Mike Cruz
01-21-2010, 8:39 PM
Well, this post has been a long time acommin'.
Some of you may or may not remeber a post of mine in D&D about a Grizzly Sliding TS about a month ago. Because of the low price, the consensus was that it was a scam. One person even point out that the seller even advertised an 18" Grizzly BS for $100. Just for S's and G's, I emailed the seller about the BS. He responded promptly and gave me his number. I called and set up a date to go see it. When I showed up, there it was, a 20 year old BS for $100. And I probably could have talked him down a few bucks, but was happy enough to find it, so I drove away with my new toy.
It did need some TLC. I ended up spending about $100 extra in parts etc. It needed a new switch. I didn't get the original magnetic switch. Couldn't justify that much for this saw, so I got the under $15 switch. Unfortunately, it isn't made to be put in a box (rather flush mounted) so I had to find a suitable box at HD, and put 4 layers of receptacle insulation pads on it to make it all fit.
I got two new trunions (I bent one trying to straighten it out), 4 new trunion plastic slidy things (two for now, and two extras), two new trunion bolts, two new belts, throat collar, rear bearing guides (plus some extras), etc.
Two major issues with the BS. Apparently, it had fallen forward at some time in its 20 years, because I noticed that both feet (where the cast iron meets the sheet metal base) were cracked. I got a friend of a friend to come weld them. PERFECT! And he didn't want any money...just some beer. I underestimated how long this would take and only got him an 18 pack of Coors light. He didn't complain. On the first foot, he started grinding it to make it look better and I stopped him. I didn't need it to look pretty, just hold. So the second one is a simple weld...no clean up. A can of primer and a can of paint from HD (nice color match, huh?) and she's right as rain.
The other major issue, was that the guide assembly didn't line up properly. In order to get the blade between the roller guides, I had to twist the guide assembly to the right. Great, the blade is between the guides but now twisted. Now way that would cut straight. You may or may not remember a thread I started asking how/where I could get a 1" guide post turned down to 7/8". Well, that is because Grizzly no longer has replacement guide assemblies for this 20 year old saw. But they do have the 7/8" ones. So, I ordered one of those. Same problem. My solution? Cut the guide assembly, and have it welded back together. I cut it with a hack saw and called my welder. I gave him a 30 pack this time...to help make up for under "paying'' him last time. PERFECT!
I ended up building a makeshift mobile stand that I could bolt the BS to out of plywood I had laying around, and 3 casters I've had for years. The two stabilizers were extras that I had. All I had to buy was the metal pieces for the stabilizers to fit into. I needed this MB because the sheet metal stand is a bit rickety. Not because of age, but because of design.
Because she took a header, I think the lower cast iron piece is a little bent. So, I did have to shim here and there to get her aligned properly. But it all worked out in the end.
I got a couple of Timberwolf blades from Suffolk. The saw works great!
$200 for a dedicated resaw BS. Now I don't have to worry about changing blades on my 14" Ridgid.
Some of you may or may not remeber a post of mine in D&D about a Grizzly Sliding TS about a month ago. Because of the low price, the consensus was that it was a scam. One person even point out that the seller even advertised an 18" Grizzly BS for $100. Just for S's and G's, I emailed the seller about the BS. He responded promptly and gave me his number. I called and set up a date to go see it. When I showed up, there it was, a 20 year old BS for $100. And I probably could have talked him down a few bucks, but was happy enough to find it, so I drove away with my new toy.
It did need some TLC. I ended up spending about $100 extra in parts etc. It needed a new switch. I didn't get the original magnetic switch. Couldn't justify that much for this saw, so I got the under $15 switch. Unfortunately, it isn't made to be put in a box (rather flush mounted) so I had to find a suitable box at HD, and put 4 layers of receptacle insulation pads on it to make it all fit.
I got two new trunions (I bent one trying to straighten it out), 4 new trunion plastic slidy things (two for now, and two extras), two new trunion bolts, two new belts, throat collar, rear bearing guides (plus some extras), etc.
Two major issues with the BS. Apparently, it had fallen forward at some time in its 20 years, because I noticed that both feet (where the cast iron meets the sheet metal base) were cracked. I got a friend of a friend to come weld them. PERFECT! And he didn't want any money...just some beer. I underestimated how long this would take and only got him an 18 pack of Coors light. He didn't complain. On the first foot, he started grinding it to make it look better and I stopped him. I didn't need it to look pretty, just hold. So the second one is a simple weld...no clean up. A can of primer and a can of paint from HD (nice color match, huh?) and she's right as rain.
The other major issue, was that the guide assembly didn't line up properly. In order to get the blade between the roller guides, I had to twist the guide assembly to the right. Great, the blade is between the guides but now twisted. Now way that would cut straight. You may or may not remember a thread I started asking how/where I could get a 1" guide post turned down to 7/8". Well, that is because Grizzly no longer has replacement guide assemblies for this 20 year old saw. But they do have the 7/8" ones. So, I ordered one of those. Same problem. My solution? Cut the guide assembly, and have it welded back together. I cut it with a hack saw and called my welder. I gave him a 30 pack this time...to help make up for under "paying'' him last time. PERFECT!
I ended up building a makeshift mobile stand that I could bolt the BS to out of plywood I had laying around, and 3 casters I've had for years. The two stabilizers were extras that I had. All I had to buy was the metal pieces for the stabilizers to fit into. I needed this MB because the sheet metal stand is a bit rickety. Not because of age, but because of design.
Because she took a header, I think the lower cast iron piece is a little bent. So, I did have to shim here and there to get her aligned properly. But it all worked out in the end.
I got a couple of Timberwolf blades from Suffolk. The saw works great!
$200 for a dedicated resaw BS. Now I don't have to worry about changing blades on my 14" Ridgid.