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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default Horizontal Bandsaw Central - everything for Tips, Tricks and Mods

    Hi Guys
    Bandsaw topics seem to crop up quite a bit lately. Members are seeking more and more information on them.

    This should be an easy to search for resource for members who own,or are about to own,a Horizontal Bandsaw, 2nd hand or new.

    At some stage, said member might wish to diagnose problems, make BS operation easier or add a modification to the saw purchased, it was not supplied with.

    If you have made a mod please describe it, post photos and add some model description and of the of construction for those who wish to make a similar mod to their own bandsaw brand and model.

    I'll start with one mod I haven't seen for a while and have yet to mod it on my own Hafco BS-4.
    This mod makes it really easy to adjust the blade square to the bed, therefore keeping your cut square and prolonging blade life.

    It is a addition to the cast iron blade guide which will permit the blade to be twisted/adjusted to move the blade to a position which is perpendicular to the saw bed. Notice the screws are diagonally opposite, top and bottom. This allows the outer block to pivot around the hex screw.Bear in mind both guides ( upper and lower) blocks need this mod.
    Cap head M4 screws ( and drill and tap for them) are all that is needed. Sometimes a bearing change is needed and this is a good time to do the mod. On some guides the grove is not wide enough to give a area to enable the screw to have purchase to push against the opposite block. It can be necessary to file the groove deeper.

    Even if you are considering a mod and have yet to do it, please post a pic of the mod you might have found on the net if you can.


    Grahame

    bandsaw-blade-guides-mod.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    5,942

    Default

    Hi Grahame, A VERY handy tip that one. Would it be possible to link/add the other page/s on Horizontal Bandsaws to this page?
    Thanks
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2018
    Location
    Cairns, Qld.
    Posts
    70

    Default Bandsaw modifications

    Hello Grahame:- That's a really neat idea. On my new machine, both guide blocks are made of an alloy, not cast iron. Just as easy to modify.

    Since initially getting my b/saw up & running OK as described today in the other long 'Horizontal Bandsaws' thread, I have shamelessly appropriated some good ideas from a UK chap (mikesworkshop.weebly.com) & added them as shown below:-

    Gutter etc 50%.jpg008 at 50%.jpgTooling 50%.jpg

    I mounted the b/saw (with original suspect stand) on a wooden base on castors, raising it by about 70mm & 120mm longer that the original footprint, to prevent the topple-over problem. Added a plywood side blanking piece & a 45 degree gutter that feeds the debris into an old baking tray. Made a tee-nut for the tail/curved slot of the outboard bolt of the longer fixed jaw. Milled both jaws flat where their attach hardware sits, plus the rough edges of their castings. Extended tommy-bar made for the smaller moveable jaw. Added a crank handle to the downforce adjustment spring. Found a suitable handwheel for the r/h blade guide bar. Made the tooling to enable short pieces of metal to be held safely & securely. Plus other mods. that may be visible.
    In the future I might raise it further & add a tray underneath with a coolant system as many others have done.

    Regards,
    Halifax 614

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Guys, Grahame,

    Interesting tip, thanks for that one.

    I had to file the walls of the groove to allow mine to rotate sufficiently to get the blade dead vertical, but I confess that I used a mover (large adjustable wrench) to get mine aligned. I also did the "Cap Screw" mod as well ! Replaced the hex bolts with cap screws, it makes it a lot easier to tighten the brackets/guides up.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Hi Grahame, A VERY handy tip that one. Would it be possible to link/add the other page/s on Horizontal Bandsaws to this page?
    Thanks
    Kryn
    Hi Kryn
    I'll contact the Op and only if he agrees will move the posts.

    Grahame

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    Hi Guys, Grahame,

    Interesting tip, thanks for that one.

    I had to file the walls of the groove to allow mine to rotate sufficiently to get the blade dead vertical, but I confess that I used a mover (large adjustable wrench) to get mine aligned. I also did the "Cap Screw" mod as well ! Replaced the hex bolts with cap screws, it makes it a lot easier to tighten the brackets/guides up.
    Hi BaronJ

    I have looked at the saw with a view to change as many adjustment fasteners, as possible, to make them a tool less operation . Many of the later model horizontal band saws have hex head fasteners because they are cheap items.

    I have replaced the adjustable fasteners with hand knobs where possible. This made for a fairly quick adjustment operation where I don't have to hunt up a hex head spanner of the correct dimension.

    Some fasteners
    Tri corner handle:knob.jpg, that I move on a regular basis I have made using triangular head knobs because of arthritis problems. .

    The sliding bars that support the saw blade guides are an example.However the photo shows the sliding jaw hold down fastener.
    It has an extension on it for clearance of the vice jaw.

    Attached is a photo of the fixed jaw square set for the rear jaw. It enables the operator to move the swinging jaw back at dead square alignment to the blade.
    This idea came from one of our blokes Rob aka Near Nexus who is these days a U tube star.

    Grahame

    B:saw vice square point.jpg
    Last edited by Grahame Collins; 28th Mar 2021 at 08:46 PM. Reason: Cos I suck at prof reading

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BaronJ View Post
    Hi Guys, Grahame,

    Interesting tip, thanks for that one.

    I had to file the walls of the groove to allow mine to rotate sufficiently to get the blade dead vertical, but I confess that I used a mover (large adjustable wrench) to get mine aligned. I also did the "Cap Screw" mod as well ! Replaced the hex bolts with cap screws, it makes it a lot easier to tighten the brackets/guides up.
    A hex is an easy thing to attach to The BS frame. I opted to not to fix mine as I can always find a hex key in the shop. all the cap heads are the same-(bearings) so I know the size and there no doubt or lost time searching.

    Once I had the saw set up so I did not have to look for a tool it was a pleasure to place material in the jaws and start cutting almost straight away.

    I am sure hex keys are like rabbits and are multiplying.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    York, North Yorkshire UK
    Posts
    6,439

    Default

    Hi Grahame,

    I was referring to the hex head bolts, securing the blade guides, not the ones on the bed !
    bandsaw-blade-guides-mod.jpg
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    1,322

    Default

    I'll throw in some very basic mods I've picked up off this forum.

    1. Permanently mounted table for vertical operation:
    IMG_3569.jpg

    2. Jaw extensions for short pieces:
    IMG_3570.jpg

    Oh, and my "I should make a proper stand for this, but just for now, some formply and castors will do... "
    IMG_3568.jpg

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    Hi Grahame, A VERY handy tip that one. Would it be possible to link/add the other page/s on Horizontal Bandsaws to this page?
    Thanks
    Kryn
    Hi Kyrn
    I contacted the Op and he is ok with this but I found a problem with attempting the transfer.

    The post date of this Horizontal Bandsaw thread being earlier would precede my thread. Chris's thread was in 2018. Transferring those older posts would come at the cost of resetting the date back to 2018.

    That in turn would bugger up the new Horizontal Bandsaws Central thread thread as the potential contributors need to read that intro post first and understand what we are on about. The Horizontal Bandsaw Central etc thread is about creating a reference resource and to grow and share.

    Hopefully those who posted in the Horizontal bandsaws thread might consider a personal cut and paste into which would then enable them to be included and not mess up the date thing. Easy to do just copy and paste into a new post in the Horizontal Bandsaw Central thread Those posts are very, very welcome. There will be bandsaw information that our members can search for in one spot without trapsing all over the net.

    The intro post would not work if it was several posts down ( due to automated date ranking as set by the programme ) as the ' then first post' could hardly encourage anybody who had any bandsaw related content to post.

    Any potential spammers - Note!!! Do not read this as an invitation for you to post your spam- read our rules - Terms of Use - before joining and posting or you will get zapped if your break our spam rules.

    It is a little bit involved but I hope my explanation makes sense to you blokes.

    Grahame

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
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    Southern Flinders Ranges
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    Default

    I値l play...

    Not my modification, but it is my saw. The previous owner rather unceremoniously took to the underside and side of the bow with a dull beaver. As agricultural as it looks it has meant I could cut a couple of pieces that were beyond the capacity of the machine. When I get around to giving it some love I値l fit the bow up on the mill and clean it up.
    Previous owner claimed to have been a tool maker at Rolls Royce..
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #12
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    May 2011
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    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    I値l play...Previous owner claimed to have been a tool maker at Rolls Royce..
    Probably a VERY poor one at that!! That's a disgusting abuse of a piece of equipment.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  13. #13
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    Southern Flinders Ranges
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    Default

    Does that mean I知 abusing it more if I take more off with the mill to neaten it up?

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
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    Norwood-ish, Adelaide
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    Default

    By kind permission, here is a link to the video I made on bandsaws

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcepTHv78YY

    Michael

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by racingtadpole View Post
    I値l play...

    Not my modification, but it is my saw. The previous owner rather unceremoniously took to the underside and side of the bow with a dull beaver. As agricultural as it looks it has meant I could cut a couple of pieces that were beyond the capacity of the machine. When I get around to giving it some love I値l fit the bow up on the mill and clean it up.
    Previous owner claimed to have been a tool maker at Rolls Royce..
    That rib that was mutilated was there to resist deflection of the B/saw bow under tension from the blade.
    I think it was once said you should relieve the tensioner after each use, but I have never bothered.

    Would cleaning it up and removing more metal make any difference. Apart from the damage its probably a better built one than what we get now. I sure hope you can preserve it.

    It looks a lot like, the no longer made base model Rung Fu from Taiwan.

    When the other mobs started cloning them the first ones did not not have those original bakelite knobs, on the adjuster slides for the bearing blade guides. They were just those rotten nut hex head bolts that took extra time to adjust
    I think there are minor differences like the castings being a bit thicker where it counts.

    Grahame

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