Durden Pacemaker

**In2Wood** · 13th July 2008, 08:06 PM

G'day all

I'm a new member having just retired (aged 50) and getting back into some old habits. Most notably being banished to the old tin shed (aah bliss!!) Have built many pieces over last 30 years - waterbeds, cabinets, tables etc. All that time I have used a Durden Pacemaker and a Durden B1200 Bandsaw.

Some comments on each:
1.The Pacemaker has been 100% reliable and takes anything I throw at it. But the thing that has always annoyed me is that it does not have a tilting arbour. Also the table is smaller than I would like. Now that I have the time to do more I am thinking of moving to a different machine - something like a Carbatec CTJ -650 ($799) or CT-10ST (sliding table $995). Ultimately I am looking for accuracy, tilt, and a table that can handle boards greater than 250mm (which is the extent of the Durden Guide. A slide table sounds good - but is it?? Can anyone help with experience and advice on Carbatec saws that I am looking at? I am not confined to the price range of those machines, but would prefer to spend less than more, so if you think it is better to go to a different machune then advice happily received.

2.Similar to the Pacemaker this has been a terrific workhorse, but I am not totally happy because it does not have guides or fence - only a mitre gauge. So when splitting lengths I continually have to set up timber guides which is a lot of hassle. Does anyone know if a guide and fence can be retrofitted? If so where from. I have looked on every Durden site I can find but have not come across anything.

At the end of the day if I cannot get a solution to this issue I will probably sell this and the Pacemaker, so if you know of anyone looking for these then let me know.

Thanks

Clive

**funkychicken** · 13th July 2008, 09:22 PM

Originally Posted by Clive O

2.Similar to the Pacemaker this has been a terrific workhorse, but I am not totally happy because it does not have guides or fence - only a mitre gauge. So when splitting lengths I continually have to set up timber guides which is a lot of hassle. Does anyone know if a guide and fence can be retrofitted?

No guides?? As in blade guides? Mine has them, I can probably give them to you cause I'll be using better ones on my new bandsaw (parts from the durden on a new frame)

You can buy bandsaw fences, or make your own

**In2Wood** · 13th July 2008, 09:46 PM

Thanks but I don't mean the blade guides - what if mean is the guide bar that a fence slides along and then locks to. Sorry for the terminology. Where can you buy the fence for a Durden?

Clive

**funkychicken** · 13th July 2008, 10:38 PM

I don't think durden made fences. You can get a few different fences from carba-tec

**In2Wood** · 14th July 2008, 06:34 PM

I think yu must be right as I've tried all Durden sites without luck. Will try Carbatec. Thanks.

**petersemple** · 14th July 2008, 09:36 PM

I made a fence for my Bandsaw out of MDF.

Peter

**In2Wood** · 15th July 2008, 06:07 PM

Thanks Peter - this what I have been doing - just looking for an easier life!

Clive

**Outsider** · 16th July 2008, 02:52 PM

Hi Clive,

Here is a fence that has been copied by a few on the forums including me.
I have been using it for a couple of years and it worls well

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f44/table-fence-clone-8268

Cheers

**In2Wood** · 16th July 2008, 05:43 PM

Hi Outsider

This looks like something worth chasing up. Thanks for the tip.

Clive

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