Baby Delta Bandsaw

I actually thought about that David but they are always saying to search the archives before posting a question and this is the exact model I have and the same question TJ ;)
 
I'm curious as to the outcome as well. I've got a 9" Duro bandsaw sans motor and pulleys that I would like to rebuild as a metal-cutting bandsaw.

There was some discussion about this on a thread I started a few weeks back, and the upshot seems to be: get a (3-phase) motor, use a VFD for speed control, and use a gearbox to get down to the range of metal-cutting speeds.

Unfortunately, none of those three components are exactly cheap, and since my monetary outlay on the project has so far been $0 I'm not too keen on spending hundreds of dollars on this. Not this winter, at least.
 
Jonathans said:
Any clue as to where to find a .5 to 1 hp dc motor with controller?
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Check your local Craigslist, or other 'for sale' type sources.
I've got 3 or 4 "free" treadmills over the years.
("free" means you usually have to carry them out of the basement....but since you don't want the treadmill take a sawzall.)

Keep the wiring intact.
The controls are usually big clunky panels, but you may be able to replace that.....depending on the controller.

There are some great ideas in existing threads:
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/treadmill-motor-question.14932/
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/converting-treadmill-motor.51916/
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/treadmill-motor-help-needed.34125/
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/help-with-a-treadmill-motor-controller.47992/
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/dc-motor-drive-basic-questions.46731/
https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/what-is-a-dc-treadmill-motor.67901/

-brino
 
The gear reduction devices that came on the 14" Delta bandsaws are all over Ebay for about $75.
Just saying.
 
Jonathans said:
View attachment 236301
I just picked up a Delta 28-110 10" bandsaw. Made in 1957
and in sweet condition. Labeled as Homecraft.
Due to its good bones, compact size, and that I want to keep metal out of my woodshop, this ones home will be the metal shop. It is currently powered by a 1/3 hp 1750 rpm motor with a 2.5" pulley, pushing a 5" pulley on the saw. Way quick, and even if I reversed the ratio still too
quick. I have some 3phase motors available and an extra vfd, but not sure if I would lose too much torque lowering the hz as much as I might need to.
Another option is to pick up a 3 ph .4kw 1:20 geared motor on Ebay and run that with a vfd (variable speed).
What rpm range should I be targeting for the saw shaft for steel, brass, bronze, etc?
Thanks for any constructive advise.
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I have a very similar sized bandsaw from same era. Mine is a ToolKraft which I put a 3-phase 3/4” motor with cheap Chinese VFD. 1-1/2” pulley on motor with 4” on driven pulley. I haven’t even spent time to properly dial in the VFD program yet. I usually run it at 20hrtz for steel and 65hrtz for aluminum. I checked SFPM and it’s just about right at those specs. More than enough power with a 3/4 hp motor to the point that one day I might swap it with a 1/4hp motor I have on another machine in which the 1/4hp is a little underpowered.
I don’t use it a lot but it’s handy when I want a bandsaw for more precision cuts. When cutting a lot of stock I use the Hf 4 x 6 saw.90A0421B-F9B3-44AD-94BA-96DF9FDFF550.jpeg
 
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Tim9 said:
Mine is a ToolKraft which I put a 3-phase 3/4” motor with cheap Chinese VFD. 1-1/2” pulley on motor with 4” on driven pulley.
Click to expand...

What's the thickness of steel it can handle?

I can do about 1/2" or 3/4" thich aluminum and up to about 3/8" thick steel on the SWAG-mounted portaband, but it starts to really bog down after that. I don't think a VFD will get me the torque to handle 1-2" thick stock, even with 3/4 power. If it does, that would save me the gear reduction and cut the price of the modification by about a third.

Reminds me, it's about time for Grainger's end-of-year clearance items. Good way to pick up a low-priced motor without paying shipping costs - the 1/3 HP motor I got last year (replacement for benchtop shaper) only cost $40 plus the drive to pick it up.
 
Pretty much same as Woodsman. No problems at at with 1/8- 1/4” steel. Pretty fast on those and sheet metals. Cuts pretty good using bimetal 10-14 variable tpi blades. I’m usually not doing extensive cuts so I just leave that blade there all the time. It will cut 1/2” steel but it’s slower going. Not the best blade for aluminum but for small cuts good enough. I’m happy with it and am usually in a hurry so I just work around the limits of the blade.... don’t like changing blades.
 
I'm still in "the thinking about this" phase as I just bought a new home and am doing some renovations , but I seem to do a lot of fabrication in 1/8 & 1/4 thick steel but I will have a pretty nice shop in the basement when I'm finished, all my equipment will have to be disassembled and carried down the stairs piece by piece so the size of this saw is very manageable. TJ
 
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