Replies

1. 
   StorzInVail | Apr 07, 2004 01:29am | #1

   It is at least as useful as that 36" Oliver you picked up lately:-), check http://www.irsauctions.com or http://www.woodworkingmachineryauction.com to see what they are going for these days.JS

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 07, 2004 03:35am | #2

   Evening Jeff,

    I don't recall ever visiting either of those sites amazingly enough!  Thanks for sharing.  Useful as the Oliver, hmmm...  I use that beast as much as possible, and LOVE it!  Used it this weekend to resaw some old 1x12 pine boards, freehand, and it does a fantastic job!  Wish I'd had it from the begining.  Have you had your Wright long? 

   Speaking of bandsaws, how do you get the right tension?  I don't have a gauge, yet, and so far, I've just been cranking up tension till it cuts good.  Probably way off I suppose, and as soon as I get a good deal, I'll get a gauge.  Steve

2. 
   Mackwood | Apr 07, 2004 05:16am | #3

   Steve,

   I had a friend of mine buy one a couple years ago.  It was 16", 220V.  It was being put to pasture from the WW shop on the Navy base @ Whidbey Island.  He only gave $75 for it BUT and a really big but; it had a tweaked shaft that caused it to cut a kerf almost 1/2" wide with a good blade on it.  One in decent shape ought to be worth $350 at least.  One in pristine condition should bring $500 if the buyer wanted it bad enough or the seller was patient enough; LOL  (Just how big is your shop anyway!!!)

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 07, 2004 06:40am | #4

   Evening Mack,

   Tweaked shaft sounds like a bugger to get fixed, course saves you from having to buy a big dado set I guess???

   The IRS link Jeff posted has an expired auction for one that went for $455, so you're not the only one who thinks that's a good price. 

   My shop is currently 18x35 for the heated area, and 30x35 for the more primative part, and its getting tight.  I was thinking the RAS and the SCMS could share the same space perhaps.  I've been toying with the idea of moving a "new" old barn over from the abandoned farm 1/2 mile away.  Then I'd have the ground floor of 60x60 and the haymow of probably 30x60 usable.  Now, if only I had more spare time!!!

   Oh, I fired this saw up the other day, and it sounds fine, and appears to cut just fine, but when you kill the power, it idles down for a very long time.  Guess the bearings are probably good, but I wonder if a guy could rig up a brake?  It'll crosscut 24" at 90 degrees, which sounds somewhat useful.Steve

1. 
   StorzInVail | Apr 07, 2004 07:22am | #5

   Most of the old, big RAS had brakes, they can be rebuilt, but that is probably a better question for the owwm guys. Just as a note, irsauctions is not a gov't clearing house, that would be web.govliquidation.com, and you need to be careful about reading their status codes as to the condition of their machines. Alot are needing major repair. Ive had the Wright for about 2 years now and it gets almost as much use as my TS. JS

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 07, 2004 08:14am | #7

   Thanks Jeff for the heads up on the brake.  I just assumed it didn't have one.  Thats a neat site by the way.  I cruised it a bit, and signed up to bid if need be.  Never know when that 24" Oliver jointer is going to sell for $100, a guy needs to be prepared!Steve

2. 
   Mackwood | Apr 07, 2004 07:33am | #6

   Steve,

   "save on a dado set"  that's funny!!!!  Actually I think I could fix that hummer with a dial indicator and a big raw hide mallet.  I fixed a thrown away grinder that way.  It had a bent shaft from some fledgling idiot. It was so bad that it shook the hell out of a 250 lb work bench it was bolted to and the old shop chief tossed the thing in the dumpster.  I took it home and played with it for about an hour.  Kept rotating to get the high spot up and smacking it down with this big mallet.  After I got it trued as close as I had patience for, I changed the bearings and it's been humming along for ??? 12 years or so.  I have it screwed to a chunk of 3/4" plywood and I don't even need to clamp it down unless I'm doing some pretty aggressive grinding. 

   What does the saw's owners manual say about the brake?  I would think there would be one on a unit that size.  It could be an easy fix but don't tell the seller that! (Unless you're friends that is)  A call to DW with the model # ought to at least tell you if it came equiped with a brake originally.  Good luck with it!  Have a good evening!

   Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

1. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 07, 2004 08:30am | #8

   Mack, I assumed it didn't have a brake, maybe I'm wrong?  I'll check the manual tomorrow.  I just looked at it this morning, and I'll be darned if I can remember the model number tonight!  Wish I could, then maybe I could do some more research tonight.

   "Fledgling idiot", I like that!  The resturant is in the store part of a now defunt lumber yard, and the saw is in the old "saw room", were I want to put the coolers.  The lumber yard was open 12 years ago, and the guy who used to run it is now a regular customer at the cafe.  I was talking to him this morning, and he had a couple fledgling idiot stories about the saw.  I guess they used to rip with it quite a bit, and the'd get the usual yard flunkies in for seasonal help.  I guess at least a couple of them tried to rip from the wrong side of the saw, and there are kickback marks on the wall to prove it.  He said they remembered which side of the saw to feed from after only one experience, usually.  Steve

1. 
   Mackwood | Apr 07, 2004 05:40pm | #9

   Steve,

   I think most of those saws have at least a few stories to go with 'em.  They can be pretty unforgiving. 

   Story goes that the one my friend (acquaintance) got had it's shaft bent by some fool stacking up 2 x12's three high and then turning the saw loose when it started to grab the cut.  He thought it was cute how the saw leapt through them!  People that stupid should be required to have special name tags!!

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

2. 
   UncleDunc | Apr 07, 2004 06:01pm | #10

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-breaktime/messages/?msg=27502.1

3. 
   Mackwood | Apr 07, 2004 09:51pm | #11

   Unc.

   Thank you very much!  I was having a crappy day until I read that post!!LLLLL  Great minds think alike!  Yeah right!  Thanks again!

   Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

4. 
   scooter1 | Apr 08, 2004 06:17pm | #12

   The ones at the lumber yards are three phase. Unless you have a commercial shop with that power supply, you would be better served with a 240 single phase.

   I bought a 1948 DeWalt like that about 5 years ago from a saw salesman who was retiring. Absolutely perfect and pristine condition with manuals, extra blades, and all the wrenches and a mobile base. I paid $900 for it, and use it weekly.

   It was local, and no shipping was necessary; The saw was in perfect condition, and it replaced an old Sears. I like RAS's.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

5. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 08, 2004 09:04pm | #14

   Hey Boris,

   I don't have a commercial shop, but I do have three phase power.  This saw is three phase.  I was looking at the stuff that would come with it, and there are a few blades that look pretty primative.  I think I'd want a new one, what do you use in yours?

   Steve

6. 
   scooter1 | Apr 08, 2004 11:46pm | #15

   Since it is a cross-cut machine, ya'all want a cross-cut blade, carbide teeth. I don't use mine for really fine work, so I don't think you'll need like 80 teeth.

   I would try to get the owners manual and spend a couple hour tuning it up, you'll want the blade 90 degrees to the table and 90 degrees to the fence.

   Regards,

   Boris

   "Sir, I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow" -- WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

7. 
   dirtstirrer | Apr 08, 2004 09:00pm | #13

   Mack,

   Cute as a mad rattlesnake!  Did he live?  Someone that dumb is the reason insurance costs so blasted much.  Steve

8. 
   Mackwood | Apr 09, 2004 01:25am | #16

   Steve,

   Yeah, I guess the dumb #### lived but I hear he got pretty humbled after the big hulkin' guy that ran the wood shop got done spraying him with saliva and cigar juice! 

   Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"

3. 
   Shep | Apr 10, 2004 05:41pm | #17

     Check out Wolfe Machinery, located in Iowa. They recondition and sell old DeWalt radial arms, as well as sell parts for them. I don't have their URL handy, but you should be able to Google it

        This will probably be more for your benefit than the sellers, since Wolfe's prices ( for the reconditioned saws) aren't cheap.