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L.S.Barker1970
15th February 2015, 11:39 AM
I have had a L.S.Barker bandsaw for many years now, I picked it up from a guy at Morrabbin Airport through the back then Trading post, the pervious owner was using it to cut Aluminum
air craft engines in half for static displays, I recall asking where he had found it and he said from a pattern shop in South Melbourne.
Looking back it was one of the first bigger machines that I had purchased and when it was forked on to the back of my WB holden one tonner I was surprised to see the heavy duty leaf springs bottom out, the guy asked how far did I have to go, wondering if I was going to make it ...lol
Originally it had timber guards but I have since replaced them with steel ones, which never saw paint till now.
The original paint work was in overall good condition, a sand down so the etch primer keyed in was all it needed.

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355129/image-91_zps85636e10.jpg
Hit with a coat of grey primer after sanding down.

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355129/image-92_zps456a8cdb.jpg
Then the colour

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355129/image-93_zpse0f1200e.jpg

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355129/image-94_zpsb4c44476.jpg

Melbourne Matty.

chambezio
15th February 2015, 12:06 PM
Well done Matty. I reckon that you got a load of satisfaction tidying up the old dear. Then to remake the steel guards, that is the icing on the cake. How is it to use? Does it follow a line easy? I know my Toolex 14" tends to follow the line of least resistance in some woods.
What goes on in the factory you reconditioned the BS? There seemed to be a bit of high-tec going on

L.S.Barker1970
15th February 2015, 04:42 PM
How is it to use? Does it follow a line easy?

Rod, its a pleasure to use, the bearings are good, the wheels were re-rubberized (vulcanized) by Welco, Crowned and Balanced by Wolfenden some 20 years ago, and still in great condition today, runs smooth and quiet as a mouse.
I find that with bandsaws a sharp blade and good guides are key to a smooth clean cut, a blunt blade will tend to wonder to one side.


What goes on in the factory you reconditioned the BS? There seemed to be a bit of high-tec going on

Yes, a couple of modern machines, but the biggest is the Dankaert re-saw, it stands very tall and some of the lower part runs in a pit so overall its big, blades are 5+ inches wide !!
At the factory we mostly custom cut oregon to size, I am helping to setting up an area where we can offer custom dressing and molding of timber.

Melbourne Matty.

chambezio
15th February 2015, 04:52 PM
Thanks for the replys Matty.
Ah, the smell of Oregon.....takes me back to my early Apprenticeship (Carpentry) on multi story work in Sydney in the early 70s. The form workers used Oregon for stiffening the plywood form work. There was always that smell from the timber being wet either by rain of the bleed water coming out during a concrete pour.
Is there still a good supply of old Oregon? Now that I live near Tamworth Oregon is quite "exotic" so we don't see much of it at all

Allison74
15th February 2015, 08:28 PM
Very nice indeed.

In spotted one of your moulders all set up in the background.
How's all that going?
Keeping you out of mischief I'm sure.

Have fun,
Alli

Hardenfast
16th February 2015, 07:57 AM
I have had a L.S.Barker bandsaw for many years now, I picked it up from a guy at Morrabbin Airport through the back then Trading post, the pervious owner was using it to cut Aluminum
air craft engines in half for static displays, I recall asking where he had found it and he said from a pattern shop in South Melbourne.
Looking back it was one of the first bigger machines that I had purchased and when it was forked on to the back of my WB holden one tonner I was surprised to see the heavy duty leaf springs bottom out, the guy asked how far did I have to go, wondering if I was going to make it ...lol
Originally it had timber guards but I have since replaced them with steel ones, which never saw paint till now.
The original paint work was in overall good condition, a sand down so the etch primer keyed in was all it needed.

Melbourne Matty.

Yes, I have an old Macson machine which will be a similar restoration project to yours Matt. Nowhere near as big as your Barker - the Macson has a 700mm throat - but requiring similar renovation and attention. It came from a ramshackle joinery in south Sydney. The old fellow had died a few years back and the son was selling off all the old equipment - the Gumtree ad was posted on here at the time. I also bought an old Wadkin bandsaw sharpener (2 photos). I think a guy down Tumut way ended up buying most of the other stuff.

http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=340039&stc=1 http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=340041&stc=1 http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=340040&stc=1

A couple of questions if I may. I would also like to have the wheels re-rubbered but have no idea who would do that these days in Sydney or Newcastle. I see you mention that Welco (Welco Industrial Rubber) had done this for you, but of course they're in Tullamarine. I wonder if anyone one knows of any similar services up North? Not sure whether the wheels will require re-balancing - we did start it up in the old workshop prior to removal and it seemed to run very smoothly & quietly.

As you can see the Macson also has no guards, and I very much like the look of the metal cabinet you have had fabricated for the Barker. Your own work, or did you have it done by a sheet-metalworker?

My projects (quite a few) are all lined up and ready for attention, but it will probably be a few years yet before I get to them.

Regards - Wayne

Edit: Not sure how that image of the stairs was included. A recent project where I modified an existing set of stairs to fit a pair of angled bull-nose treads at the bottom and reposition the newel post etc.

jcge
16th February 2015, 08:28 AM
Matty - that looks great!!!

I really like the scripted makers mark and the old GE motor. Nice work on the sheet metal guarding too.

Are the pulleys iron or timber? The larger looks like iron (based on the recess to the hub), and the smaller pulley looks like timber (solid throughout).

A really nicely proportioned and solid machine.

Regards,
John

L.S.Barker1970
16th February 2015, 09:45 AM
Is there still a good supply of old Oregon? Now that I live near Tamworth Oregon is quite "exotic" so we don't see much of it at all

Yes, we have a good supply coming through from Canada, BC and Vancouver island.
The there are many grades available, F7, F8, appearance grade, Clears no2, free of heart, free of knot, all depends what your budget is.
Some of the grades we have show the tightest grain, growth rings only milometers apart.
Oh yes, we also stock Kiln dried Oregon as well, in 150x50, 200x50, 250x50 and more ...

Melbourne Matty.

chambezio
16th February 2015, 09:50 AM
Matty, have you read what Robson Valley thinks of our Oregon? We regard it as something special and he(as well as the Yanks and Kenucks)regard it as an inferior timber!!! They sound like they are glad to get rid of it over here

I suppose one man's rubbish is another man's treasure

L.S.Barker1970
16th February 2015, 10:15 AM
Very nice indeed.

In spotted one of your moulders all set up in the background.
How's all that going?
Keeping you out of mischief I'm sure.

Have fun,
Alli

Yes, that's the Bolinda molder in the background !
All good Alli, steaming along well, just setting up all these other machines as well so we can do a good range of dressing and moulding work !
Me ? Mischief ? hehe....

Melbourne Matty.

auscab
16th February 2015, 10:44 AM
The Paint looks good Matt, what is the right colour for the cast name on the back , Red ?


Rob

auscab
16th February 2015, 10:49 AM
The old fellow had died a few years back and the son was selling off all the old equipment - the Gumtree ad was posted on here at the time. I also bought an old Wadkin bandsaw sharpener (2 photos). I think a guy down Tumut way ended up buying most of the other stuff.
http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=340041&stc=1 http://www.woodworkforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=340040&stc=1


Regards - Wayne




To NICE!!
I remember seeing that add , Was it the same one that had a nice early Wolfenden Buzzer ? 12" i think.

Rob

L.S.Barker1970
16th February 2015, 11:22 AM
A couple of questions if I may. I would also like to have the wheels re-rubbered but have no idea who would do that these days in Sydney or Newcastle. I see you mention that Welco (Welco Industrial Rubber) had done this for you, but of course they're in Tullamarine. I wonder if anyone one knows of any similar services up North? Not sure whether the wheels will require re-balancing - we did start it up in the old workshop prior to removal and it seemed to run very smoothly & quietly.

As you can see the Macson also has no guards, and I very much like the look of the metal cabinet you have had fabricated for the Barker. Your own work, or did you have it done by a sheet-metalworker?

My projects (quite a few) are all lined up and ready for attention, but it will probably be a few years yet before I get to them.

Regards - Wayne

Edit: Not sure how that image of the stairs was included. A recent project where I modified an existing set of stairs to fit a pair of angled bull-nose treads at the bottom and reposition the newel post etc.

Hi Wayne, that's a nice Macson bandsaw, I would say that it is almost a transition machine, from Macson to Barker as there are many similarities to the early Barker machines.
The very Early Macson bandsaws 36 inch at least were very different compared to the L.S.Barker machines.
In Melbourne we have a couple of places that do the rubber work on bandsaw wheels, Welco in Tullamarine, http://www.welcorubber.com.au/ , and ACPL Rollers in Bayswater, http://www.acplco.com.au/.
Some where in NSW, I'm not sure, sorry, best thing to do is an internet search on company's that vulcanize rubber onto rollers etc..
Failing that, I would be more than happy to help organize it down this end for you if your happy to look at the transport.
Those steel guards were made many years ago up by a relative of mine who is a gun welder, he has since shown me much about MIG , ARC welding and fabrication over the years and I can manage most jobs my self now, TIG will be the next frontier ....
I really like the Wadkin bandsaw sharpener, I recall it being for sale but too far for me, glad it fell into good hands !
Oh, the stairs look great too !

Melbourne Matty.

L.S.Barker1970
16th February 2015, 11:38 AM
Matty - that looks great!!!

I really like the scripted makers mark and the old GE motor. Nice work on the sheet metal guarding too.

Are the pulleys iron or timber? The larger looks like iron (based on the recess to the hub), and the smaller pulley looks like timber (solid throughout).

A really nicely proportioned and solid machine.

Regards,
John

Thanks John !
Its just a clean up nothing too exciting, I would live the time to go all out like you have done on your A.A.Tyson, I'm still pinching my self on that one, just beautiful work you have done, a real credit to you !
John both pulleys are steel and set for three A size V belts, they look flat because I have a wide strip of masking tape around them to stop paint over spray settling in there.
I'm pleased the way it's turned out so far, looking forward to piecing it all back together now.

Melbourne Matty.

L.S.Barker1970
16th February 2015, 11:46 AM
Matty, have you read what Robson Valley thinks of our Oregon? We regard it as something special and he(as well as the Yanks and Kenucks)regard it as an inferior timber!!! They sound like they are glad to get rid of it over here

I suppose one man's rubbish is another man's treasure

I remember we imported a heap of hemlock from NZ years ago, plantation grown it did not stand up too well to the weather and dry rot set in very early.
This gave all Oregon a bad name in the building industry for years.
Mind you, we still wood chip in Tassie for the paper industry our beautiful hard woods ?!? ....

Melbourne Matty.

jgforsberg
16th February 2015, 12:25 PM
love that barker kit and the saws are killer. Nice saw and space Matty.

L.S.Barker1970
17th February 2015, 10:43 AM
The Paint looks good Matt, what is the right colour for the cast name on the back , Red ?


Rob

Rob, I have seen early machines lettering in red and later machines in cream.

Jack, if you like the Band saw, wait until I pick up the Barker 600 mm thicknesser ...


Melbourne Matty.

Allison74
17th February 2015, 07:27 PM
Yes, we have a good supply coming through from Canada, BC and Vancouver island.
The there are many grades available, F7, F8, appearance grade, Clears no2, free of heart, free of knot, all depends what your budget is.
Some of the grades we have show the tightest grain, growth rings only milometers apart.
Oh yes, we also stock Kiln dried Oregon as well, in 150x50, 200x50, 250x50 and more ...

Melbourne Matty.

The last big job I did when I was working in Oregon we needed 24 12' long 8x8's for big posts. When they were delivered, 2 had a couple of small knots, the rest were clears! These were considered no big deal by the rest of the guys on the crew.
There was a firm based down in Weed in Nth. California that specialised in huge salvage Doug Fir. They were getting their stuff from all of the old timber mills that had gone under at the beginning of the 80,s. They used to mill whatever they needed to build the mills right on site. There were 60 and 70' long beams 24" by 16" in their yard. Just amazing timber.
There are still specialist firms that can get clear Q'sawn Fir any size you want it but you pay big time. A lot of the best and biggest goes to Japan for renovation work in their old traditional post and beam structures.
Hemlock is a junk timber in comparison that gives Fir a bad name because a lot of people, especially here, can't tell them apart, it rots at the sight of rain whereas good Fir is a premium boatbuilding timber.

Have fun,
Alli

L.S.Barker1970
1st March 2015, 08:30 PM
Any way the Barker Bandsaw is all finished and up and going !
Alli thanks for the talk on oregon, its a timber I think that is very under rated, have a look at this cut out on a 50 x 500 mm curved bargeboard piece we are doing at the moment for a heritage building in the city.
Free of heart free of knots, very special timber, just amazing to see !

http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355134/image-102_zpszq64svnk.jpg
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355133/image-96_zps2qlbcafj.jpg
http://i982.photobucket.com/albums/ae301/matty355/matty355133/image-95_zpszveybyhl.jpg
Melbourne Matty.

jgforsberg
2nd March 2015, 01:37 AM
Nice wood and saw Matty. Is the knob on the upper wheel for grease?


jack
English machines

L.S.Barker1970
2nd March 2015, 06:44 AM
Nice wood and saw Matty. Is the knob on the upper wheel for grease?


jack
English machines

That's the tracking adjustment knob Jack, one turn will tilt the wheel to center the blade on the outside rubber.

Melbourne Matty.

Hardenfast
2nd March 2015, 08:00 AM
To NICE!!
I remember seeing that add , Was it the same one that had a nice early Wolfenden Buzzer ? 12" i think.

Rob

Hi Rob.

Sorry - only just noticed your question on those old pieces of machinery.

Yes, part of the equipment was an old 12" jointer - I think it was a Wolfenden - and it seemed to be in quite good condition, although needing a good clean and some maintenance. There was also a nice looking 24" thicknesser by ACE Equipment - apparently another old Australian (Sydney) manufacturer of woodworking machinery. I'm sure someone here will have a bit more information about the ACE company.

Ordinarily I would have been interested in both of these machines, but had only just bought a Wadkin 12" jointer and a Jonsereds 24" thicknesser. Once I get my new shed completed I will not pass up opportunities like these. Ideally, and where practical, I would like to have a workshop full of Australian equipment. I would happily sell equipment like the Jonsereds thicknesser in exchange for the ACE machine - same for the Wolfenden jointer, but that doesn't necessarily mean I would get rid of my nice Wadkin equipment.

As described, the joinery where these machines came from in South Sydney was very ramshackle and seemed to consist of an old shed which had had a few different sections added to it over the years. Many different and uneven floor levels, low-level flat roof sections joining fibro walls, and some nice old gear going for very cheap prices. It was a very difficult site to remove the equipment from, because of a steep driveway and several vertical walls & steps going up to the shed. One of the walls was 1.4m high, and it was necessary to negotiate all of this equipment from it's position and down the steps, over the 1.4m wall and onto a truck which was backed-up the steep drive. I'm sure that these conditions frightened many potential purchasers away.

The son was selling everything as he had no use for it, although he seemed to have a good idea of the capability of the various pieces. It was a nice opportunity for those with the means to remove the machinery safely and to pick up some good pieces quite cheaply. I only paid $350 for the Macson bandsaw and the Wadkin bandsaw sharpener, both of which appear to be fully operational.

Wayne

jcge
2nd March 2015, 08:57 AM
Very nice Matty, and a great piece of timber too.

Is the "No Smoking" sign observational or instructional ??? (by the looks of the cut it's observational :U)

Are you going to replicate the weathered piece in the background on the floor in pic#1 with the stickered billets below the saw?

Regards
John

L.S.Barker1970
2nd March 2015, 09:42 AM
Very nice Matty, and a great piece of timber too.

Is the "No Smoking" sign observational or instructional ??? (by the looks of the cut it's observational :U)

Are you going to replicate the weathered piece in the background on the floor in pic#1 with the stickered billets below the saw?

Regards
John

John, the "non smoking sign has been on the machine for a long time, I started to remove it but it was stuck down well, so it can stay there.
I had an older chap looking at the saw the other day as he lit up a fag, he just grinned when I pointed to the sign, so yes, just for looks.
The other pieces are for the heritage job as well yes, that is a large finial on the floor that I have to make four of.
Well spotted too John, your eyes are better than mine, thanks for the questions !!

Melbourne Matty.