Photo Index - Gilliom Manufacturing Inc. - Gilliom Manufacturing, Inc. (Gil-Bilt) Bandsaw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Gilliom Manufacturing Inc.
St. Charles, MO

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	18"
Submitted By:	Eric Olson

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Gilliom Manufacturing, Inc. (Gil-Bilt) Bandsaw
Date of Manufacturer:	Unknown
Serial Number:	None
Last Updated	3/6/2006 12:00:00 AM

Comments:

I purchased this bandsaw on the great internet auction site. I had wanted to purchase a larger bandsaw in order to be able to cut my own veneers and do some other resawing. I had already contemplated building my own bandsaw from a kit and had sent away for a product catalog from Gilliom Manufacturing, Inc., makers of the Gil-Bilt woodworking machine kits. I hadn't seriously considered making anything, it was more of curiosity than anything else. A couple of days after I received their catalog, I found this bandsaw on EBay. I figured what the heck, I'll throw a bid out there and, if I get outbid, oh well. Well, I won. From the story I was told by the previous owner, he bought the bandsaw from a woodworking shop that had gone out of business several years prior, and that he was told that the bandsaw had been made in the shop out of the Gil-Bilt kit and plans when it opened. I have no idea how old it is, but judging from the oxidation of the plywood with which it was constructed; it's old. It doesn't exactly fall into the "old iron" category, but it is a woodworking machine made from kit parts from a company that has been in business since the late forties. It functions fine as it is, but it sure is ugly and in some spots is crudely made. Not finding that acceptable (and also quite curious), I sent away for and have received the plans and patterns from Gilliom Manufacturing. My intent is to recycle the old parts and build a new bandsaw from the ground up, using cabinet grade birch ply instead of the fir ply and construction grade lumber that it's made of now. I'm going to pay particular attention to fit and finish, as well as a nice paint job. Gilliom Manufacturing doesn't have a website, but is still up and running and supplying kits for making bandsaws, tablesaws, a shaper, belt sander, etc. They also have a lot of different parts that I'm sure could be adapted to make, or repair, other machines. I'm intrigued at the thought of making a tablesaw. I don't need another one, but the fun factor is almost overwhelming. Depending on how difficult/easy it is to build a new bandsaw, I may just make a tilt-arbor table saw out of one of their kits. This definitely falls into the "just because I want to" category. If anyone is interested in obtaining more information from Gilliom, their address is Gilliom Manufacturing, Inc., P. O. Box 1018, St. Charles, MO 63302-1018. Their phone number is (636) 724-1812. Oh yeah, their customer service is great!!

Photo 1:

Comments: Left side with old lamp
Source: Canon Powershot A40

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Photo 2:

Comments: Lower Wheel, Motor, and Tilt Mechanism
Source: Canon Powershot A40

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Photo 3:

Comments: Close up of tension mechanism showing Gil-Bilt makers mark
Source: Canon Powershot A40

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