Photo Index - Crescent Machine Co. - 32" Direct Drive Band-Saw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Crescent Machine Co.
Leetonia, OH

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	32"
Submitted By:	Phil Kezele

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	32" Direct Drive Band-Saw
Date of Manufacturer:	After 1921
Serial Number:	49957 (View SN Registry Entry)
Last Updated	2/27/2006 9:28:53 PM

Comments:

I acquired this machine here locally in Seattle. Much to my surprise it was being offered by a construction worker who had acquired it some 10 years earlier. He had it in his garage that was hidden next to his huge stash of NW hardwoods. The saw was originally used in a furniture factory in downtown Seattle. It came with about a dozen blades ranging in size from 3.8" to 1 1/4", most never used. That's all we know about it. Wouldn't it be interesting to find out how it made its way from Ohio? Accompanied with me to survey the saw was fellow OWWM'r John Orvis, I wish to thank him for all the tips and a great day spent together.

My plans are to keep it historically accurate as possible; however, this is my primary woodworking band saw and will be put to great use in my woodworking craft. I will restore this machine in phases--it will begin with a complete motor rebuild on the direct drive motor (now complete), and a re-pour of the upper wheel arm babbitt bearings. Both rubber tires are in the process of being replaced with new ones from Carter Products. I will install some temporary blade guards I made out of 2" angle aluminum as a preventative safety measure. Future plans are to build a set of wheel guards with associated iron hardware--either out of MDF or similar material; painted with an original design from Crescent of old, then sand blast and repaint the whole saw using the same dark navy/black color, with highlights of gold on the embossed cast iron; hopefully that will pickup the brass in my engine grease oilers and the brass drip oilers I plan on adding to keep the babbitts well lubricated. I intend to restore the only decal on the machine with Photoshop.

This is the only large size direct drive Crescent band-saws I've seen in real pictures on the internet. This saw was usually driven by belts. Most owners of this saw have adapted newer engine technology and pulleys to replace the wide band pulleys. According to Crescent it weighs 900 lbs and uses a 16foot 4inch length blade! It comes furnished with a number 1 Wright guide on the guide bar, a size 0 Wright guide is found below the massive 150 pound main table. The saw rotates at 400-450 rpm. If I counted correctly, I believe we have only 4 or 5 OWWM members with this same size/model of Crescent band-saws.

This will be by far my toughest restoration attempted. I appreciate all the help on this one. I will update the photos as the restoration proceeds.

Update 11-30-03:

I uploaded a new image of the saw that is now in working order. This will be about as far as I can go till the spring time which will allow me to sand blast and repaint the machine. Completed so far:

1. Old tires completely removed and rims prepped to accept new rubber. Glued and mounted new rubber tires. Aligned wheels but did not crown the tires. The bands seem to track extremely well as is. I am undecided if I will crown them or not until I determine there is an issue. This was the subject of much discussion on the message board when I first found this saw.

2. Motor is completly rebuilt, new permanent sealed bearings replaced the older brass grease cup bearings. Motor is an Imperial 2HP with the same "1 3/8" diameter axel as the upper. Estimated weight is 175lbs. It took two high school kids to wrestle it out of the back of my Suburban and back on the motor shelve. This saw scared me the first time I saw those 32 inch wheels moving at 550 RPM!

3. Installed a Allen-Bradley Size 0 motor starter, with slightly oversized overloads.

4. Upper axel was completely replaced with new "1 3/8" diameter axel. Some minor machining required to set a new keyhole for set screw which keeps wheel attached.

5. Existing Babbitt bearings were removed and completely re-poured. It took two pours to get it right but they turned out just fine in the end. This is indeed a lost art.

6. Ordered/replaced new lower Wright Guide #0; old one was missing completely.

7. Using 2 X 2 aluminum "L" stock, I built saw guards for safety.

Photo 1:

Comments: At 91 inches tall; it just fits under the ceiling rafters
Source: My Fuji Finepix 4900 camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: A close up of the "cannon" --approx. 200 lbs of 2hp 3-Phase power.
Source: My Fuji Finepix 4900 camera

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Photo 3:

Comments: The Crescent decal--to be restored with Photoshop.
Source: My Fuji Finepix 4900 camera

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