A
Alan H.
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I studied bandsaws for 3 months and watched for used ones. Since I live in LA (Lower Alabama), Craigslist is almost worthless. The belief of the region is that used equipment is worth almost as much as new and the availability is limited too.
I decided to give it up and "buy once" and got good input from a couple of my buddies here on the forum. I also have something to pass on to my son who loves this stuff as much as I do and actually owns a machine shop. Here are some photos of the Ellis coming to its new home.
Crated well and treated kindly by FEDEX Freight
Stripped the crate off and sucked it up to get the trailer out from under it:
Decent motor, good looking angle drive gear box, and what appears to be an excellent hydraulic cylinder:
Head rotates on heavy duty trunnion with roller bearings.
Yeap, it is heavy but can be moved using the extension handle if you've been practicing your deadlift technique. A bad back is not compatible with moving this saw!
However, I discovered that a chrome moly tube cheater pipe I have fits it the handle perfectly and lets me wheelbarrow this beast around without too much effort. You have to raise the saw to move the CG back and it is good to go. I am imagining some cam actuated casters on the front or other arrangement is in the saw's future. I like it sitting on its front feet to give it a solid foundation.
A 1" blade is an impressive animal when you see it eye to eye!
Yeap, made in the USA! A rare thing these days.
I need to assure that all the bearings are adjusted properly and the counterbalance force tuned up. But I did run it and was surprised at how smooth and quiet it is. I am waiting on the accessory vise that I ordered but it ships direct from the factory. I've got a piece of 4" heavy wall pipe that needs to be cut and that will be the first test this weekend. Last go at that pipe was with a plasma cutter and the finish was a bit rough.
BTW, I bought the saw from Elite Metal Tools and have been impressed with them thus far. Ordered it on Monday afternoon, they shipped it Tuesday a.m. and it showed up on Thursday morning via FEDEX Freight (Michigan to South Alabama).
I decided to give it up and "buy once" and got good input from a couple of my buddies here on the forum. I also have something to pass on to my son who loves this stuff as much as I do and actually owns a machine shop. Here are some photos of the Ellis coming to its new home.
Crated well and treated kindly by FEDEX Freight
Stripped the crate off and sucked it up to get the trailer out from under it:
Decent motor, good looking angle drive gear box, and what appears to be an excellent hydraulic cylinder:
Head rotates on heavy duty trunnion with roller bearings.
Yeap, it is heavy but can be moved using the extension handle if you've been practicing your deadlift technique. A bad back is not compatible with moving this saw!
However, I discovered that a chrome moly tube cheater pipe I have fits it the handle perfectly and lets me wheelbarrow this beast around without too much effort. You have to raise the saw to move the CG back and it is good to go. I am imagining some cam actuated casters on the front or other arrangement is in the saw's future. I like it sitting on its front feet to give it a solid foundation.
A 1" blade is an impressive animal when you see it eye to eye!
Yeap, made in the USA! A rare thing these days.
I need to assure that all the bearings are adjusted properly and the counterbalance force tuned up. But I did run it and was surprised at how smooth and quiet it is. I am waiting on the accessory vise that I ordered but it ships direct from the factory. I've got a piece of 4" heavy wall pipe that needs to be cut and that will be the first test this weekend. Last go at that pipe was with a plasma cutter and the finish was a bit rough.
BTW, I bought the saw from Elite Metal Tools and have been impressed with them thus far. Ordered it on Monday afternoon, they shipped it Tuesday a.m. and it showed up on Thursday morning via FEDEX Freight (Michigan to South Alabama).
