Popular Post andrew-in-austin Posted October 23, 2015 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 I got a new to me bandsaw, and perhaps this will be the last bandsaw I will ever need. I found this on ebay, in El Paso, about 600 miles from me (Austin). I was surprised I was the only one who bid on it. Maybe I am the only one crazy enough to drive that far for a tool. The saw has 36-inch wheels, is 100 inches tall, and weighs about 2500 pounds! The table is bigger than the table on my "table" saw! I have a whole new respect for large, heavy items. This was like moving a car without wheels. Below is a picture of where I picked it up: It's a 1977 model 36 from Northfield. A new one like this goes for ~$22,000. I got it for about 95% off that price Here it is strapped down in a rented trailer. I brought 8 ratchet tie-downs and needed every one. Parts of the drive made me very nervous. Parts of I-10 are just terrible. You know when they go to the trouble of putting up "rough road" signs, they must be pretty bad... Once I got home (and slept), I had to figure out how to get it off the trailer. One trip to home depot and a many hours later: I had to remove most of the upper half of the saw to lift with a chain hoist and to clear my garage door. The process was trailer -> lift with gantry crane -> lower on old mobile base for table saw -> push inside garage -> lift with engine hoist -> on ground in garage.Then I needed to get the top half back on. Holy crap, this stuff is heavy. I don't know what the upper housing weighs, but I would guess 150 pounds. I should have gotten help putting that back on.And here it is as it sits today. There is only 1-inch of clearance to the ceiling, and the saw fits perfectly between the garage door track and the dust collection pipe.I have wired up a VFD since it is three phase, and it works beautifully. It can re-saw 19". This thing is truly a B E A S T! I can't wait to resaw some wood! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobInAustin Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Very nice. Pretty good deal, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strasberry Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Now thats a bandsaw!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Wow! That's not a bandsaw, that's a body disposal unit! Awesome find, I can't wait to see what you do with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Good job you had clearance under that ceiling . I think I've seen something similar in David Marks workshop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 That thing is just ridiculous! ! What an awesome deal! Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wnaziri Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 That is an awesome machine. Great find and you did a great job of transporting it. Does your saw have 10 HP motor? I bought the 20" version of the same saw with 5 HP motor. These Northfield machines are just amazing. By the way, the Northfield company is great at supporting their products, regardless of age of the product. I just wish I could afford one of their planers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
croessler Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 First, congratulations on a outstanding acquisition. Second, how do you find these kind of auctions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-MattK- Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 h o l y cow that thing is awesome. how wide of a blade will it handle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted October 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Thanks, all. I found this on ebay! That's why I was so surprised nobody else bid on it. I figured there had to be somebody else looking for a machine like this. Matt, it has 2-inch wide wheels, so I guess it will take a blade a little smaller than that. I will probably get a Lenox Woodmaster CT in 1 to 1.25 inch width. The saw came with 4 other blades, but I don't think any of them are particularly sharp, so I will probably also get a smaller width blade for doing small curves. Wnaziri, I have been following your progress on your saw and the tires. I also wish I could get one of their planers. The motor is also 5HP in this saw and is direct drive. It is easily the largest 5HP motor I have ever seen. If I had to guess, that motor is probably over 300 pounds. I am more and more convinced lately that finding these old machines is the way to go, as long as you have the patience to wait until a deal comes along, and you are willing to deal with 3 phase electricity. I have my eye out for an old industrial planer, almost got a 1914 Oliver 9-foot long one, but owner backed out of the deal at the last minute Just need to be patient and find the next deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 You're going to piss off the neighborhood, every time you power that thing up their lights are going to dime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Is there a nameplate still on the motor? It is bound to be a low RPM / high torque design, if it drives the saw wheel directly. That would explain why it is so big & heavy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted October 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Yes, it turns 1000 RPM at 50Hz, which translates in to about 11300 feet per minute for the blade when on 60Hz power. That's really moving. Luckily I can control the motor speed with the VFD. Right now I run it at 30-40Hz and is uses just over 9 Amps per phase when running. I plan on trying out an external resistor with the VFD, which should allow the VFD decelerate the motor when I hit the stop button. The saw also has a foot brake, but it still takes a while to slow it down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Holy cow, that isn't a band saw. That's a verticle saw mill. Awesome find and commitment. That thing is huge. On the plus side, since it's kissing the ceiling, you'll never have to dust it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted October 23, 2015 Report Share Posted October 23, 2015 Great find! I would have bought it too. I doubt you're going to want to change the setup back and forth from resaw with a wide blade to curve cutting many times. I'd just leave it set up for resawing. A Delta, or any of the 14's is fine for curve cutting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 I just want to see a video of you folding the blade! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 I have to use a foot to fold blades five feet shorter than the one that thing takes.Does it have flat, or crowned tires? It should be able to run a 2" blade, I'm thinking. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgreenb Posted October 24, 2015 Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 Can we get a video of this hoss in action??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew-in-austin Posted October 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2015 It took some practice to fold the blades. Definitely have to keep my foot on the blade while folding. I'll see if I can get a video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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