Busted Bandsaw guide

[jgscott987]

I inherited a 60 year old Craftsman bandsaw from my grandfather last year. it's built like a tank, but needs some refurbishing. The main thing that needs replacing is the upper blade guide. Somewhere in history it broke in half. My grandfather improvised a piece of wood attached to the remainder of the blade guide, but it really isn't a satisfactory solution. The left guide and the thrust bearing are stil intact and in good shape, but the right guide is long gone.

They don't make parts for this saw any more. I've searched high and low for universal replacement blade guide assemblies, but the only thing I've found cost $150+. My guess is that I could replace the entire saw for not a lot more than that. I don't think I need a guide with bearings, but of course it wouldn't hurt.

The Saw: Craftsman 103.0103, 12" x 6" capacity
Pictures of the saw (not mine): http://www.owwm.com/PhotoIndex/detail.asp?id=4657

Here's a link to a $150 guide replacement
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=5008

Any thoughts on where I might find a reasonably priced guide assembly? I can make just about anything fit this saw, with a little finesse anyway!

Thanks for the thoughts

[cgallery]

I would post over at the Old Wood Working Machinery forum, here:

http://www.owwm.com.

You may find someone that can help you out.

[bigsteel15]

NICE. That looks the same as the one I recently saw on the back of an issue of FWW. Totally restored, very nice.

[jgscott987]

I'll definitely check over at the OWWM forum. I'm not necessairly looking for an OEM replacement, however. I think I'd be better off with a new guide that still has parts available.

(The guide on the original saw uses small round brass guide blocks. I've not seen anything similar to replace those with, for example.)