Building a bandsaw on the cheap from mostly scrap wood

[glatt]

5/29/16 part V

So the evaporator motor I bought on Ebay for like $20 is nice and round. No mounting bracket. But it has a rubber bushing mount. I figured that if I took advantage of this when I mount it to the saw, it will reduce vibrations just a little.


So I measured the diameter of the rubber mount, and divided it in half to get the radius. Set a compass to that distance and drew some semicircles on the edge of a board. I cut them out with a coping saw. I sure would be nice to have a band saw for this. It would have been a lot easier to cut and better quality.


I cleaned up my sloppy cuts with my home made sander in the drill press.


And I screwed together a motor mounting bracket. I tested the fit in the motor location on the frame. It looks good here. I’ll need to clamp the motor down in the bracket. I’ll probably use steel baling wire attached to a couple screws on each end of the bracket, and twisted to snug it down tightly against the rubber bushings.


Not shown: I made a couple of large wooden washers to go on the shaft behind the lower wheel to keep it from rubbing against the frame.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Well done, you're making good progress.
I don't understand the three maple "leaf springs"? If they are to compensate for minor out of round differences in the two wheels, I suppose they would give a little. But if the blade seizes in the work, either the blade will slip on the wheel, or more likely the motor belt will slip. Barring that, the motor stalls. But absolutely nothing should pull hard enough to break those "springs".
Experience has taught me painfully, when the shit hits the fan, even if the motor switch is handy, it's often dangerous to let go with either hand. They make foot switches that plug in before the motor for $15.

Now, sally forth brave hobbit, bandsaw the Ents into furniture, but for god's sake, safety first.

[Griff]

Most excellent.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I don't understand the three maple "leaf springs"?

I think they are meant as a safeguard against over tensioning the blade. They are supposed to break before the blade does if I go nuts tightening the blade.

And I have no idea who's bare toes those are. Certainly not mine. I have a rule against bare feet in the shop, and I would never just scamper down into the shop for "just a few minutes this time" without putting shoes on.

[xoxoxoBruce]

OK, I can see the anti-over-tensioning. You will find the necessary tension for making the saw work well is a lot less than you think it is. The friction between the blade and drive tire is surprisingly big with a tight blade so unlikely to slip. Most of the tension (plus the guides) is to keep the blade from twisting when you're cutting shapes that make you glad you have a bandsaw. Charge!!