Old *american* quality

[chad pickens]

Ok guys Im feeling a bit nostalgic. I recently bought an OLD doall metal master bandsaw I think it was made in the 50's.Its very very dirty so Ive started cleaning it up.I got a rotary phase converter and fired it up last night .It works like a charm.So I started with little things like the lights.They didnt work so I took them apart.I started realizing how wonderfully this was built.Every screw and bolt were tight!They all came out without even 1 stripping .The threads in the main body and each individual piece is nicely made and smooth all have and old familiar american names. I have never had an old piece of machinery and Im in awh. I know how things got the way they are today with manufacturing but, how could we have regressed to the point we are today when things were so well made way back then.Im both embarrased for us and sad.On the other hand Im very proud to own a machine that is all american and VERY well made .Im not trying to start a thread about usa vs the world but I just felt a little sad as I was taking this apart that I had to tell someone and who better than the gang at GJ thanks, Chad pickens

 

[Truxx1956]

I know what you mean, I have a 16" 1944 model South Bend metal lathe and a 1959 Toolmaster Cincinnati vertical mill. The craftsmanship is outstanding on these old machines and you can actually take them apart and work on them. Also they weigh a TON!! I love old machines!! Good score!!

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Ok guys Im feeling a bit nostalgic. I recently bought an OLD doall metal master bandsaw I think it was made in the 50's.Its very very dirty so Ive started cleaning it up.I got a rotary phase converter and fired it up last night .It works like a charm.So I started with little things like the lights.They didnt work so I took them apart.I started realizing how wonderfully this was built.Every screw and bolt were tight!They all came out without even 1 stripping .The threads in the main body and each individual piece is nicely made and smooth all have and old familiar american names. I have never had an old piece of machinery and Im in awh. I know how things got the way they are today with manufacturing but, how could we have regressed to the point we are today when things were so well made way back then.Im both embarrased for us and sad.On the other hand Im very proud to own a machine that is all american and VERY well made .Im not trying to start a thread about usa vs the world but I just felt a little sad as I was taking this apart that I had to tell someone and who better than the gang at GJ thanks, Chad pickens

Good post. I don;t know when things started going to hell - however, I noticed in the early 80s that "the price of a one way sale went up" and that the landfills were filling. I think miniaturization in the way of SMT components had much to do with it in the elex community, along with the desire to jam pack every bell and whistle as a means of marketing. Stuff today, yo toss and not fix. I bought a nice rechargable handheld pistol grip flashlight from HD for $9.99. When the battery died, I decided to replace the battery - guess what...the batt cost $26.00!! I tossed the old light and bought another for $9.99 + tax

 

[cnyeco1]

Alot of it has to do with the price of materials going up over the years, companies MAXIMIZING their profits, and the competition of foreign machine makers. Alot of people don't buy quality to begin with so the american companies try to compete and can't. But over the years people get tired of fixing the cheap **** and started looking for the old machinery which is why it is in such demand now.
I worked in the machining industry for 20 years, and it is a joy to walk through an old company like the one I worked for and see all the old stuff that they bought in the 40's and 50's and it is still going strong today.
Corporate america.....ick

 

[mmhouse]

I used a 16" DeWalt radial arm saw at the lumberyard that I worked at in Alaska in the '70s. I'm guessing the saw was built in the '50s and was one great (and reliable) piece of machinery.

 

[toolchaser]

I tend to buy old american iron and rebuild it for my use. Even with the cost of refurbishing I feel I end up with a better piece of equipment than anything from the modern "global" market!
EXAMPLES:
1963 Massey Ferguson 35 Diesel tractor
1944 17" Leblond metal lathe
1967 Wells Index vertical mill

 

[G1K]

I tend to buy old american iron and rebuild it for my use. Even with the cost of refurbishing I feel I end up with a better piece of equipment than anything from the modern "global" market!
EXAMPLES:
1963 Massey Ferguson 35 Diesel tractor
1944 17" Leblond metal lathe
1967 Wells Index vertical mill

I hear ya

1942 Monarch 10EE

R

 

[chad pickens]

I hear ya

1942 Monarch 10EE

R

VERY VERY NICE!
It looks like you took your time. Ilove the old stuff.

 

[chad pickens]

I now have a rotory phase converter so Im keeping my eyes open for good OLD 3 phase equipment . I will eventually have this one all cleaned up.I started chasing the old wiring and I think Ill put some new in and change a few things .It has a little outlet where the light and air come out thats only 2 prong and they are small. I want to rewire the lights and outlet at least.Lots of the old wiring is of the fabric covered variety. Most of it has oily residue all over it.Where the power comes in it has the old long cardboard cylinder type fuses. and then what looks to be an overload and then two old style round fuses. One of which I think is very old.I have had a ball messing with this today.

 

[Steve from Socal]

DoAll makes some of the best band saws, they still make good quality but they have lost their stylized shape.

Here is my saw, enjoy your new machine, change the oil in the gear box!!

Steve

 

[chad pickens]

Is the oil an issue I need to watch.

 

[G1K]

DoAll makes some of the best band saws, they still make good quality but they have lost their stylized shape.

Here is my saw, enjoy your new machine, change the oil in the gear box!!

Steve

WOW... just WOW,, That is a beautiful saw.


R

 

[rcleaver]

I believe it was on the New Yankee Workshop that Norm showed a saw operated by a water mill. It had pulleys connected to the mill and the saw by leather belts. The saw was over 100 years old and still going. IIRC, they made all kinds of shutters there.

 

[e-tek]

Guys - some great and cool items here! Any more pics -of any other equip- to share?

 

[G1K]

Guys - some great and cool items here! Any more pics -of any other equip- to share?

Here's my vintage 7" shaper in the back of my wife's car

and my REALLY crappy band saw

1938 Craftsman 12" lathe

R

 

[Mike of the North]

Oh man I would love to have a old shaper, it would go nice with my Bridgeport, Horizontal mill, Logan lathe, Wells horizontal band saw, and G&L tool grinder.

 

[chad pickens]

Heres my saw Its not pretty...yet. but I love her anyway

 

[-B-]

Some old is good some is bad knowing what is what is key. I have a 1943 walker turner DP it is a killer i just need to solve an small bit taking a .2" walk to the left issue.

I also have a 1hp drive drive GE buffer it can be too much some times if not careful.

Old Atlas before CM belt and disc sander with 1.25 hp way over kill

Tomorrow I may have yet more to add as I am going to look at a South Bend 10k and a 9b bot loaded with tooling.

I still have to get a Benchmaster vert mill from a neighbors garage that has sat unused for 40+ years.

 

[OldCarGuy]

The DoAll vertical band saw is a Great machine!

The two best American made vertical band saws are DoAll and Grob. There is one major design difference big difference between the two brands. The DoAll uses ball bearing rollers for the blade guides. While the Grob uses solid guides. Which one is better?? Depends on the machinist that you talk to...

There’s nothing like old American Iron! Take it from an old timer that has a whole garage shop full of it..

Grob Website==> http://www.grobinc.com/bandsaw/



.

 

[Steve from Socal]

The DoAll vertical band saw is a Great machine!

The two best American made vertical band saws are DoAll and Grob. There is one major design difference big difference between the two brands. The DoAll uses ball bearing rollers for the blade guides. While the Grob uses solid guides. Which one is better?? Depends on the machinist that you talk to...

There’s nothing like old American Iron! Take it from an old timer that has a whole garage shop full of it..

Grob Website==> http://www.grobinc.com/bandsaw/



.

DoAll saws have used hardened solid guides since WWII, ball bearing guides are an optional accessory as guides for band files and grit saws. The DoAll catalog shows about a dozen different styles of saw guides including both hard steel and carbide guide inserts for bands 1/16 to 1"

Steve

 

[krooser]

Last year I sold a 1928 vintage iron worker... great machine! I still have a 40's vintage Rockwell belt sander, a 1950's drill press, a WWII Navy surplus verticle mill and a 60 year old Chicago finger brake... all of this stuff will live longer tham me... try THAT with something from Horrible Freight.

 

[Steve in Mi]

The DoAll vertical band saw is a Great machine!

The two best American made vertical band saws are DoAll and Grob. There is one major design difference big difference between the two brands. The DoAll uses ball bearing rollers for the blade guides. While the Grob uses solid guides. Which one is better?? Depends on the machinist that you talk to...

There’s nothing like old American Iron! Take it from an old timer that has a whole garage shop full of it..

Grob Website==> http://www.grobinc.com/bandsaw/



.

Yes that major design difference you speak of really doesn't exist. Think about it - roller bearing side guides on a 1/16" blade, not going to happen.

I have a Grob NS-18 and several different guide setups for it including the bronze backup blocks. Grob offers a full line of guides as does DoAll. I have several different sets (upper and lower) of DoAll blade guides I bought for converting meat and foam cutting bandsaws to metal cutting bandsaws. Still have some guides left and don't plan on any more conversions. I also own a 20" WT/Rockwell VS metal cutting bandsaw that is a great saw and as well built as the Grob and DoAll IMHO but it is not a contour (compound cutting angle) saw. I use a few of the DoAll attachments on my Grob and Rockwell saws and a recent project 80% done is refurbing a set of DoAll Heavy Parallel Work Clamps - need to order some bearing 'balls' and transfer ball bearing cup from DoAll to finish them up.

To the OP that is a fine saw you have. I always thought (wished) I would one day own a DoAll but it didn't happen, however, I did have occasion to use them at a couple of shops and they are a great saw.

 

[Steve from Socal]

The ball bearing guides are generally used at higher speeds. If you look at most wood cutting band saws they use ball bearing guides.

Steve

 

[Steve in Mi]

The ball bearing guides are generally used at higher speeds. If you look at most wood cutting band saws they use ball bearing guides.

Steve

I don't believe that is a true statement - look to majority of horizontal bandsaws cutting at only 150 FPM with ball bearing guides.

Actually I don't agree with the second statement either. There is a fad toward ball bearing guides and the popular namebrand is Carter but the fact of the matter is that ball bearing guides don't offer as much support of the blade as the "Vee" arranged guide blocks.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Horizontal saws have another dynamic; the blade is twisted, while hard guides work they impart more friction. DoAll suggests the ball bearing guides for "high speed" applications in their literature.

Steve

 

[Stuart in MN]

They don't make a lot of metalworking equipment, but some of the best woodworking tools (table saws, bandsaws, jointers, etc.) are made by Northfield Foundry and Machine in Minnesota. http://www.northfieldwoodworking.com/

 

[e-tek]

The DoAll vertical band saw is a Great machine!

The two best American made vertical band saws are DoAll and Grob. There is one major design difference big difference between the two brands. The DoAll uses ball bearing rollers for the blade guides. While the Grob uses solid guides. Which one is better?? Depends on the machinist that you talk to...

There’s nothing like old American Iron! Take it from an old timer that has a whole garage shop full of it..

Grob Website==> http://www.grobinc.com/bandsaw/



.

DoAll saws have used hardened solid guides since WWII, ball bearing guides are an optional accessory as guides for band files and grit saws. The DoAll catalog shows about a dozen different styles of saw guides including both hard steel and carbide guide inserts for bands 1/16 to 1"

Steve

Yes that major design difference you speak of really doesn't exist. Think about it - roller bearing side guides on a 1/16" blade, not going to happen.

I have a Grob NS-18 and several different guide setups for it including the bronze backup blocks. Grob offers a full line of guides as does DoAll. I have several different sets (upper and lower) of DoAll blade guides I bought for converting meat and foam cutting bandsaws to metal cutting bandsaws. Still have some guides left and don't plan on any more conversions. I also own a 20" WT/Rockwell VS metal cutting bandsaw that is a great saw and as well built as the Grob and DoAll IMHO but it is not a contour (compound cutting angle) saw. I use a few of the DoAll attachments on my Grob and Rockwell saws and a recent project 80% done is refurbing a set of DoAll Heavy Parallel Work Clamps - need to order some bearing 'balls' and transfer ball bearing cup from DoAll to finish them up.

To the OP that is a fine saw you have. I always thought (wished) I would one day own a DoAll but it didn't happen, however, I did have occasion to use them at a couple of shops and they are a great saw.

You DARE to rebuff Old Car Guy????:
Damn newbie whipper-snappers!!!: