an old new tool

[stephenD]

Tomorrow I will pick up a used Craftsman 12" band saw. I have a 10"er now but it isn't much good at cutting the pen blanks and doing some re-sawing I want to do.
I am really looking forward to this addition to the shop.
Photos to follow.

[NHokpic]

Stephen - I wish you a whole lot of good luck with the 12" Craftsman (crapsman). I don't mean to scare you, but I bought a new one about 5 years ago and I've replaced the tensioner gear twice and the switch stopped working so I had to buy a foot switch. Craftsman used to be a good tool but went south via china. I'm looking for a better band saw and when I find the one I want, I'll be shipping my crapsman out, even if I don't get much for it.
I don't like taking folks' aspirations down, but I'm on an anti-Crapsman campaign. I also bought their mortise machine and have serious issues with it. I will never buy another Crapsman for as long as I live. Sorry Stephen!

[stephenD]

Not to worry about hurting my feeeelings, I'm too far away.
Here is the photo of the old thing. NOT made in China by the way.
I tried it out cutting some mesquite sticks into skinny rounds to try to make some of those pendents that were posted here recently.

[RussL]

Though my second-hand Craftsman band saw is a different model 12" Craftsman (1hp, 5" cutting height) than the one you picture I have to tell you that you done good.

I have had mine for not quite 2 years and it has done everything I have asked of it. In short; it's a great little saw!
I think I got it for $100 or $150 bucks. If I spent $700 on a 14" model of some popular make it would only give me 1" more clearance and most likely no more HP than this 12-incher has...besides I just don't have the room for any bigger saw.

Just put good blades on it and do an appropriate set-up and with any luck you will have the same experience that I have had and not that of NHokpic! :-)

[Terry Murphy]

Great find! Keep us posted.

[NHokpic]

Yep! You seem to have found my Dad's old Crafftman tools when they used to make real tools. I have learned that the company that used to make Craftsman brand name tools (back when they were good tools) was approached by a big box store to make their own brand name tools. So when Craftsman went to China, that company changed their name plate from Craftsman to Rigid. That's right, when Sears abandoned their American manufacturer of a good tool to sell cheap Chinese tools, Home Depot signed a contract with that company who now stamps their tools as Rigid tools.

[stephenD]

I have been playing with it a bit. It came with a 1/2" blade on it that the previous owner recommended I get rid of. He gave me new 1/2, 1/4 and 1/8" blades with the saw. I changed the blade yesterday and wowzers! That sure made a difference. This saw is one I have to be careful with. It isn't forgiving like the scroll saw. Nicks with this one mean bigger cuts, in the wood and fingers.

[stephenD]

Ironman, I did some of the resawing this weekend. I have some limbs from my son's mesquite tree that he gave me over a year ago. I let them cure with the ends painted with some sealer paint.
I cut two sections about a foot long from a piece that is roughly 7 inches in diameter and then cut one into various thickness of Planks.
It was real slow cutting as the wood is really hard.
here are a few photos of the results.
My good neighbor Pete came over last night and I gave him 3 pieces of his choice.
The photo with my hand in it is a piece that I sanded and rubbed some blo into.