Auxiliary table on FB bandsaw
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We have a FB540? bandsaw in our shop. I posted a while back about the new belt feed resaw feeder we picked up at auction for it. The thing works phenomenally. The one thing that would improve the setup is having an infeed table flush with the saws table. The feeder's belt and roller extend past the front edge of the table, and the belt is grabbing the work before the table starts, sometimes below it's surface and it gets hung up. An infeed table would solve the problem. Can I mount an F rail on there behind the round bar? That mounting post looks like it would be in the way.
 -- Jason J. Holtz Furniture 3307 Snelling Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55406 |
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýJason:You can buy an infeed extension table (with leg) that fits on that round bar. It is diabolically complicated and fiddly to set up. And it weighs a lot because it is pressed steel rather than machined aluminium. I have the extension, but don¡¯t use it much because it is so awkward to remove and replace. From recollection, it is 800mm x 150mm. Have you dispensed with the fence? I have purchased numerous ¡°f-rail¡± mounts which can be added on the sides of the FB540 (I¡¯ve done this on the back and side of mine) so you can use a normal f-rail mounted extension tables. If you¡¯re using your fancy feeder now, and have no use of the fence, this would be the way to go. But if you want to retain the fence, then you have to decide what to do for an extension table and that round bar. Considering my experience with the OEM solution, I¡¯d be very tempted to make an extension table and leg in house. It wouldn¡¯t be that hard to make or purchase a fitting that would attach to the round bar, and just make the rest out of timber. Anyway, sing out if you want pictures, or more info. Good luck.
Warm regards, Lucky
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Thanks Lucky,
Good to know the Felder solution?isn't viable. I'd hope that we would be able to put it on and leave it there, but in reality that won't happen. We have done away with the stock fence, as we modified the round bar fitting to mount the feeder to. We were hoping to dedicate this saw to resawing, but that may be silly. The amount of material that needs resawing in our shop is not that frequent or great. Changing the blade and setting up the current fiddly?Carter guides takes about half an hour and you're cutting like nobody's business. I'd like to save that time but it probably doesn't justify the cost of a third bandsaw and finding a spot for it in the shop. I think I'll look at fabricating something myself.? Jason Jason Holtz J. Holtz Furniture 3307 Snelling Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55406 612 432-2765 -- Jason J. Holtz Furniture 3307 Snelling Ave. South Minneapolis, MN 55406 |
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýNo worries Jason.I understand what you mean about the trade-off of space, versus convenience of having a machine set up. I think the convenience outweighs the space constraints, even though you don¡¯t resaw ¡°all that frequently¡±. I don¡¯t either, but I can¡¯t say how many times I front up to my bandsaw and use it with whatever blade is on it, no matter how inappropriate that blade may be. I¡¯m trying to cut curves with the 1¡± trimaster because I have it tuned exactly right for resawing and I don¡¯t want to swap it out for a 3/8¡± blade. Or in desperation, I attempt to resaw a small board with the 3/8¡± hoping it won¡¯t wander too far and wreck my timber in the process, Ahem. I plan on having 3 bandsaws in my final configuration. As you may recall, I have my giant Wadkin bandsaw in the mix (for resawing). My health has been shocking for the last year, so the Wadkin is still not up and running yet but I¡¯m more hopeful for 2021. My FB540 will become my ¡°do everything¡± bandsaw, with a 1/2¡± blade. It is such a nice saw I could never part with it. And I have a turn of the century machine which is just gorgeous, that needs a motor and some love. It is a short machine with an enormous throat, 30¡±, but only approximately 7¡± of resaw capacity. A 1/4¡± blade will do nicely on that. Of course, the resaw bandsaw needs lots of infeed and outfeed space. But the other two can be positioned closely together, on casters, and pivoted, or moved out a little if required, and take up very little space. Anyway, good luck with your bandsaw decisions. Don¡¯t forget how many bandsaws Michael Fortune has. Never too many!
Warm regards,
Lucky Dr David Luckensmeyer Business Manager Luckensmeyer Medical Pty Ltd ? and Designer and Woodworker Luckensmeyer Pty Ltd M: 0413 013 115 ?
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Jason Holtz
David Luckensmeyer