Bandsaw qustion

SawdustSteve | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on September 21, 2004 06:58am

Someone has offered me a ‘small bandsaw, but it has no motor’. From his description it is the bandsaw from an old (1950’s) Shopsmith. I’m looking to use it with a 1/8″ or narrower blade, basically as a ‘downstroke’ scroll saw to make a whole batch of small jigsaw puzzles. I can easily figure out the correct blade length. I can make some sort of a stand and motor mount for it. I’ve got enough extra motors lying around so that’s not a problem either. I guess the real question is ‘how do I determine the correct pulley sizes and FPM speed for it? The hidden question is… Assuming the tires are in ‘good’ shape, is it worth the time and/or effort? SawdustSteve

Replies

billsams | Sep 21, 2004 01:22pm | #1
Steve, you may want to call Louis Iturra of Iturra Design in florida. Mostly he deals with old delta and rockwell, but he is extremely knowledgable of bandsaws in general and would probably give you the info you need.

Louis has no website, he does advertise in FWW. so you can get the number from a past or current issue.

Good luck

Bill
bones | Sep 21, 2004 02:29pm | #2
You may want to go to the shopsmith site and check out the possibility of getting just a power stand. I have a shopsmith and they have parts for just about every model ever made. The current version uses a coupler shaft to connect the power drive to the motor. I don't know if they have a power stand that would be compatible for that old a machine, but it may be worth a try. It might be cheaper to buy a decent scroll saw. Good luck on the endeavor.

http://ads.shopsmith.com/FacingPages.aspx?fsi=3231&loc=36666&ver=v1
DJK | Sep 21, 2004 04:19pm | #3
When you say small, how small? Is it 10" or 12"? If a 1725rpm motor is used a 2:1 or 2.5:1 pully ratio is a good start. On a 12" saw a 2800 sfpm is about right a bit slower for a smaller saw. A variable pitch sheave on the motor will let you dial in the correct speed. I have a variable pitch sheave on my 20" Cresent BS and can adjust the speed by about 260 rpm at the wheel.

DJK
JohnWW | Sep 21, 2004 10:53pm | #4
Unless the saw has been heavily used or abused it will probably need little more than a cleaning and minor lubrication.

The tires may need replacing, if they are the slip on type putting on new tires is easy. Glued on tires are a bit more work to replace, but it isn't a hard job. Vulcanized tires will mean removing the wheels and either replacing them or having them rebuilt. If Shop Smith supports their older machines you shouldn't have trouble getting the parts.

You can check the tires by digging your thumbnail into them, there should be some give and springback, if they are hard they will need to be replaced. Even if they are somewhat hardened, you could at least try out the saw for a while, doing light cutting, before investing in parts.

For light work like jigsawing, speed isn't that important, anything around 2 to 3,000 fpm will work. If you give me the wheel size and motor rpm I can give you the pulley ratios if needed. For light work you could use a 1/2 hp or even a 1/3 hp motor.

John W.
Curtis | Sep 22, 2004 03:15am | #5
Hello

I found some paper work on the pullys you will need. useing a 3/4 horse motor ( I beleave 1730rpm? thay sell the motor but dont give out more info than the stock no.) the motor pulley 2"/3". and on the saw 4"/5" pulleys, thay show the speed settings for this pulleys being 1150 and 770 rpm thay have part # for everything on the mounting base Item no. 505655. perhaps you can call and have them send you a copy of the paperwork?

the saw is an 11" saw. and although being small its a very good saw, you should find all the parts are still in use and can be goten rather easly. and the blade is 72"

It is a good little saw!

C.A.G.

Edited 9/21/2004 8:17 pm ET by curtis