Joshua Luther Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 For anyone who is looking to restore a band saw or any other older power tool, hopefully this thread will help encourage or give us all an opportunity to share tips or advice from our own experiences. I'm going to try and document my band saw restoration as much as I can. The band saw that I'm restoring is a Sprunger band saw made back in the 50's. I believe it is closely related to the power Kraft brand and was manufactured and sold by or through Montgomery Ward. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I bought this saw used knowing that I was going to be doing a complete disassembly and restoring of it. But for $100 on Craigslist, I couldn't pass it up. I think I've spent more time tuning and fixing my tools than I have actually using them. But that's ok with me, because I'm on a limited budget and have saved a lot of money by doing it myself. Here is the picture from the from the original Craigslist posting. Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted April 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 https://youtu.be/4a3IDGzNvNg Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xxdabroxx Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 Awesome, I too enjoy tinkering with tools and such as much as I do using them. Something inside me just likes to fix things and see them work better than they did before. Cant wait to see it all shined up and looking and working like new. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted April 29, 2015 Report Share Posted April 29, 2015 What town in indiana does the tag say? I can't zoom in and it's obscured by the rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Ligonier, Indiana Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 Ligonier, Indiana Proverbs 16:20awesome... Only 3 1/2 hours north of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 I believe when I researched it, it said it was made in the mid to late 50's. Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted April 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 That cast aluminum soaks in the spray paint and doesn't hide as many scratches as the sheet metal. Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinF Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 That cast aluminum soaks in the spray paint and doesn't hide as many scratches as the sheet metal. Proverbs 16:20try a high build primer, you can get it in spray cans but if you have a gun for auto paint that stuff rocks! Fills fine scratches great and it sand down slick. The duplicolor stuff works good, they sell it at most auto parts stores. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted April 30, 2015 Report Share Posted April 30, 2015 awesome... Only 3 1/2 hours north of me. 20 minutes east. I have been there often. Thanks for journaling this Josh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Part 2 of my video series. Not sure how many more parts there will be. I didn't want the videos to be too long for YouTube. I'm nearing completion on the painting. http://youtu.be/f5gzqh0R2Tw Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjeff70 Posted May 1, 2015 Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 Are you going to change the motor out or does it have enough power for you? Are you keeping it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted May 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 1, 2015 No I'm keeping the 1/2 hp motor. And I'm keeping it for myself. Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joshua Luther Posted May 4, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2015 http://youtu.be/KuB-i0wTG4Q Here is Part 4 of the Band Saw Restoration. Proverbs 16:20 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuilderBill Posted May 8, 2015 Report Share Posted May 8, 2015 While you've got it stripped down put a couple or three coats of Silent Running inside everywhere you can. Dampens vibration and cuts down on noise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 So I've got this old, semi-scary, band-saw. It needs a fair amount of work, but I'm excited to have it because i was able to get it for free! Problem being I haven't ever owned a band-saw so I'm going to be kind of winging it. First step is going to be to start removing rust from the surface, should I paint it afterward? Then I will need a new table of some kind. maybe a new blade, any tips on determining the size needed? Then I am defiantly going to work out some kind of guard(s) so I don't die.Open to ideas, tips, thoughts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Clear guards would complement that saw ! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 I thought about that but I would need some way to keep them from getting caked in dust from static. Assuming I used some acrylic pane. This guy added some curly wood around the loose blade area but left the wheels alone ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 A curly frame and polycarbonate hinged faces would make it easy to clean inside. Maybe you can find some anti static cleaner ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 (edited) Once you get it as de rusted as possible, I would give it a new coat of paint. 1, it will be more visually appealing, 2 it will deprive the old rusted spots of oxygen and moisture to keep it from rusting any more. Jeremy, what is that existing table made of? It looks kind of like a piece of wood.as far as the band length, just measure the current one if you can't fine a manual for it online and with that age, I doubt you could. There is a cool old tools restoration forum, I can't remember what it is that I have checked out from time to time. Someone will be able to link to it. Call me new school, or a child of the 80's but without some way to contain the blade if it ever snapped or slipped off of the wheels, I'd wast to be wearing full leathers while I operated that thing. Edited December 3, 2015 by Brendon_t Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 A curly frame and polycarbonate hinged faces would make it easy to clean inside. Maybe you can find some anti static cleaner ? To be honest it would more likely be a pine frame :p but perhaps... I made a test cut yesterday, band-saws seem awesome and far safer (even with the spinning wheel of death) then my cheapo tablesaw due to the direction of force. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Carlsten Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Once you get it as de rusted as possible, I would give it a new coat of paint. 1, it will be more visually appealing, 2 it will deprive the old rusted spots of oxygen and moisture to keep it from rusting any more. Jeremy, what is that existing table made of? It looks kind of like a piece of wood.as far as the band length, just measure the current one if you can't fine a manual for it online and with that age, I doubt you could. There is a cool old tools restoration forum, I can't remember what it is that I have checked out from time to time. Someone will be able to link to it. Call me new school, or a child of the 80's but without some way to contain the blade if it ever snapped or slipped off of the wheels, I'd wast to be wearing full leathers while I operated that thing. The existing table is a semi rotted piece of ply, complete with a big pile of bird poo! Winning! I really like how it looks all open and almost steam punkish but yes something has to be done for my own safety, recently I got in a fight with a pully on my in-laws washing machine and got stitches in a finger can't imagine what these mothers would do Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 Ya wouldn't need stitches, that's for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 3, 2015 Report Share Posted December 3, 2015 I always tell people that butcher shops use a bandsaw to cut up chunks of meat, bone and all ! So be very cautious to stay clear of the blade . Never push with the blade lined up with your fingers, either be well off to the side or use a push block. Cheap ugly guards to start with can be refined later. One emergency room visit costs more than a new bandsaw ! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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