My Hydraulic Feed

[Billh50]

I removed the spring and installed a hydraulic feed on my HF 4x6 horizontal band saw. Below is a drawing of what I did.
I used 80wt gear oil in the cylinder and bled as much air out as I could with the tubing installed on the cylinder. I used 1/4" od clear tubing. The feed works great so thought I would post this for those wishing to convert.

 

[sd624]

Very cool Bill. Got any pics of it installed?

 

[Bob Korves]

It sounds like you used a hydraulic cylinder, Bill. A great option is using air cylinders. The orings in them are compatible with most fluids and they are a lot cheaper unless you find a deal or have one laying around, and quite available in just about any size you can imagine. Pressure is not a worry on a saw gravity down feed, and the air cylinders can take a couple hundred PSI anyway. They also have less friction of seals to bore than hydraulic cylinders do. ATF is a good fluid to use with them, and plastic tubing.

Closed system? How do you deal with the changing fluid level requirement as the rod extends and retracts?

Yes, pics please!

 

[Billh50]

Bob...I used an air cylinder. A Bimba I bought on ebay for $8. The entire conversion cost me less than $20

 

[Billh50]

I filled the system completely. when the fluid is pushed from the front it goes into the back and vise versa. Been working fine for a year now.

 

[Billh50]

SD,
I will get a pic later and post it.

 

[Billh50]

Here's 2 pics of system

 

[tweinke]

Nice! Only issue is now you moved that project closer to the top of the page for me.

 

[DAT510]

Nice conversion Bill. I'll have to look into it for my bandsaw.

Where did you source your one way control valve?

Thanks,

Chris

 

[Billh50]

I bought the cylinder and valve off ebay. But a search for inline one way valve will show a few.
Here's a valve for $5.59 on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/G1-8-One-Wa...505242?hash=item2a59feec1a:g:uh0AAOSwLF1X6MCy