Restoring an old bandsaw
 

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I've got a 1951 Craftsman 3-wheel bandsaw that I'd like to get up and running again. Job one is finding a motor for it. I need a 1725 rpm enclosed 110v motor anywhere from 1/4 to 1/2 hp -- with a 3-inch pulley on it, if possible.

I don't care about authenticity nearly much as I do about saving money. I've been wondering if there's a motor commonly used in a dishwasher or furnace that might work for this application.

Anyone got any ideas?

try googling those specs... I know thats how dad found what compressor motor he needed...

Call AAA motors in LA. They should be able to source a motor to yor specs. The key word you say is save money. You might try to go to Harbor Freight for some import junk. How much will you be using it? For home use once every blue moon the HF motor should be fine. Go to your good local hardware store, they should be able to sell you a 3" pulley. I don't know if you really need a TEFC motor?

For the money you spend on it, I know of a place where you can get a really great little band saw for 2-250 bucks that will run circles around that Sears saw that you have there. The tracking guide wheels are far surperior on the newer machines. This co. makes industrial band saws. I am thinking of buying one. Nice to have a little saw around with a narrow blade to cut curves without having to change blades on our big saw just for one cut.

Jack, with your "Tim Allen" approach to doing most everything I am suprised you don't want a bigger motor. All kidding aside that size band saw is not very useful for anything but very very light weight work and you will burn through blades at a high rate making any savings you made on the saw negligible.
I found a very good 14" HF band saw on C/L for 100 bucks a few years ago that has served me well and has become my most useful cutting tool in the shop.
If you want to save an old tool , thats cool but don't expect much.
JMPRO

'

There's something to be said for old tools. My dad gave me this one. Watch your fingers around those belts :)

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Oh my god. Where were the lawyers when that thing was built.

Jack, links to electric motor information from the Enco catalog.

Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools and Shop Supplies
Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools and Shop Supplies
Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools and Shop Supplies
Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Measuring Tools, Cutting Tools and Shop Supplies

A modern guard would be useful.
I saw(no pun intended) a kid buzz through half of his wrist back in junior high school when his work slipped.

Is there a Harbor Freight store near you? They have motors in stock.

And sign up for their newsletter. Every couple of weeks they offer free shipping.

IIRC, Grainger.com has a good selection of motors.

Thanks, guys. This is a good start to a sort of an education for me. I don't plan on much more than occasional use for it. A Harbor Freight motor might be all I need -- I could maybe even repurpose one of their 3450-RPM bench grinders (maybe the one you can see in the picture), depending on how I could jigger the speed with pulleys.

Jack Harbor Freight is just what you need. Look at one of the cheap drill presses. It will have the lower rpm motor you need and has a set of step pulleys already installed. Or just find the single motor like has been mentioned.

Jack, here you go.
*14' WOOD BAND SAW TOOL*

A 14' band saw? What in the world would you need that for. :cool: :p

So you can cut 28' circles

Have to chuckle. Have a bandsaw just like that and love the old tools.