Thread: Unusual Bandsaw

I've seen quite a few with the 3 wheel configuration. Actually the Gold Coast Woodturners club has a very old one.

Its a Ripley Bandsaw, and yes, they are for cutting wood.

Melbourne Matty.

Ive got a cabinet maker friend who has one , He absolutely raves about how good it is . he cuts tenons with it as well .

Rob

A friend bought this last July...

Murrays2.jpg Joseph Green & Nephew

However the plain bearings aren't good. I'm not sure if he's going to bother restoring it.

Cheers, Vann.

There was a FREE massive 3 wheeler with variable speed going at the Royal Perth Hospital Shenton Park Annex which was being shut down last year. It was so big that no one seemed to want it. I meant to advertise it here but never got around to it.
Our mens shed spent a lot of time at the old hospital collecting furniture and materials and several times we saw groups and individuals come along and look at the bandsaw and shake their head and walk away.

I have little 1960's Craftsman three wheeler - I tried to give it away a while ago but no-one was interested.

They are a bit rough on blades (if you leave it tensioned up) going round a fairly tight arc but have the advantage of a deep throat

Solid and sturdy and parts and tyres etc are available at reasonable prices

Neil

Originally Posted by Vann

A friend bought this last July...

Murrays2.jpg Joseph Green & Nephew

However the plain bearings aren't good. I'm not sure if he's going to bother restoring it.

Cheers, Vann.

Wow , nice machine Vann . Re pouring three plain bearings [ thats Babbit isn't it ? ] all in the right positions sounds like a challenge.

A beautiful machine though , a pattern makers work of art. even if it was just left sitting under a lean to to walk past and look at.

Rob

Originally Posted by Vann

A friend bought this last July...

Murrays2.jpg Joseph Green & Nephew

However the plain bearings aren't good. I'm not sure if he's going to bother restoring it.

Cheers, Vann.

Vann, these were a common style bandsaw around the mid to late 1800's, very english in design, most woodworking machinery makers had similar machines in their production line up.





Melbourne Matty.

Thats the famous Ripley bandsaw. It won australian invention of the year back in god knows when. I had one for a couple of years. The advantage is that it has an enormous throat, about 630mm or something meaning that you can run a whole sheet of material through it. The disadvantage apart from the couple of hundred kilos is that the guides twist the blade forty five degrees which should put a lot of strain on the blades and the guides. Oddly enough mine didn't seem to go through blades as fast as my conventional machines and I only sold it (through the forum) because it was taking up too much space and I hardly ever used it. It was quite radical and unique.

Originally Posted by Toymaker Len

. . . . The disadvantage apart from the couple of hundred kilos is that the guides twist the blade forty five degrees which should put a lot of strain on the blades and the guides.

Many metal cutting bandsaws work like that and it doesn't seem to bother them at all.

So it used to be hand powered .

Joseph Green & Nephew Bandsaw_01 - Version 2.jpg

I like it more and more . I wonder if I make him an offer...

"The above represents a useful Band Saw for Hand or Steam Power."

Or steam powered !! "Hi dear, I've just bid on an old boiler, a steam engine, and a hopper to hold a ton of coal..." I can see that going down well - not. But how cool would that be

Cheers, Vann.

Hang on Vann, you are in NZ and this machine is in Perth. On the other hand the Ripley is a very special machine. I think it is the only bandsaw to be able to take the place of a table saw for cabinet work because it can cut whole sheets. I wonder what the freight would be?

Originally Posted by Toymaker Len

Hang on Vann, you are in NZ and this machine is in Perth.

The one I was dreaming of making an offer for, is the one a friend has locally (the green painted Joseph Green & Nephew) but I think he wants to keep it.

Cheers, Vann.