i have the exact same saw. It actually came with two different belts, one to use with the pulley on the motor for cutting wood, and one shorter belt that you…. first remove the motor pulley all together and install the shorter belt directly on the motor shaft…. this will give the blade speed the proper FPM (feet per minute) for steel. Mine works great on thinner steel and sheet metal… if you use it on 1/4 inch thick steel you have to baby it considerably… however it cuts 16 gauge steel and aluminum sheet real well, but still, if you try to force it by feeding it too fast, it will stall out. Using a little spray on belt dressing from time to time helps.
most band saws use AC synchronized motors which are frequency controlled for shaft rpm, not voltage, using a voltage dial / dimmer / variac will burn the motor out in no time, only way to control ac sync motor is via a frequency inverter drive.
mustie1 please post the motor spec to confirm what type it it.
need to add bearings to the back edge and sides on the top and bottom heads, apart from speed, the major differences between wood and metal bandsaws is they use bearing guides ,not blocks as the forces are increased many times than that of cutting wood.
blade speed cutting without coolant/lube, probably need between 120 – 145 ft/min on 1/2" blade, if a synchronized ac motor its frequency locked for shaft speed, no type of voltage regulation will change that , need a frequency inverter drive.
Get you an old tredmill and use the DC motor and control package.
Looks awesome must mustie1.
what is the length of the blade
i have the exact same saw. It actually came with two different belts, one to use with the pulley on the motor for cutting wood, and one shorter belt that you…. first remove the motor pulley all together and install the shorter belt directly on the motor shaft…. this will give the blade speed the proper FPM (feet per minute) for steel. Mine works great on thinner steel and sheet metal… if you use it on 1/4 inch thick steel you have to baby it considerably… however it cuts 16 gauge steel and aluminum sheet real well, but still, if you try to force it by feeding it too fast, it will stall out. Using a little spray on belt dressing from time to time helps.
I know this is old, but what about a variable speed motor controller?
How about adding a jackshaft to give you slower speed, increased torque?
RichE
I run a Variac on mine for years never have problems
you could get a Variac . then you would be able to adjust as you wish
Looks good, I don't see why it should not work.
Mustie1, Looks like it should work, nice!
Very cool, I think you got it sir.
I'm sure you will make it work just be safe.
most band saws use AC synchronized motors which are frequency controlled for shaft rpm, not voltage, using a voltage dial / dimmer / variac will burn the motor out in no time, only way to control ac sync motor is via a frequency inverter drive.
mustie1 please post the motor spec to confirm what type it it.
need to add bearings to the back edge and sides on the top and bottom heads, apart from speed, the major differences between wood and metal bandsaws is they use bearing guides ,not blocks as the forces are increased many times than that of cutting wood.
blade speed cutting without coolant/lube, probably need between 120 – 145 ft/min on 1/2" blade, if a synchronized ac motor its frequency locked for shaft speed, no type of voltage regulation will change that , need a frequency inverter drive.
Cool