4/11/2007 - I have been looking for a large C framed bandsaw for some time now. I always figured it would be the third part of the the Trifecta. DeWalt RAS (found and restored), a 12" jointer (found, waiting on delivery) and of course a large bandsaw. I located and agreed to purchase a 12" jointer in NW Arkansas months ago. I have been trying arrange a deal to get it delivered. To my surprise the Bandsaw got to the shop before the jointer! As of today the jointer is sitting in Chickamauga, GA. Hopefully I can go retrieve it in the next couple of days.

I had recently seen an add for some "Industrial Wood Working Machines" on Craigslist. I am always skeptical but the prices were cheap so I called the number. Turns out he had just posted the add minutes before I called. Good timing on my part. I bought a couple of them, one was newer Delta 14" bandsaw. I did some minor work on it and placed it back on Craiglist for sale. Last minute idea I offered to trade for Old Woodworking Machines. To my surprise I had a bite!

I know almost nothing of the history of this machine. I traded for it from a young man in Birmingham, AL. When he bought it was fairly complete with what he believed was the original motor. It was not in working order, the wiring was messed up and unfortunately he scrapped the motor. There is brass tag that is stamped Fort Stewart. I checked and it is an Army Base in Georgia. I can only assume this was originally Government owned and that was declared surplus at some point.

He had taken the machine apart and cleaned and painted the frame. He told me it didn't have paint on it when he got it but just some type of oily finish that was hard to get off. He moved a couple of times and the saw had to be stored outside the last move.

We spent close to an hour hunting parts and trying to identify all the pieces and most importantly identify the missing pieces! Once I was convinced that all the major parts were there we traded saws and loaded it up. Since I have another restoration project about to start, I decided I had better put it together while our conversation was fresh in my mind. So in these photos you see it with the parts in place but no where near ready to run.

In pages to follow I will chronicle the restoration of this saw. Once the jointer is here I want to start on it first. But I may do both at the same time. That way I have something to work on while waiting on parts, paint to dry or something else on the other machine. Once these are done my ship will be 90% complete. All that is left is to find an old mortiser, but there is no rush on that.