Photo Index - Boice-Crane Co. - Handi Saw

Machinery Photo Index

Manufactured/Badged by:
Boice-Crane Co.
Toledo, OH, then Gothenburg, NE, Chula Vista, CA

Machine Specifications
Machine Class:	Wood Working Machinery
Machine Type:	Band Saw
Machine Size:	12"
Submitted By:	Richard O'Connor

Machine Specifications
Description/Model:	Handi Saw
Date of Manufacturer:	1931
Serial Number:	N/A
Last Updated	4/3/2006 5:19:42 PM

Comments:

Picked this up not far from my house at the urging of left coaster JohnnyO, who insisted I just had to have it. He was right - I guess - and I have it. Somehow it leapfrogged over all my other projects in the resto queue. For fun, I posted a picture after I got it home, one from the 1931 catalog, and a resto pic.

Overall, it was in pretty good shape, with a sweet Dayton 1/2 hp motor (vintage unknown, but it has oil caps) that purrs. What's nice about buying from someone local is that you can hear it run and get a good sense of what's wrong with it, if anything. It looked pretty complete and tracked ok, so I took it home.

Although it ran, after loosening the tension it was obvious it needed bearings in the lower wheel (the upper wheel isn't bad, and I will take care of those at a later date.) The seller insisted it was babbitt, but that was obviously not right, and they are bronze sleeve bearings in a common size available from M-C for a couple of $. The slides for the post and upper wheel bar are both babbitt, though. Also, as you look at the top photo, observe the position of the guides - using the thrust bearing as a guide and ignoring the other two. I've returned the assembly to its original position. Roller guides were optional on this machine, and the original purchaser opted not to invest in them, although the aluminum guards - also an option - were purchased. (The "thrust bearing" in both the upper and lower guide assemblies isn't really a bearing - more of a post with a groove.) The original wood lower guides are present, as is the wood table insert. The iron base was not present, so I fashioned one out of a left-over 2x12 I lad laying around.

Disassembly and cleaning weren't too bad - it's a joy to work on nicely made machines like this one. There was only mild surface rust in some places, but the paint was loose and chipping, so I did a light sanding and the needle chipper took care of the tough to reach places. (Thanks to Bob K. at the IRM for awakening my interest in this tool at the first ArnFest.) Bob V. gave me some sound advice on pressing out the lower bearings that clarified an out-of-sight area and taught me what to anticipate when trying to second-guess a manufacturer's design. Small tables are fun to hold against the wire wheel and let the motor do the work; my favorite - bowling alley wax - protects it now, as well as the rest of the exposed steel and iron parts. I crowned the top wheel by firmly bracing my arm and using a Dremel tool to spin the wheel while my other arm put a slight drag on it - worked fine and the blade tracks beautifully.

I intend to put a 1/8" blade on it and let it do the work of a scroll saw.

Photo 1:

Comments: Starting life at its new home
Source: my non-ferrous camera

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Photo 2:

Comments: From the 1931 catalog on the MS
Source: my non-ferrous camera

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Photo 3:

Comments: Presto!
Source: my non-ferrous camera

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