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.

Homemade 8" band saw - blade change

The blade that I'm changing has done a lot or work so no complaints about the quality of AYAO band saw blades.

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.

8” Bandsaw - Finished lower blade guides

Finished off the lower blade guide assembly.

Put the table back on to do some test cutting.

8” Bandsaw – Lower blade guides continued

With bearing guides above and now below the table the blade should hold it's course even better on the cut line.

8” Bandsaw–Lower blade guide assembly

Back to the bandsaw, we still need to do the lower bearing guides. With the table removed sit and think for a while...thinking.

8” Bandsaw - Revised the tension bridge support.

This one is from pine and fills the whole centre section, not only across but front to back as well - it's like a cross.

As posted...the previous one was a FAIL.

Now I can have another go at trimming those packers for the jigsaw table.

8” Bandsaw – Some improvements

Made some improvements and also fixed a few issues.

This is where it's at...all come together quite well.

Cut a slot in the guide arm for height adjustment and it's held in place with a lock knob.

One issue was that the blade was to close to the guard cover so I had to rebate the MDF support strip on the router table...and we can try out the scissors jack router lift.

Setup the router with a 16mm straight bit and set the depth to 2mm (router lift works well) and cut the rebate on the MDF blade cover - nice.

Another view from the front.

With the blade running clear of the guard put a nicer cover restraint on the frame, simply swing it down to open the left blade guard cover.

Added some plywood covers for the motor and there is still plenty of ventilation.

Front motor cover.

8” Bandsaw – Table fence

Made a simple fence for the saw, the epoxy is drying to secure the 8 mm lock bolt that screws up from below into a threaded hole in the base.

Next job is to route a track for the mitre gauge.

8” Bandsaw – Make safe

The saw is safe to use now

Left side hinged blade cover.

The blade guide arm also has a cover. Still need to cut some tracks with the router for a fence and mitre gauge.

Running out of scrap plywood to finish the motor cover.

8” Bandsaw – Guard covers

With the new table aligned and fixed with screws moved onto some other things like designing a blade guard cover and a motor cover.

Clamping up the bits that make up the front blade guard cover.

8” Bandsaw – Saw table

Back tracked a bit to do some tidying up before making a proper table for the saw.

The bearing flange blocks still need to be glued so took the wheels off to do that and then screwed them back on with the same orientation as before. With the wheels off washed the inside of the 'truck inner tube' tyres.

8” Bandsaw – Electrical wiring

All the electrical wiring and motor start capacitor is now housed in the base of the saw.

8” Bandsaw – Base for saw

Made a base for the saw and redesigned the motor mount assembly which can now bee easily adjusted for pulley alignment and belt tension adjustment.

The motor assembly can slide left or right for belt tension and move front to back for pulley alignment.

8” Bandsaw – First test run

Follow-up video clip of the saw finally running for the first time with a blade on and tracking well.

8” Bandsaw – Upgraded wheels

As previously posted the wheels now have larger bearings pressed into flange blocks. The wheels are now mounted on larger 10mm shafts – runs nice and smooth.

The 608 skateboard bearings could not handle the load.

8” Bandsaw – Some updates

Having upgraded the bearings from Skateboard 608's to 6200 2RS (30/10mm) I also now need to upsize the upper wheel mount block. As it turned out I ended up completely redesigning the upper wheel mount.

8” Bandsaw – Replacing lower wheel bearings

Having completed the upper wheel, we now need to dismantled some stuff around the bottom of the saw to gain access and remove the lower wheel.

When I removed the lower wheel I noticed the bearings, like the upper lot...were completely stuffed.

8” Bandsaw – Bearing flanges continued

When making bandsaw wheels there are three basic things to keep in mind; wobble, run-out and lastly wheel balancing.

Continuing on from the last session I bored four holes (each side of the flange) to allow for  quick clamps to be passed through to clamp the flanges to the wheel - for wobble alignment.

8” Bandsaw – Upper wheel bearing flanges

Mounting the bearing flanges on the upper wheel.

Pressed in the bearings and pre drilled the flanges.