Another item off my workbench, sort of...
So about twenty years ago I bought a 1936 Delta wood/metal bandsaw. The previous owner restored it but it was lacking some original parts. The wheels were mismatched and the base was a wood box he built. It was actually quite nice but I wanted a prized art deco cast iron base. Several years after the purchase I started scavenging for original parts. It didn't take too long to find a Delta task light, original motor and "condom", and matching wheels (the solid steel type used on the earliest saws). Then the elusive art deco base showed up on craigslist about 5 hours away. With Jeff along for the ride we made a late night trip to Gainesville, GA and picked up a really beat up bandsaw that had the art deco stand. I think I paid $250 and parted out the saw for about that much. I got it home and in good light I could see a significant problem. The side panel with the big hole was badly cracked. I tried to have it fixed but the heat from the repair job caused the crack to grow until I was left with two parts when the repair failed. So up in the attic the rest of the base went. A couple years ago I found a replacement for the broken panel on ebay. I jumped on it knowing I'd probably never find that part again. Then last year I came across a "delta bandsaw belt guard" on FB. I snagged it too.
With all the parts in hand I decided to repaint and put it back together while I was working on the PM 72. Well today I did just that, except for one problem, the belt guard isn't a bandsaw guard like the seller said. BUMMER! I don't even know what delta machine it goes to. So for now I'm back in the hunt for the proper guard and have to wonder just how many more years this is going to take. A few snapshots are below.
So what is the longest amount of time you've taken to complete a restoration? With around 20 years and still working on this one I wonder if others have stretched one out further.
Eric
So about twenty years ago I bought a 1936 Delta wood/metal bandsaw. The previous owner restored it but it was lacking some original parts. The wheels were mismatched and the base was a wood box he built. It was actually quite nice but I wanted a prized art deco cast iron base. Several years after the purchase I started scavenging for original parts. It didn't take too long to find a Delta task light, original motor and "condom", and matching wheels (the solid steel type used on the earliest saws). Then the elusive art deco base showed up on craigslist about 5 hours away. With Jeff along for the ride we made a late night trip to Gainesville, GA and picked up a really beat up bandsaw that had the art deco stand. I think I paid $250 and parted out the saw for about that much. I got it home and in good light I could see a significant problem. The side panel with the big hole was badly cracked. I tried to have it fixed but the heat from the repair job caused the crack to grow until I was left with two parts when the repair failed. So up in the attic the rest of the base went. A couple years ago I found a replacement for the broken panel on ebay. I jumped on it knowing I'd probably never find that part again. Then last year I came across a "delta bandsaw belt guard" on FB. I snagged it too.
With all the parts in hand I decided to repaint and put it back together while I was working on the PM 72. Well today I did just that, except for one problem, the belt guard isn't a bandsaw guard like the seller said. BUMMER! I don't even know what delta machine it goes to. So for now I'm back in the hunt for the proper guard and have to wonder just how many more years this is going to take. A few snapshots are below.
So what is the longest amount of time you've taken to complete a restoration? With around 20 years and still working on this one I wonder if others have stretched one out further.
Eric
