Thread: Vintage Woodfast Bandsaw - Beginner questions

Being Woodfast it should be pretty strongly built. What size is it? Looks around 14" but photos can be deceptive. Yes it will need a bit of work to clean it up and how far you go is up to what you want your equipment to look and run like.
Older bandsaws don't have a very big height capacity and if it is 14" this is usually about 6" and this one doesn't appear to have the capacity to add a riser block. Most modern 14" bandsaws have a depth of cut of at least 8" (200mm) so it depends on what you are likely to be cutting in the future as to whether you need bigger capacity.
What is the hp of the motor?
Check the condition of the tyres on the wheels to see if they are cracking up or badly worn.
What is the condition of the vee belt and pulleys? Are the pulleys worn badly on the vee?
Does it run smoothly and quietly? Are there any rumbles from bearings that are on their way out?
As to price, I don't have anything to offer on that because I don't know the true value of something like this. Everything can be fixed but you need to get it at the right price to make it worthwhile and some parts that are unique to a machine can be hard to get hold of once they get a bit older.
Hopefully someone else will have a better idea on the price.

Cheers,

I have, I’m pretty sure the same bandsaw
$350 is not a bad price,
But it’s an older machine so will require some TLC.
If your up for that, go for it.
If you want a bandsaw to cut timber straight away,
Go for a new machine, but you won’t get much for a new machine at $350.

But one thing I would get a Eleltrician to look at motor before I even turned it on.


Cheers Matt.

They’re a great saw, for what it costs, plus a new set of tyres and a band, a couple of weekends of elbow grease, you’ll have a saw that will outlive you and do all you need. Go for it.