Converting wood Bandsaw to metal working

[ewal]

recently there was some discussion on Tiwanese band saws. You may be interested in my experiences. About 10 years ago I bought a second hand wood working Tiwanese bandsaw with a 13inch throat & used it continually. When I started model engineering I needed a metal cutting saw, so I altered the wood saw by reducing the speed & fitting a metal cutting blade. I made a 18inch dia v pulley by bolting 5 thicknesses of hardboard together (3/4inch) & turning it on the Colchester then bolting it to the top pulley. I also made a 10inch pulley the same way. With a 2 stage reduction, 18"-2" & 10"- 2" on motor it cuts metal easy, except aluminium which tends to clog. I am still using the same blade 7 years later & have cut 18 pairs of point blades from 30x12mm bar cut diagonaly on edge making 2 blades from each cut. To support the bar I clamped a piece of 2" angle to each side. You can see the large pulley in the photo.

E.W.

[Tel]

Gee Ec, that saw looks very like one I am finishing from some partially machined castings I bought off eBay (for almost nothing) - just got to build a stand & put a motor on it now.

[ewal]

Hi Tel,
The idea for the hardboard pulleys came from an old American book that I had given me, it was full of ideas such as a drill press from an old back axle, a horizontal crosscut saw for cutting a tree into boards & loads more including a lathe using motorbyke wheels for bearings. unfortunately I lent it to someone but never got it back.

E.W.

[Tel]

Yeah, that happens when you lend books, I think some people work on the 'my need is greater than yours' principle. These days, having finally had a little common sense filter thru' to my brain cell, I try not to lend 'em out - much better to copy wot they want for 'em, even if it costs yer a few bob - you can always replace money.