Weekend project - bandsaw modification and rebuild

NDallyn

NDallyn

Joined
Jun 22, 2006
Messages
814
I bought this little bandsaw for $100 about a year ago from a guy at work. I made a larger platen for it out of 1/4" plate and used it vertically for cutting out my blanks. Anyway, shop space is at a premium so I decided to scrap the base and rebuild it as a vertical only saw (should take up about 1/3 - 1/4 the space). I finished the teardown after work today, cleaned and degreased all the components, checked the bearings and gearbox, everything was still good and the oil in the gearbox was clean. The motor is an open-frame 1/4 hp that has taken to smoking and shooting a few sparks on occasion so it will be replaced with a TEFC. The body of the saw itself is a good, rigid, heavy casting but was absolutely caked with wood dust, grease, and swarf behind the blade pulleys, I was actually surprised that the seals on the bearings were still intact. Tomorrow I'll be fabricating a new base and motor mount and hopefully repainting.

Have a good one,
Nathan
 
Well, today I got the base and mount fabricated and painted, greased and reassembled all the components of the saw. Tomorrow I'll be mounting the motor and wiring everything up. The base is made up of 2x2x3/8 HSS and a piece of 4" sch. 80 pipe for the column. I found a round cutout of 3/8 plate and used that to top off the column and tapped a piece of 3/4x3" cold roll flatbar for the mount.
 
Wow looks like you have a big shop to fill still though, hehehe

I still need to get my hands on a bandsaw

What kind of knives do you like to make? good to see as many canadian's making knives as possible,

I still make knife like objects but I will get there one day
 
That's not my shop. I have a nice boss who let's me have access to the welding bay and machine shop after hours and on weekends. I work out of a cramped little shack in the back yard. It's small and dirty, but it's insulated for the winter and has room enough for one guy and a bunch of equipment.

Have a good one,
Nathan
 
Oh yeah I should have figured lol
my space is constricted all ready

im about to box in my mom's carport and make a 30x30 shop out of it and give her the garage back

looks like you have a solid base on your saw now shouldnt take up much room either

its been cold for BC in the last little while although we did get a few spring like days in the weeks before,

it snowed today, but melted away, what can I say, It never stays

lol thats the lowermainland rhyme right there.
 
I love it when old machines and tools get new leases on life!! Thanks for the pics and details,...

I would love to see pics of your shop because I may be building a small 8x10 shed/shop myself.
 
Got er' done! I mounted a 1/2 hp TEFC motor to replace the open-frame 1/4hp motor. The pics are of the motor being fit and mocked up, the base and mounts after welding, the whole thing assembled after painting and wiring, and a test cut I did on some 1/4" mild steel. Runs smooth, cuts curves easily, all in all a successful project:thumbup:.

Have a good one,
Nathan
 
Nathan,
Nice Job! Great idea! Last week my buddy gave me an identical Bandsaw. The bandsaw is in 100% condition and even had the original blade on it. The base is questionable, as it is not sturdy. Send me more pictures, if you have any. This is going to be my next project this weekend.

Dennis
 
I didn't take any more pics other than these, but I do have higher res versions I could send you to blow up (8 meg 3264x2448) I had to lower the resolution a lot to post them here (800x600). Send me an email if you want them.

Nathan
 
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