Bandsaw

[Joe W.]

This thread is here at a good time for me.
A few months ago I bought a used 40+ year old Craftsman bandsaw on a moveable stand at a yard sale. 
Took it home, cleaned it up and used it a few times.
It was OK for cutting small things - limited to 6 inch throat - but seemed to be underpowered and bogged down on attempting to resaw thicker stock.
Thought about replacing the bands and discovered nobody has any stock replacement parts for it.
So I sold it at our latest yard sale and chalked the small loss to research.

One thing I did see in my research was ceramic blocks instead of ball bearings guides.  
Can anyone speak to that - is one significantly better than the other?
   

[Gene Howe]

3 minutes ago, Joe W. said:

This thread is here at a good time for me.
A few months ago I bought a used 40+ year old Craftsman bandsaw on a moveable stand at a yard sale. 
Took it home, cleaned it up and used it a few times.
It was OK for cutting small things - limited to 6 inch throat - but seemed to be underpowered and bogged down on attempting to resaw thicker stock.
Thought about replacing the bands and discovered nobody has any stock replacement parts for it.
So I sold it at our latest yard sale and chalked the small loss to research.

One thing I did see in my research was ceramic blocks instead of ball bearings guides.  
Can anyone speak to that - is one significantly better than the other?
   

I've used ceramic, oil soaked oak, and whatever material commercial guides are made of (Shopsmith).  But, the best are the Carter guides.

[BadBob]

13 minutes ago, Joe W. said:

This thread is here at a good time for me.
A few months ago I bought a used 40+ year old Craftsman bandsaw on a moveable stand at a yard sale. 
Took it home, cleaned it up and used it a few times.
It was OK for cutting small things - limited to 6 inch throat - but seemed to be underpowered and bogged down on attempting to resaw thicker stock.
Thought about replacing the bands and discovered nobody has any stock replacement parts for it.
So I sold it at our latest yard sale and chalked the small loss to research.

One thing I did see in my research was ceramic blocks instead of ball bearings guides.  
Can anyone speak to that - is one significantly better than the other?
   

Sharp quality blades can make a huge difference as can choosing the correct blade for the job at hand. Assuming the bandsaw is aligned properly.

 

 

[Joe W.]

I just came across this video - what he says seems logical . . . 

 

[Scrappile]

Very interesting.  I bet I could buy a lot of precut, thin wood for the price of the gadget he has on that bandsaw.

[BadBob]

One of the things I have learned about bandsaws: I Never use my resaw to cut curves or it will never track straight again.

 

 

[OCtoolguy]

On 11/20/2022 at 8:40 AM, Scrappile said:

Very interesting.  I bet I could buy a lot of precut, thin wood for the price of the gadget he has on that bandsaw.

I thought the same. I've got a used Delta 14" that does what I need.