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- Dec 12, 2012
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I have a small bandsaw that i used for cutting timber up to 3" thick
Now i used it more for cutting metal,will cut up to 70mm thick alum
and 25mm brass with ease but too fast for steel.The blades i was using are cheap quality from the local hardware store and touching steel just took the edge right off.I found a new supplier and twoo blades were ordered,cheaper and better quality.The invoice stated they were suitale for cutting steel but at a recommended speed of 300fpm.My machine had a speed of 2300fpm
I read a post by Brian Rupnow where he had added extra drive pulleys to his bandsaw to reduce the cutting speed.Could i do the something similar ?
the 150w motor ran at 1450rpm from a 17t pulley to a plastic 26t pulley fitted to the 240mm dia blade wheel.I checked and decided that although very tight i could squeeze in an additional idle pulley.I made 3 new pulleys 15t,40t and 48t
The existing 17t was modded and repositioned on the motor shaft,the 15 and 40t were bolted together with a roller brg and fitted on a new idler shaft
the 48t pulley was bolted to the blade wheel.I bought a new 65t belt and reused the existing.Very tight and tricky.
Result motor 1450rpm x17/40 = 616rpm
616 x 15/48 = 193 rpm=475 fpm still a touch fast but works well
Cuts thru 12 thk steel plt slowly but with ease.Ok for alum and brass
and still ok for timber,slower but much more torque,no bogging down aS YET
Now i used it more for cutting metal,will cut up to 70mm thick alum
and 25mm brass with ease but too fast for steel.The blades i was using are cheap quality from the local hardware store and touching steel just took the edge right off.I found a new supplier and twoo blades were ordered,cheaper and better quality.The invoice stated they were suitale for cutting steel but at a recommended speed of 300fpm.My machine had a speed of 2300fpm
I read a post by Brian Rupnow where he had added extra drive pulleys to his bandsaw to reduce the cutting speed.Could i do the something similar ?
the 150w motor ran at 1450rpm from a 17t pulley to a plastic 26t pulley fitted to the 240mm dia blade wheel.I checked and decided that although very tight i could squeeze in an additional idle pulley.I made 3 new pulleys 15t,40t and 48t
The existing 17t was modded and repositioned on the motor shaft,the 15 and 40t were bolted together with a roller brg and fitted on a new idler shaft
the 48t pulley was bolted to the blade wheel.I bought a new 65t belt and reused the existing.Very tight and tricky.
Result motor 1450rpm x17/40 = 616rpm
616 x 15/48 = 193 rpm=475 fpm still a touch fast but works well
Cuts thru 12 thk steel plt slowly but with ease.Ok for alum and brass
and still ok for timber,slower but much more torque,no bogging down aS YET