Building a bandsaw on the cheap from mostly scrap wood

xoxoxoBruce · 03-29-2016, 03:23 PM

The #1 secret of getting deals is having cash, with you, right there in your pocket. Driving a vehicle you can take it home on the spot is #2.
I've had too many people back out given time to think about it, or a buddy tell them they could have gotten more, while I went to the bank or borrow a truck.

Griff · 03-29-2016, 05:29 PM

Damn, I just took a peek at Craigslist. $125 for a beautiful old Craftsman.

glatt · 03-30-2016, 07:43 AM

I had been looking at craigslist around here for a while and there are no tool deals at all. Tools can be found, but good ones are rare, and they are overpriced. I think it's because there is almost no industry in this town, so you don't get that critical mass you need to support that market. Plus I don't have a truck to run out and pick up a tool within hours of seeing it posted online.

This band saw will hopefully wind up costing about $200, including the brand new motor, bearings, and steel shaft from Ebay. The wood is mostly scrounged scrap wood, but I did need to buy about $50 of new pine boards for the frame. I'm at about $200 right now and I still need to buy some bolts and knobs and stuff, so tt might be $20-$50 more. I've gone through most of a gallon jug of glue already.

What I'll end up with is a 16" bandsaw, which would cost at least three times what I will spend. But this isn't about saving money. If I add the value of my time into the equation, I come out way behind. This is about having fun making something that should hopefully be pretty good when I'm done. In theory, I can make this tool be better than one I could buy. I won't know until I'm done, how good it is, but I'm hopeful.

And it's a big project. My goal is to finish in 2016. If I can keep up my current pace, I should be done by summer.

xoxoxoBruce · 03-30-2016, 08:32 AM

Shit, the braggin' rights alone is worth at least grand.

Griff · 03-30-2016, 06:50 PM

This will allow you to level up significantly on the DIYS cred. I love that you're giving your kid this experience.

03-30-2016, 08:32 AM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Shit, the braggin' rights alone is worth at least grand. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-30-2016, 06:50 PM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	This will allow you to level up significantly on the DIYS cred. I love that you're giving your kid this experience. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

03-29-2016, 03:23 PM	#1
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The #1 secret of getting deals is having cash, with you, right there in your pocket. Driving a vehicle you can take it home on the spot is #2. I've had too many people back out given time to think about it, or a buddy tell them they could have gotten more, while I went to the bank or borrow a truck. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-29-2016, 05:29 PM	#2
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Damn, I just took a peek at Craigslist. $125 for a beautiful old Craftsman. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

03-30-2016, 07:43 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I had been looking at craigslist around here for a while and there are no tool deals at all. Tools can be found, but good ones are rare, and they are overpriced. I think it's because there is almost no industry in this town, so you don't get that critical mass you need to support that market. Plus I don't have a truck to run out and pick up a tool within hours of seeing it posted online. This band saw will hopefully wind up costing about $200, including the brand new motor, bearings, and steel shaft from Ebay. The wood is mostly scrounged scrap wood, but I did need to buy about $50 of new pine boards for the frame. I'm at about $200 right now and I still need to buy some bolts and knobs and stuff, so tt might be $20-$50 more. I've gone through most of a gallon jug of glue already. What I'll end up with is a 16" bandsaw, which would cost at least three times what I will spend. But this isn't about saving money. If I add the value of my time into the equation, I come out way behind. This is about having fun making something that should hopefully be pretty good when I'm done. In theory, I can make this tool be better than one I could buy. I won't know until I'm done, how good it is, but I'm hopeful. And it's a big project. My goal is to finish in 2016. If I can keep up my current pace, I should be done by summer.

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