Considering a vertical bandsaw build

[Mitch Alsup]

I happen to have a metal/wood 14" bandsaw with VFD speed control. And while I like it for what it does.......

I am finding that 14" is "contraining" and that if you get a smaller vertical bandsaw (less than 20), you are also going to need a horizontal BS in order to cut the metal stock you buy into millable and latheable starting points.

 

[Lo-Fi]

Do you suppose robbing a flimsy bandsaw of it's rotaty bits, and making a stiff frame weld fabrication could be a decent project?
Even adding a "stiffen up the frame" mod to an existing bandsaw?
If the UK price is crazy enough, maybe a homebrew version in it's entirety?
(.. but what to use for the big wheels)?

If I can find anything worthy, that's exactly what I'll do. Either some neglected old iron with a decent frame that I can change the speed of, or simply rob wheels and other worth worky-bits. If not, wheels are available as spares for not much money. The rest is just plate work, a few machined parts and the drive. It should actually make quite a nice project, a little like the belt grinder builds you find.

I happen to have a metal/wood 14" bandsaw with VFD speed control. And while I like it for what it does.......

I am finding that 14" is "contraining" and that if you get a smaller vertical bandsaw (less than 20), you are also going to need a horizontal BS in order to cut the metal stock you buy into millable and latheable starting points.

Thankfully I have a power hacksaw for hogging bar stock down, so that changes the requirement for the bandsaw quite a bit. I can't ditch the hacksaw in favour of a horizontal/vertical bandsaw because it happens to sit quite usably under a bench, which the alternative wouldn't usefully. I don't even have enough room to "wheel it out when using"!
For me, the band saw will be for plate exclusively, but that's a great point to make.

 

[talvare]

And since I put a pneumatic powered sled on it so I can just mount up the piece and let it do the boring work while I go do some thing else I’m a happy camper.

C-Bag,
That pneumatic powered sled is very interesting. Any chance you could post some more details about it.
Thanks
Ted

 

[Lo-Fi]

Yes, I'd like to see that too!

 

[NC Rick]

Ima going to copy C-bag's idea guilt free! Nice work right?

the 4x6 horizontal saw will not be displaced!

 

[kb58]

As mentioned above, a three-wheel saw is a way to get a good depth of cut without making a large assembly. If you're making your own, the key bits are the crowned wheels and a motor/gearbox that can run slow enough for metal. Using a 3-phase motor and VFD for speed control is also very nice.

 

[Lo-Fi]

Thanks for the pics, @C-Bag ! Any chance you've got some during the conversion? Some more details would be most welcome

 

[rbertalotto]

here's my conversion...love it! Works great...

Bandsaw conversion to DC drive...Wood to Metal Cutting Conversion | RVB Precision

I have a horizontal bandsaw for cutting steel stock to length. It is an amazing time saver and a great asset if you do a lot of metal fabrication. This type of saw can be used in the upright position to cut metal on a small table. But it is inconvieneient to convert to thisRead More

rvbprecision.com

 

[C-Bag]

Thanks for the pics, @C-Bag ! Any chance you've got some during the conversion? Some more details would be most welcome

I’m presently in the middle of another of my ongoing upgrades. This one is to my old 4x6 horizontal.

i did this mod before I was on any forums so I have not progressional pics. I have posted some before and I think there is enough interest I could do a standalone thread in the users projects area. I think to really make clear how simple, compact and cheap it is (depending on your junk available) I might have to pull the guts. It’s pretty easy in that the whole drive is held in with 4 bolts. I’ve always hated adjusting drives belts especially when they are close to the floor. I had the old motor mount from a table saw that used the weight of the motor to tension the belt. So the whole thing hangs by the belts auto tensioning. To pull the belts you grab the angle iron the jack shaft is mounted to and lift, pull off the upper belt and lower the motor to the floor, then pull the other belt. Hopefully these pics will make sense for now. Sorry to those who’ve seen these before.

 

[Lo-Fi]

I think @C-Bag and @rbertalotto have shown me the way to go. I reckon a two wheel design with decent size wheels should be adequate for my needs. Wheels are cheap enough to buy as spares, as are guides (I like the look of those roller guides); the rest I have laying around. That lovely cast frame makes me think a fabricated frame from rectangular steel tube - which I have on-hand - should work well. I can always fill it with epoxy granite or concrete if it wants to ring! I love that air auto feed too, that's just genius.

Thanks to everyone, this really is a fantastic forum