Thread: Startrite CF350M Circular Metal Sawing Machine.

I have been given a 1980's Startrite saw (similar to a Brobo Saw) for nothing because the vice is broken/worn rendering the whole machine useless, pictures of the actual machine to follow. The machine itself is really quite good although it has suffered more from abuse than anything else where inexperienced operators that did not set the depth stop for the head properly. The saw blade was allowed to partially cut into the vice jaws to a point where one jaw casting was weakened so much that it broke and the other jaw is almost ready to go. The twin screw and nuts are also stripped.

The old screw with the partially complete new screw. The old one was made out of mild steel, the new version is 4140.
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Cutting the right hand 28 x 5mm Trapezoidal on my Colchester Master, it was a pleasure to cut on this machine despite what some people say about them, very user friendly.
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The right hand thread end done.
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End view of the right and left hand tools.
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Top view of tools.
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Originally Posted by Techo1

I have been given a 1980's Startrite saw (similar to a Brobo Saw) for nothing because the vice is broken/worn rendering the whole machine useless, pictures of the actual machine to follow. The machine itself is really quite good although it has suffered more from abuse than anything else where inexperienced operators that did not set the depth stop for the head properly. The saw blade was allowed to partially cut into the vice jaws to a point where one jaw casting was weakened so much that it broke and the other jaw is almost ready to go. The twin screw and nuts are also stripped.

The old screw with the partially complete new screw. The old one was made out of mild steel, the new version is 4140.
DSC01244.jpg

The fitters workshop at my former employer had the exact same model of saw. The jaws hadn't failed yet but the center section of the screw looked identical to yours.

I guess every workshop has individuals that probably shouldn't be allowed to operate machinery.

Great job on the new shaft.

John

Originally Posted by GuzziJohn

The fitters workshop at my former employer had the exact same model of saw. The jaws hadn't failed yet but the center section of the screw looked identical to yours.

I guess every workshop has individuals that probably shouldn't be allowed to operate machinery.

Great job on the new shaft.

John

Nice and handy that find. Cheap too.
Some people shouldn't be allowed near the building let alone operate machinery.
I had someone that use to work for me, his nickname was tail light, as he wasn't bright enough for a brake light. Couldn't follow a simple plan as he thought the plan was wrong.
Kryn

This is the machine, it looks pretty bad but should clean up reasonably well.
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The broken jaws and 2 big blocks of steel to make a couple of new ones - 60 x 120 x 300mm
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Well, how increadibly fortunate.
Would you believe that I just acquired the exact same saw with a missing vice.
I had actually assumed it was a brobo as the name had worn off and was about to contact brobo and attempt to get some parts.
I will follow this thread closely.

Sounds good Karl. how about a photo of the machine. Is it missing the complete vice including the dovetail base that has the 2 guides rails in it?

I rough machined the left hand thread tonight and will finish it tomorrow after touching up the top of the tool which does wear a little by the time it has reached the 2.75mm thread depth.

Lex.

It will be a few days before I can photograph the saw, but from memory the vice is complete up until the jaws, guide rods and threaded bar. Some phillistine has attempted to weld a drill press vice to the casting with predictably unsatisfactory results but I reckon I can recover the necessary components.
On the plus side, the saw has a brand new blade fitted.

Cutting the left hand thread, tool inverted.

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Next I will make 2 new cast iron nuts to fit the screw and then on to the jaws.

After a quick google about the saw, it appears that they are of English descent, no longer in production, but parts are - at a price. 1 jaw was £260. I looked no further, but did download the various parts breakdowns.

Karl, there was also a Startrite USA which is where my machine originated apparently, although some parts were manufactured in Europe, including the motor. Can you post a link to those spare parts.

Here 'tis, one link for your viewing pleasure.
http://www.machinespares.net/documen...php?brand_id=1
Woodworking machines seem to be the primary focus of Startrite now.

Typical machine tool spare parts supplier overpricing their products just because they can although I have spent over $400.00 so far on the raw materials to repair the vice so either way it will be expensive to fix one of these machines not to mention the time involved in making these parts from scratch.

Right hand nut almost complete, I have to find another piece of cast iron bar for the left hand nut.

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Very nice lathe work mate.
The jaws shown on the web site appear to have the threads cut as an integral part or the jaw. Are the separate nuts you are making a modification to allow for future replacement or a variation produced by Startrite?
My machine is missing everything from the vice base up, so I will be relying a lot on the parts diagrams and your build to see just what should be there.
I don't see myself getting any time to work on my saw before January at least, between my actual paying job and other work that has found me, I am booked solid for 8 days a week for the forseeable future.
I hope to get a chance to take some snaps tomorrow. Did Brobo ever market these saws? I could swear that the control box on mine has Brobo printed on it. It could of course be a retro fit, but it looks the exact same as other Startrites I have seen in pictures.

The nuts on my machine are separate items from the jaws so there must be different versions of the CF350 vice. It is possible that the Startrite saws were distributed by Brobo at some stage.

I finally managed to find a piece of cast iron bar for the left hand nut, at 80mm diameter it was a little large but easily turned down to 60mm. Now to cut the left hand Trapezoidal.

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