Walker Turner 16" Bandsaw

M Toupin

Member
Messages
193
Location
37° 5'16.25"N 76°25'28.11"W
Thought some might enjoy seeing the 16" WT BS my dad and I found. It was part of a package deal including a Delta/Milwaukee 1460 lathe, King Sealy 6" jointer and a Craftsman tablesaw... total cost, $100.00 :D:D :D . All the machines are mid 40's to mid 50's vintage.

As best as we can figure the BS is about a 1948. It was complete except for the switch cover and base and was in good condition considering. It had been stored in a garage for over 20 years so it had very little rust anywere. I reconstructed the switch cover and made a replica base. Original bases are as hard to find as hens teeth! A complete sandblast, repaint with original WT color and new bearings, new tires and she's good as new. This is one sweet running saw!
Mike

Before:
WT003.jpg

After:
Walker Turner 16in bandsaw.jpg
 
Man O man that is one sweet looking saw! First thing, what is the height of cut on that? I recently saw one as part of a package deal but didn't want the rest of the stuff. I would love to replace my Grizzly with an old saw at some point. But the Griz is a great machine so I am not looking for one really.

With that out of the way; Talk to us about that base. What is is made of? How did you make it? Details man! Details! :D I live for this stuff! OK, not really but I love these old machines. I want to know more about that base and how you made it. Gives me idea's!

Jeff
Who has to many projects and may have just added another to the list!
 
Oh, Jeff, you DO want a WT!

I have a 16" Grizzly also, but the WT is a WHOLE different class! Can't believe I even mentioned the Grizzly in the same sentence with the WT:D .

The cut is listed as a 12", though it's actually 11 3/4". The base is made of 3/4" plywood. I found another WT owner on the web and sent a blind e-mail asking for the dimensions. Unfortunately I don't recall his name now:( , but he was very gracious and sent me a full drawing! It's not a 100% accurate recreation, though I tried to stay close. The steps on the bottom are actually 1/2" on the original. I used 3/4" ply to make the steps as that's what I had on hand and I figured the extra width wouldn't hurt the stability either. The beading detail is just a 1/4" dowel split. A couple coats of primer, a lot of sanding and you can't tell the difference from real arn:) . It has the original 1/2 hp WT motor now, but it'll be getting a heart transplant in the near future, it's a bit short on power for serious resawing. All in all, not bad for a $25 investment and oh, about $150 including the fence:D :D :D

Mike
 
Last edited:
Super deal...great restore. I'd like to see the lathe, jointer and TS...the rest of the $100 steal! :D

Really nice base you made too. It looks original to the saw.
 
Greg,

Just posted the lathe in another thread. I'll have to get some pix of the TS and jointer, but it'll be a few days as they're at my dads. They're decent machines also, but not in the same league is the BS and lathe:)

Mike
 
Last edited:
.... That's a super find. Did a nice job on it too :thumb:. I am presently in the process of restoring an old "WARDS" 12" bandsaw. Let me ask you, did you check the runout on your top and bottom wheels and what was it? And did you have to replace any of the tires?

Thanks in advance.

Boyd

Thought some might enjoy seeing the 16" WT BS my dad and I found. It was part of a package deal including a Delta/Milwaukee 1460 lathe, King Sealy 6" jointer and a Craftsman tablesaw... total cost, $100.00 :D:D :D . All the machines are mid 40's to mid 50's vintage.

As best as we can figure the BS is about a 1948. It was complete except for the switch cover and base and was in good condition considering. It had been stored in a garage for over 20 years so it had very little rust anywere. I reconstructed the switch cover and made a replica base. Original bases are as hard to find as hens teeth! A complete sandblast, repaint with original WT color and new bearings, new tires and she's good as new. This is one sweet running saw!
Mike

Before:
View attachment 2706

After:
View attachment 2707
 
Last edited:
Boyd,

We did a 100% restore, all new bearings etc, never checked the runout before hand... The tires were shot, 20+ years of storage wasn't kind. I replaced the tires with new rubber ones and had them properly crowned. A good crown is very important to making your saw track correctly and will make your saw track dead straight. Proper tracking all but eliminates drift with a good blade. I'm a firm believer in rubber vs the orange urethane tires. The urethane ones can't be crowned correctly.

Mike
 
Well that is sort of what I was guessing on the base construction. Sure looks good in the photo! Thanks for the details. I am really impressed with that.

As for the WT I mentioned, it just had to much other stuff with it. I tried to decide what I could sell everything for but had to pass. Not enough profit for the effort it would take to 'EBay' all the other stuff off.

Besides I really want an old turn of the centry C frame bandsaw. Like this one.

838-A.jpg


BUT, I am not ready for one. I have too much else going on. And besides, half the fun is the hunt. ;) I found one, or rather it found me last week. But it was in NY and I didn't even pursue it.

If a WT came along at a good price I probably wouldn't say no to it though. But something like that one in the photo is what I really want. I have had 3 machines I have really wanted. A DeWalt RAS which I have. A 12" jointer. I think I have it coming in January. And a large cool looking bandsaw.

But first I need to get all the stuff in my shop finished and assuming nothing happens, get the jointer restored.
 
OH MAN, tool porn... no fair

I like the WT, but I'd give it up in a heartbeat for THAT bandsaw! Only problem is I'd have to buy a trailer to haul it... and a new truck to pull it... and a new shed to put it in... and and and... :)

Mike
838-A.jpg
 
Wow Mike, another beauty!! :thumb:

That looks VERY nice, but dude, that fence, it did not come in another color? :huh: :rolleyes: ;) :D

Just funning.

Super work on the base too, nice to see you put the extra effort into it.

NICE job! :clap:
 
Top