brewdexta
The biggest tool in the box
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A couple of weeks ago I bought an old Wadkin bandsaw. Primarily to use in the downstairs barn to resaw and dimension big boards from an oak tree I had planked about 3 years ago. The smaller more manageable boards will then go into the upstairs workshop and made into kitchen doors, a kitchen table and other stuff.
So the idea was buy a cheap but quality old bandsaw that didn't weigh too much so I could move it around the barn when not needed. If I liked it then I may use to replace the Startrite bandsaw I have upstairs, if I don't then I will sell it on. The 20" BZB popped up on the bay of thieves less than 20 miles away and not badly prices. Although a worker it has no lower guide and a damaged fence.
As it was close and cheap I thought I would take a punt, many people rate Wadkin machines so I thought I would give it a punt.
Here it is on my mates trailer. Getting off proved a challenge as the barn is full of building materials at the moment and I couldn't get to the hoist easily. Fortunately another mate had dropped by to do some digging in our field so he took it off with his JCB and a sling.
First impressions were that it was OK but apart from having no lower guide, the upper guides needed some TLC and a wider blade acquiring. I ordered a 3/4" cobalt blade from Ian at Tuffsaws and set about looking for a lower guide. I am not time rich at the moment otherwise I would have contemplated making a lower guide similar to the upper guides as they are almost identical.
Here's the upper guides, grubby with odd locking nuts but just about functioning. The lot has been sprayed with penetrating oil hence the wet look.
Firstly I emailed Wadkin, but got no reply, I haven't gotten around to ringing them yet, I hate web site with contact forms that are never answered. I looked around and saw the Panhans GL456 guide which is OEM in the Wadkin C500, a newer bandsaw of similar dimensions to the BZB. However at £130 quid I was a bit reticent, so I tried the Axminster upgrade guides for 80 quid for upper and lower and I could use the upper roller guide on the startrite, possibly.
Anyway, the Axminsters arrived, they are small and compact but the wrong shape too deep. I could butcher them and possibly fit them but I thought I would try others first. Here they are placed under the bandsaw, the hole to the right is the 5/8" mounting hole.
Here's what the original's would have looked like
From the front the Axminster guides look like the would fit, but from the side not so.
They don't fit unless you get busy with the angle grinder and slice off all the micro-adjusters. Slicing it about here would do. It would still work.
Also the upper guide in the set was too big for the Startrite 351 so they are going back. Enter the Panhans GL456.
Physically they look a lot bigger but without the mounting bracket they are much shallower.
Continued......
So the idea was buy a cheap but quality old bandsaw that didn't weigh too much so I could move it around the barn when not needed. If I liked it then I may use to replace the Startrite bandsaw I have upstairs, if I don't then I will sell it on. The 20" BZB popped up on the bay of thieves less than 20 miles away and not badly prices. Although a worker it has no lower guide and a damaged fence.
As it was close and cheap I thought I would take a punt, many people rate Wadkin machines so I thought I would give it a punt.
Here it is on my mates trailer. Getting off proved a challenge as the barn is full of building materials at the moment and I couldn't get to the hoist easily. Fortunately another mate had dropped by to do some digging in our field so he took it off with his JCB and a sling.
First impressions were that it was OK but apart from having no lower guide, the upper guides needed some TLC and a wider blade acquiring. I ordered a 3/4" cobalt blade from Ian at Tuffsaws and set about looking for a lower guide. I am not time rich at the moment otherwise I would have contemplated making a lower guide similar to the upper guides as they are almost identical.
Here's the upper guides, grubby with odd locking nuts but just about functioning. The lot has been sprayed with penetrating oil hence the wet look.
Firstly I emailed Wadkin, but got no reply, I haven't gotten around to ringing them yet, I hate web site with contact forms that are never answered. I looked around and saw the Panhans GL456 guide which is OEM in the Wadkin C500, a newer bandsaw of similar dimensions to the BZB. However at £130 quid I was a bit reticent, so I tried the Axminster upgrade guides for 80 quid for upper and lower and I could use the upper roller guide on the startrite, possibly.
Anyway, the Axminsters arrived, they are small and compact but the wrong shape too deep. I could butcher them and possibly fit them but I thought I would try others first. Here they are placed under the bandsaw, the hole to the right is the 5/8" mounting hole.
Here's what the original's would have looked like
From the front the Axminster guides look like the would fit, but from the side not so.
They don't fit unless you get busy with the angle grinder and slice off all the micro-adjusters. Slicing it about here would do. It would still work.
Also the upper guide in the set was too big for the Startrite 351 so they are going back. Enter the Panhans GL456.
Physically they look a lot bigger but without the mounting bracket they are much shallower.
Continued......