Mystery Band Saw - Conestoga?

[Mike Hess]

I was perusing my local Craigslist this morning when I came across a 14" Band Saw for sale. It's a "Conestoga Woodworking Machines" brand, which I've never heard of. The label says it was made in 1990, and, in the pictures, it looks to have a somewhat rusty cast iron table. I tried a Google search - they don't appear to have a website but there is a business listing for "Conestoga Woodworking Machines" under the category "Industrial Equipment" here in Central PA - not far from where this particular saw is located.

Has anybody ever heard of this saw?

[Chris Padilla]

Give us the CL path so we can take a look at it, Mike.

[Dave Warner]

Of course I can't speak for Mike, but I would bet it is this CL item
http://lancaster.craigslist.org/tls/942562390.html

I logged in this morning and had the same question. I had never heard Conestoga woodworking tools.

[David Werkheiser]

Conestoga Machines is located in Lanc. Pa.,just outside of Blue Ball. They are direct importers of machines from Taiwan. The problem is that they change mfg. from time to time and don't always have spare parts. You would be better off with Grizzly, Bridgewood or Jet.
David Werkheiser

[Mike Hess]

Of course I can't speak for Mike, but I would bet it is this CL item
http://lancaster.craigslist.org/tls/942562390.html

I logged in this morning and had the same question. I had never heard Conestoga woodworking tools.

Yep, that's the one!

[Mike Hess]

Conestoga Machines is located in Lanc. Pa.,just outside of Blue Ball. They are direct importers of machines from Taiwan. The problem is that they change mfg. from time to time and don't always have spare parts. You would be better off with Grizzly, Bridgewood or Jet.
David Werkheiser

That's what I was afraid of. I thought that maybe they were a high quality machine that was actually made in Lancaster PA, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

Meh - oh well.

[Bill Houghton]

Conestoga wagons, they'd be a mite older.

[Chuck Durst]

Conestoga Machines is located in Lanc. Pa.,just outside of Blue Ball. They are direct importers of machines from Taiwan. The problem is that they change mfg. from time to time and don't always have spare parts. You would be better off with Grizzly, Bridgewood or Jet.
David Werkheiser

Dave I understand that we all want top of the line tools, but some us cannot afford that much cash for a hobby tool or even a work tool in these tough times. I also by no means saying that Mike either can ,or cannot afford said tools. Just please remember that some of us are doing the best we can with what we got and are looking for a good bargin on CL or anyother place. Thanks for your Time,


Best Regards
Chuck

[Bruce Page]

Dave I understand that we all want top of the line tools, but some us cannot afford that much cash for a hobby tool or even a work tool in these tough times. I also by no means saying that Mike either can ,or cannot afford said tools. Just please remember that some of us are doing the best we can with what we got and are looking for a good bargin on CL or anyother place. Thanks for your Time,


Best Regards
Chuck

Chuck, Dave was just stating the facts. Any machine that you can’t get replacement parts for is not a good investment. I would not consider “Grizzly, Bridgewood or Jet” top of the line machinery, but they do have good parts support and can sometimes be found relatively cheap.

[David Werkheiser]

Chuck, You are right, a lot of people are just getting started and money is tight, $100 is not a bad price for a band saw. After all, whats to go wrong except the motor and two bearings. When I was first getting started I bought a Grizzly 15" planer with-out motor from an Amish man that had it hooked up to a 45hp. hydraulic motor for $200. The funny thing is that I bought a mag. starter and 2hp. motor from Conestoga for $100 (they sell to a lot of start up Amish w/w shops that don't need motors).
Mike, not far from Conestoga is "Hoover Repair" ph.# 717 354 2583 he sells and rebuilds machinery, his prices are fair and is great to deal with.