I have received from my Godfather a new tool. Actually several but this is by far the coolest.
It’s a 1937-38 era combination bandsaw/jointer/mortiser bought by my Godfather’s dad. And now it has been passed on to me. My Godfather said it has a lot of great memories for him and he wanted me to start making more. I’ve seen home movies of him and his father using it.
It runs like a kitten purring. Everything has surface rust but none of the bolts are frozen. In fact when I took some out the threads looked almost brand new. It’s going to take a little elbow grease to clean up. Unfortunately the mortiser is missing a number of pieces but since my Godfather never throws anything away. I’m hoping he or I will be able to find them.
The wasp nest was in the electrical switch on the motor and there is another in the trunnion on the bandsaw.
In a previous post I was looking for some motivation to get back into woodworking. Well, here it is.
Len
Replies
That is one of the neatest things I have seen in a long time! Wouldn't it be nice if someone were still making things like that?
It looks like a fun tool. I'm curious.... Is there a manufacturers name on it? Get it cleaned up but don't try to remove all the patina on the metal surfaces. It IS old, let it look old but well maintained. Enjoy using it. SawdustSteve
Yes, it's a Delta. The serial number is in the 4000's. There is a PDF of the catalog for those years on http://www.oldwwmachines.com/ I'm not sure I can resurrect the mortiser.
I also was given all he bits for the mortiser. Some of them brand new in there boxes.
I was looking at one at work that was bought a few years back and it hasn't changed. I guess the old adage "If it ain't broke then don't fix it." applies.
Len
That is a cool tool. I never seen anything like that design. How much work do you think you'll need to do to get it working? Can you still get parts? Hopefully you can restore it so that you can hand it down to another generation of woodworkers!!
I got that same jointer.
Len,
That's a neat tool! I saw one very similar about two years ago in a "New and Used" store. It was also a Delta, but as I recall (with no small effort LOL) it had an 8" tilting table saw as part of the combination. You've made me curious if these were available in different configurations!! Quite a nice piece of equipment which I'm sure will give yeoman's service once you get it cleaned up and tuned. Congratulations.
Regards,
Mack
"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
That is SO COOL! What a sweetie (ooops, I'm soundin' like a girl). You're gonna have fun with it, I'm sure. Doesn't sound beyond possibility that you'll be able to eventually get the parts needed for the mortiser.
I think we used to call that type of wasp "mud daubers" LOL! I hate wasps (been stung too many times) but am always fascinated by their nests, most especially the paper kind.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Thanks! It is a swe...err (It's ok for you to sound like a girl but not me.) I bought some Rust Free and tried it on the table. It's looks like I'm going to need to use a lot more elbow grease.
Mud daubers! I'm pretty sure that is what these are. I brought home some weird spiders too.
I'm going to start this weekend cleaning it up. I'm debating how far to take it.
Len
When I got my used Veritas router table top (steel) it was, well, not exactly rusted-rusted but just messed up (that "light surface rust" that people describe maybe). Anyway, after trying to hand-clean it using sandpaper and mineral spirits, I finally took the ROS to it! Lubricated with WD40, used really fine sandpaper. Worked great. 'Course it's easier when it's one big flat expanse!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Len,
I put up a post on OWWM about the other possible combinations but haven't gotten a hit back (yet).
Pinged on the Delta site and got a response that they "were available in several different combinations". I'm very curious as to exactly what combinations were available. I'm 'gonna call their 1-800 # and see if I can get photo copys of what the other combo's were.
I almost bought the one I saw two years ago but everything on it was a duplicate of something I had and I just couldn't spare the room!
I tried to get my buddy (who has no ww tools) to buy it but his spousal unit said nix.
I'll let you know if I find out any thing interesting.
Regards,
Mack
"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
Mack,
If you look under Delta Specialties on OOWM there are several PDF catalogs. One of them had a number of different combo configurations.
My Godfather tells me you ordered them however you wanted them. It was common to see a jointer and tablesaw together. A friend has one of those sitting in his garage that was his wifes grandfather's. Lucky him.
Len
Len,
Thanks, I'm really curious about those things for some unexplained reason. Good luck with yours!
Regards,
Mack"WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"
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