
We gave it a thorough going over at the dealer's shop. My buddy is intimately familiar with these saws as he's rebuilt his a few times over the years.

It was supposedly running when they bought it. "Ran when parked" lol. We'll see.
 

bimmer1980

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Feb 5, 2009
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York, PA
ok, sounds good! I bought mine knowing it needed some TLC.....

What's the cut capability on that saw?

Any plans for a digital length measuring setup?
 
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dr_clyde

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Jan 7, 2009
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Location
Holland, MI
Used equipment always needs a little TLC, I've discovered. It has a capacity of 12” x 16” square and 12-3/4” round.

No plans for a digital measuring setup. I'm not that fancy. Just a tape measure for me.
 

Strouty

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Mar 21, 2010
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Southern Maine
I am going to be the mean guy, you know the voice of reason type, and say I think you should have talked to Dave and said "I am a cheap SOB and I found another one for $500, would you take $900?" Then I would have paid Dave to have yourself a working bandsaw, one that you need now, not another roll of the dice. I roll the dice far too often and have lots of projects in pieces to prove it. I am starting to get smarter in my old age, but I will say I have no doubt that you can repair this one and make it fully functional if it needs anything. My point is, should you buy a project to do a project? ;)
 
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dr_clyde

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Holland, MI
I am going to be the mean guy, you know the voice of reason type, and say I think you should have talked to Dave and said "I am a cheap SOB and I found another one for $500, would you take $900?" Then I would have paid Dave to have yourself a working bandsaw, one that you need now, not another roll of the dice. I roll the dice far too often and have lots of projects in pieces to prove it. I am starting to get smarter in my old age, but I will say I have no doubt that you can repair this one and make it fully functional if it needs anything. My point is, should you buy a project to do a project? ;)

LOL, Dave's saw is my backup if this one takes too much to get rolling. For all I know, it may just fire up and run. If not, I'd consider buying Dave's saw and have a parts saw just in case.

I generally agree though, I need less projects.
 
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dr_clyde

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Holland, MI
Good news. I spent most of the day tinkering on the new saw. We separated the auto shuttle table and spent a few hours figuring out how to isolate the electrical and hydraulic systems that are only for saw operations, as the shuttle table and saw were pretty intertwined.

We were able to make the saw motor engage, and the arm raise and lower. Which is huge. Everything seems to work as it should.

I now need to get the vise re-plumbed, and separate the electrical solenoids for the raise and lower from the main motor power. I am also thinking of adding a second motor for the hydraulics, so I can raise the head without the blade active.

I'm happy. I didn't buy a lemon.
 

LXCam

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Apr 23, 2013
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19,106
Location
AZ
That's cool ^^ congrats on not buying an anchor. I have a 9 x 16 I bought new for something like $2,700. Some of the best money I ever spent. It may not get used but a few times a year for major work but when I need it, I need it and it'll slice a sliver off even the largest chunks of anything. I luv it!
 

tarbellb

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Apr 17, 2011
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Oregon
Glad to hear it is working out. But I gotta ask, why so eager to separate (and ditch?) the shuttle table? Broken, or just not worth it to you?
 

matt_i

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Mar 14, 2008
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10,725
Location
SE Michigan
Love DoAlls. As you say they are built for 50 years hard service, and even then rebuildable.

I bought mine (older, C5-A) specifically for the shuttle feed feature, so you can knock off 3 or 300 of whatever you are feeding without standing around waiting. The motorized drum controls (think water softener) are a little kooky though and a PLC would be a lot better.

I bet you could clear $5000 for that saw running in full auto-feed mode with a PLC (and documentation...like the printed ladder, etc). Auto feed saws are not cheap!
 

Doug Arthurs

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Dec 1, 2012
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Ontario
I don't really understand why you disabled the shuttle vise either. Even if it didn't work you could still use the saw in manual mode without having to do a bunch of replumbing. Basically made a saw that could be worth 3 grand worth basically 1200. Of course what do I know I've only been repairing industrial bandsaws for ten years now.
 
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dr_clyde

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Jan 7, 2009
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Holland, MI
The auto table was in bad shape. It was missing parts, and the space it takes up is not worth it for the kind of sawing I do. Someone has been in there already and had monkeyed with it and did a **** job. Believe me, it wasn't worth saving.

If I get to the point where I need an automatic saw, I'll buy one that's all there.
 
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dr_clyde

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Jan 7, 2009
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6,438
Location
Holland, MI
What I would like to find for the saw is the front plate off the job selector wheel. I have the back plate with all the speeds and whatnot, I'm missing the cover plate that says "DoAll" and has the little windows.

If anyone has a line on one, please drop me a PM.
 
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