Re: My Bandsaw Modifications
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Dave? Have a look at this doc in the files section Blade brushes are in my opinion for clearing the blade of swarf which?only really needs doing when cutting soft 'sticky' materials like aluminium or copper where the swarf sticks in the gullet and then that gullet overloads the next time around causing the blade to veer off-course as the soft swarf gets squished out form the overfull gullet into the space between the kerf wall and the blade body.? Steel swarf doesn't need clearing since it falls away, unless you use coolant when it sticks to the wet blade but as you discovered?more to the sides of the blade than the teeth, thats where the blade scraper works to reduce the swarf load on the brush - jv
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Hi Rob,
Thanks for the encouraging words.
I tried an Oiler tonight. I made a crude model just to test the concept.? I would not recommend building something like the one I made or I need to redesign it.? ?It does apply cutting fluid to the blade and the parts do come out with a slightly better surface finish and are significantly cooler, but the cutting fluid makes a mess with the swarf and basically makes clumps of oil and swarf that collect on the blade guides and block that I'm using to apply the cutting fluid.? ?My blade brush was loading up with oil and swarf too.? ?Maybe I had too high of an oil drip rate or maybe I should try a more viscous oil, but I would not recommend this design with cutting fluid.
I made a block out of 5/8" square stock to apply the cutting fluid to the blade.? ?I cut the block with the saw and this was just the perfect size for sitting over the non cutting side of the blade.? ?I tapped the block with a 1/8" NPT and made a 3/32" port from the pipe fitting to the slot in the block..? ?I bought two 1" pipe caps and a 3" long, 1" diameter pipe nipple to make the cutting fluid container.? ?I used a 1/8" NPT needle valve to regulate the fluid flow.? ?I used magnets to located the block on the blade guides and to locate the fluid container on the saw frame.? ?I used aquarium tubing to connect between the valve and the block.
This did work, but it made a mess.? The cutting fluid was smoking (as it should) and the surface quality was better.? ?I have a hydraulic down feed cylinder so I kept the descent rate about the same as when I saw dry.? ?The part was definitely cooler after cutting, so the blade life may be improved by using an oiler.
I think I will just go back to cutting dry.? ?I thought I would share this so if other were thinking about doing this mod, that they would be aware of the issues I had.
Dave
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John Vreede