Official Luthiers Forum!

Guys, I just got 6 good slices for backs or sides cut from a 1" board of SE Asian rosewood (D. cochichinensis) 6-1/4" wide by 4' long.

This is the culmination of a lot of work rebuilding a 50-60 year old 20" Delta/Milwaukee bandsaw. Not a gloat, because I ended up with at least as much into it as it's worth, but a brag because I did all the work myself, never rebuilt a machine like this before, and had a bunch of problems to fix with it--finding the bearings, right pulleys, figuring out how to do the mechanic stuff dis- and re- assembling, truing the tires, etc. I got it several years ago and have moved it twice before getting it into the new shop and working on it.

I put in all new bearings, new tires, new guides (Carter), new motor (3hp Leeson) and new pulleys. Made a fence from MDF and plywood. Blade is a 1" Lenox Aluminum Master. I need to work on dust collection; I underestimated how much it needs.

I have the cuts at .125" +or- about .005" now. Should lose about .020 sanding out the saw marks--.010 per side. I'm getting a little harmonic pattern of hills and troughs about 1-1/2" between peaks, but the difference between hill and trough is only about .004, so I can live with it.

Thanks to Link Van Cleve for advice and encouragement.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Very nice! Sounds like a nice set for a harp guitar. 2 for the sides, 3 for the back, and one spare that should make an uke or two

That's great Howard. I have trouble finding the On/Off switch on mine. Every time I have to change a blade, I go through panic attacks

Congrats Howard! Sure like to see a pic too.

Chuck

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Awesome Howard! I bet it sure is satisfying to put all that work into the machine and then be able to slice up your own sets. Kudos to you!

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Must be a great feeling! You sure cant get better recovery from a 1' board than that. Just curious why you went with the Aluminium Master over the CT that a lot of people seem to like?

I'm with Filippo. If you have time, let's see a photo of that dinosaur.

Cheers,
Danny

Way to go Howard. Love to hear that machinery gets saved rather then going to rust or the junkyard. Nice work on the resawing to,hang out your shingle....!!
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I know how good that feels. But jeesh, you've got that thing set up better than I've ever gotten mine.
How you do that?
.01 a side?
That's inspiring.

Congrats Howard. That's worth bragging about. It deserves six pats on the back and a great big attaboy for a job excellently done.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Congrat Howard.
20" wow!
How long is the blade?

Mike

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Mike Collins

Link

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Cut to size.....Beat to fit.....Paint to match.

Well done Howard, I'll be 60 this year, do you think you could rebuild me?

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Colin, some things just get better w/ age.
No rebuilding necessary amigo.

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

That really is awesome Howard! I love older machines - I would like to see some pictures too, please.

Thanks-

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John Lewis
Wannabe builder owned by 2 crazy dachshunds

Howard, I too would like to see some photos of your "old iron".

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"Try to be the person your dog thinks you are."

http://sites.google.com/site/bertsguitarshop/

This is why we are glad that some of the last known pernambuco is in your hands, we know it is in good hands. I would love to see a before and after picture too.
Rob

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Danny I'd actually recommend the Tri-Master blades. Pretty much any carbide blade will cut well at first but as they wear the variable tooth pattern helps keep the blade cutting straight. It also seems to do better in heavily figured woods.

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CVT Inc.
A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
My Personal eBay profile. BCWoodBug

Howard,

Learning to resaw on a new machine can be challenging to say the least. In order to assist your learning curve I will be sending a number of billets to be processed at your convince.

Phillip

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aka konacat

If you think my playing is bad you should hear me sing!
Practice breeds confidence and confidence breeds competence. Unfortunately, I'm stuck in practice.

here's the saw. I went with the Aluminum master on Larry McNamara's recommendation. It is less aggressive than the Lenox Woodmaster or Trimaster blades (speed not being much of a factor for me, I don't mind that), and takes smoother cut with a smaller kerf: .042" (which does matter to me).

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Hey Howard,

That looks great. A little tip on your fence, you might try routing or table sawing a 1/4" by 1/4" slot out of the bottom where your fence meets you bandsaw table. That way the fence doesn't really come all the way down to the table and the "slag" at the edge of the board from the last cut does not screw up your next cut. Am I making sense? It is certainly more of an issue with softwoods but I have done the same on both of my resaws.

Shane

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Canada

Well done Howard, good to see an old machine still going, I am getting old myself and still going just a bit stiffer.
regards, Robert

It's great to see that old Delta iron benefiting your shop Howard. I've got an antique Delta table saw sitting out in my tool shed screaming at me to refurbish it and return it to use. It has one of the old style geared rip fences on it that I really like. I think I'll set it up when I get around to it primarily for cutting fret-slots and the occasional run of kerfed linings.

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Howard,

Very, very impressive. I love salvaging old tools, machines, but I'd be pretty intimidated to undertake that level of complexity. Sweet looking old bandsaw!

Howard, I know how tough that can be to get setup and can imagine how great it was to see those skinny slices coming off your board!!

Congrats on the rebuild.

Ken

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http://www.casperguitar.com

I will add my congrats to the applause! Good find on the saw, good rebuild, and great cutting!

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/