bandsaw woes

[Harry Miller]

I certainly can’t call this one a ‘soar. It’s a 15” Duro that is about 85 years old. I looked on owwm.com and found a couple of old Duro catalogues but none had a band saw with no tilt feature and whose main shaft lubrication was by means of a grease nipple. When I picked it up about a dozen years ago the bottom wheel had developed a circular crack about 2 inches from the shaft. When I tried to get someone to weld it they said it was white metal and they couldn’t do it. I then repaired it by drilling 8 ¾ inch holes equally spaced around the crack and applying lots of “marine-tex” . This has worked until now when a 2 inch by one inch chunk has broken off on the circumference of the wheel. There is also a significant crack leading towards the centre. I think that the wheel is beyond repair and am asking if there is any point in trying to make a new wheel. Has anybody done this? Do I use Baltic Birch (or Appleply)? Does anyone know where I could find a replacement wheel or should I bite the bullet and buy a new bandsaw? Thanks for your thoughts.
Harry

[Harry Miller]

I certainly can’t call this one a ‘soar. It’s a 15” Duro that is about 85 years old. I looked on owwm.com and found a couple of old Duro catalogues but none had a band saw with no tilt feature and whose main shaft lubrication was by means of a grease nipple. When I picked it up about a dozen years ago the bottom wheel had developed a circular crack about 2 inches from the shaft. When I tried to get someone to weld it they said it was white metal and they couldn’t do it. I then repaired it by drilling 8 ¾ inch holes equally spaced around the crack and applying lots of “marine-tex” . This has worked until now when a 2 inch by one inch chunk has broken off on the circumference of the wheel. There is also a significant crack leading towards the centre. I think that the wheel is beyond repair and am asking if there is any point in trying to make a new wheel. Has anybody done this? Do I use Baltic Birch (or Appleply)? Does anyone know where I could find a replacement wheel or should I bite the bullet and buy a new bandsaw? Thanks for your thoughts.
Harry

[Harry Miller]

I certainly can’t call this one a ‘soar. It’s a 15” Duro that is about 85 years old. I looked on owwm.com and found a couple of old Duro catalogues but none had a band saw with no tilt feature and whose main shaft lubrication was by means of a grease nipple. When I picked it up about a dozen years ago the bottom wheel had developed a circular crack about 2 inches from the shaft. When I tried to get someone to weld it they said it was white metal and they couldn’t do it. I then repaired it by drilling 8 ¾ inch holes equally spaced around the crack and applying lots of “marine-tex” . This has worked until now when a 2 inch by one inch chunk has broken off on the circumference of the wheel. There is also a significant crack leading towards the centre. I think that the wheel is beyond repair and am asking if there is any point in trying to make a new wheel. Has anybody done this? Do I use Baltic Birch (or Appleply)? Does anyone know where I could find a replacement wheel or should I bite the bullet and buy a new bandsaw? Thanks for your thoughts.
Harry

[Sam F]

Just a few thoughts... Can you use the old wheel as a pattern to cast a new one in aluminum?
DIY foundries aren't that difficult but it may also be possible to have one made by a professional foundry.
Also... Can you find a similar ready made wheel?
The outside diameter is the only part important.
The hub could be bored or bushed to suit.

[Sam F]

Just a few thoughts... Can you use the old wheel as a pattern to cast a new one in aluminum?
DIY foundries aren't that difficult but it may also be possible to have one made by a professional foundry.
Also... Can you find a similar ready made wheel?
The outside diameter is the only part important.
The hub could be bored or bushed to suit.

[Sam F]

Just a few thoughts... Can you use the old wheel as a pattern to cast a new one in aluminum?
DIY foundries aren't that difficult but it may also be possible to have one made by a professional foundry.
Also... Can you find a similar ready made wheel?
The outside diameter is the only part important.
The hub could be bored or bushed to suit.

[Bob Smalser]

I'd take it one of my machinist friends for some advice, and tell him I'd be willing to go up to 300 bucks, if the machine I was repairing was in otherwise good shape.

Have done that several times over the years on Cat and tractor gears no longer made or available.

These guys know better than me the salvage yards where they can find a similar item to remachine into what you need.

[Bob Smalser]

I'd take it one of my machinist friends for some advice, and tell him I'd be willing to go up to 300 bucks, if the machine I was repairing was in otherwise good shape.

Have done that several times over the years on Cat and tractor gears no longer made or available.

These guys know better than me the salvage yards where they can find a similar item to remachine into what you need.

[Bob Smalser]

I'd take it one of my machinist friends for some advice, and tell him I'd be willing to go up to 300 bucks, if the machine I was repairing was in otherwise good shape.

Have done that several times over the years on Cat and tractor gears no longer made or available.

These guys know better than me the salvage yards where they can find a similar item to remachine into what you need.

[N. Scheuer]

Not having seen your wheel, of course, but guessing that you like the bandsaw, it would seem possible to have a new one welded up out of aluminum components, then turned on a lathe, if necessary to true everything up around the same center.

This is an extreem measure, but good 15" bandsaws aren't cheap.

I really like my old wooden-framed 12" kit bandsaw that I got from a friend for $50, with a 1/2-hp motor thrown in. Most people wouldn't bother with it, but after twenty five or so years I'm accustomed to its peculiarities.

Moby Nick

[N. Scheuer]

Not having seen your wheel, of course, but guessing that you like the bandsaw, it would seem possible to have a new one welded up out of aluminum components, then turned on a lathe, if necessary to true everything up around the same center.

This is an extreem measure, but good 15" bandsaws aren't cheap.

I really like my old wooden-framed 12" kit bandsaw that I got from a friend for $50, with a 1/2-hp motor thrown in. Most people wouldn't bother with it, but after twenty five or so years I'm accustomed to its peculiarities.

Moby Nick

[N. Scheuer]

Not having seen your wheel, of course, but guessing that you like the bandsaw, it would seem possible to have a new one welded up out of aluminum components, then turned on a lathe, if necessary to true everything up around the same center.

This is an extreem measure, but good 15" bandsaws aren't cheap.

I really like my old wooden-framed 12" kit bandsaw that I got from a friend for $50, with a 1/2-hp motor thrown in. Most people wouldn't bother with it, but after twenty five or so years I'm accustomed to its peculiarities.

Moby Nick

[Harry Miller]

I've finally got my bandsaw fixed. Here's a couple of pix.

[Harry Miller]

I've finally got my bandsaw fixed. Here's a couple of pix.

[Harry Miller]

I've finally got my bandsaw fixed. Here's a couple of pix.

[capt jake]

So, Harry, what was the fix?? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[capt jake]

So, Harry, what was the fix?? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[capt jake]

So, Harry, what was the fix?? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[RGM]

Nicely done Harry. Would you please share your experience with the rest of the class? For some folks with bandsaw issues www.carterproducts.com is a good website to visit.

[RGM]

Nicely done Harry. Would you please share your experience with the rest of the class? For some folks with bandsaw issues www.carterproducts.com is a good website to visit.

[RGM]

Nicely done Harry. Would you please share your experience with the rest of the class? For some folks with bandsaw issues www.carterproducts.com is a good website to visit.

[Harry Miller]

The old wheel is on the table in the second pic. I found a used General 15" wheel at one shop then waited for a month for my garage mechanic who said he could make a bushing. When he didn't come through I followed the advice you can see above and found a machine shop in the yellow pages. (I chose the shop because it had a nice red ad.) There I got a new bushing and was convinced (still am) that I needed a new shaft keyway etc. Wasn't particularly cheap and when the owner found he was talking to a math teacher I had to hear how none of the people he hired knew any geometry or arithmetic. He was nice about it though and showed me around his shop which was full of pretty impressive machines. When I brought it home it fitted perfectly so now, maybe I can start building.

[Harry Miller]

The old wheel is on the table in the second pic. I found a used General 15" wheel at one shop then waited for a month for my garage mechanic who said he could make a bushing. When he didn't come through I followed the advice you can see above and found a machine shop in the yellow pages. (I chose the shop because it had a nice red ad.) There I got a new bushing and was convinced (still am) that I needed a new shaft keyway etc. Wasn't particularly cheap and when the owner found he was talking to a math teacher I had to hear how none of the people he hired knew any geometry or arithmetic. He was nice about it though and showed me around his shop which was full of pretty impressive machines. When I brought it home it fitted perfectly so now, maybe I can start building.

[Harry Miller]

The old wheel is on the table in the second pic. I found a used General 15" wheel at one shop then waited for a month for my garage mechanic who said he could make a bushing. When he didn't come through I followed the advice you can see above and found a machine shop in the yellow pages. (I chose the shop because it had a nice red ad.) There I got a new bushing and was convinced (still am) that I needed a new shaft keyway etc. Wasn't particularly cheap and when the owner found he was talking to a math teacher I had to hear how none of the people he hired knew any geometry or arithmetic. He was nice about it though and showed me around his shop which was full of pretty impressive machines. When I brought it home it fitted perfectly so now, maybe I can start building.