Bandsaw 8 repairs

Wanted to use the 8" band saw to cut some MDF strips for the Batman (LE) job and came across a couple of problems.

The Fence

The fence clamp will not slide onto the table and I figure everything has swelled due to the weather.

8" Bandsaw - revisited

This is just a overview of what I've been doing in the workshop over the last few days…and nights. I built the 8" bandsaw last year and since then have not been happy with the design of the upper wheel block blade tension and blade alignment components. Adjusting one effects the other, increasing tension jams up the tracking adjustment…plus other stuff. Basically that design was flawed so I am building a scaled down assembly very similar to the 14" bandsaw that I built earlier this year.

This is the upper wheel block blade tension and tracking assembly. It does work but to hard to setup up so I'm going to pull out the whole thing and start again.

14” Bandsaw – Blade tracking knob

The saw is basically finished and now has it’s own parking spot on the floor.
Got onto one of the last little jobs this afternoon, the blade tension knob which is still just a screw nut.

Marked out on some scrap MDF a 40mm radius circle, then counter punched around the circumference at 90° intervals – and the centre. Bored four 15mm holes with a Forstner bit which will provide for finger grip. Then cut out the knob on the bandsaw, yes…the saw is making it’s own parts.

14” Bandsaw – Dust extraction 2

Noticed this morning that the lower wheel cover which also serves for dust extraction is not closing flush at the bottom.

Would not have thought that the middle 3mm MDF panel is the culprit. We need to recess the bottom edge of the cover.

14” Bandsaw – Dust extraction

With the lower wheel cover done we can start thinking about dust extraction.

14” Bandsaw – Hinged wheel cover 2

I the last session we made the frame for the lower hinged wheel cover which will also serve as a dust extraction box.

Now we can measure and cut another MDF board which we be the actual front panel of the box.

14” Bandsaw – Hinged wheel cover

With the base box at the back of the lower wheel boarded up with dust panels we can now start making the frame for the front hinged cover.

14” Bandsaw – Motor dust covers 2

From the last session we need to fit one more panel across the top.

14” Bandsaw – Motor dust covers 1

This is the first stage of hopefully a reasonably effective dust extraction setup to which I can attach a workshop vacuum.

I checked behind the wheel and we have room for a dust panel. We need to cut a pulley access slot, the shorter the better. The pulley is towards the right side so also checked that I can slide the panel in on the left side, then up and across to the right.

14” Bandsaw – Saw stand 3

From the last related session with the stand on the floor (with castors) I could see that it ended up to high and needs to be lowered – say 100-150mm.

Not to worry – I’ll just lower the boards so the top edge is 33mm from the underside of the stand top.

14” Bandsaw – Saw stand 2

Continued on adding the four ‘legs’ that are not really legs but rather corner supports.

14” Bandsaw – Saw stand 1

At this stage with the heavy saw mostly completed and still sitting on the low table it’s time to make a sturdy stand with castors so I can move it around.

Found some timber at the back of the workshop that used to a potting bench. There’s enough there to get started and although a bit weathered will be fine with a clean-up.

14” Bandsaw – add more bracing

House cleaning today plus need to get the green bin ready for collection.

So we’ll do a small job and add some more bracing.

14” Bandsaw – Upper wheel cover

We will make the wheel covers from thin MDF with pine frames.

A few weeks ago ran out of 3mm MDF, so made sure when I did do a Bunnings trip in the van for general stuff - to get some.

14” Bandsaw – Left blade guard

With the left blade guard done we should now doo the right side.

As with the left we’ll use another bit of left over trim from the Colorbond garage construction. I’m planning to use two narrow lengths of MDF to secure the guard to the blade guide arm.

Homemade LED work lamp 2

From the previous related post on this with the lamp fitted into the front of the can we can now make the base.

  

Marked out the base on a piece of MDF.

14” Bandsaw – Starting to look like one.

Some photos to show where were at with the build.

14” Bandsaw – More electrical work

Got some stuff from the market today including insert nuts and in particular two LED sticks.

14” Bandsaw – Lower blade guides 2 update

Just a update this morning before we go to market and shops.

As with the upper guides using a piece of laminate flooring to mount the bearings.
I don’t have the right length 8mm bolts so they are just sitting there with no nuts at the back.

14” Bandsaw – Lower blade guides 2

From the previous session we can now screw down the left support block and with the sliding guide arm in place measure the length of the threaded lock rod which will later be fitted with a star knob.