Oiling system to a 4x6 bandsaw

[ericher69]

I would, especially with diluted coolant. That stuff is designed to be used rather heavily in order to cool and lubricate. You really won't get the effectiveness if you just drip it on like you would oil.

Here is the first test... Will turn on lubricant prior to starting saw next time!

Point taken! More of a temporary measure till I make a new stand and coolant tank!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12M-yLlMvBQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player

What a difference a quality blade makes!!! Notice how quickly it cuts through once on verticals!

 

[chriswheeler]

Hope your saw does better than mine with coolant. I have 2 saws, one a Jet 4X6, and the other is a Kalamazo 7X12.
The drive on the 4X6 will start to slip on the drive wheels in heavy cuts with coolant on the blade. That saw is best used dry, or with stick wax on the blade. Kalamazo ( 7AW) is a wet saw set up for coolant, and has a different wiper system to keep it off the drive wheels. If you are making cuts in smaller material, you most likely won't notice. But when you start cutting larger bar stock or flats, you will.
Chris

 

[ericher69]

Hope your saw does better than mine with coolant. I have 2 saws, one a Jet 4X6, and the other is a Kalamazo 7X12.
The drive on the 4X6 will start to slip on the drive wheels in heavy cuts with coolant on the blade. That saw is best used dry, or with stick wax on the blade. Kalamazo ( 7AW) is a wet saw set up for coolant, and has a different wiper system to keep it off the drive wheels. If you are making cuts in smaller material, you most likely won't notice. But when you start cutting larger bar stock or flats, you will.
Chris

Chris;

I am planning on adding a few blade wipers or brushes to keep fluid and chips off the drive wheel.

Don't know how effective this coolant system is but I figured it can't hurt as it is not the flood type system with a pump. Worst case I wipe the blade and wheels and go back to dry cutting.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[wdchyd]

You won't really notice the benefit of cutting with coolant/lube till you realize you won't need to buy as many blades.....they'll last longer if you do a lot of cutting

 

[chriswheeler]

Coolant, water soluble oil makes a huge difference in blade life, keeping the chips flushed out of the cut. That said, I find on the smaller saw, that stick wax works better on the small 4X6 that doesn't come set up for coolant. Good blades make the most difference, I never will buy a carbon steel cheap blade. Cheap blades end up costing the most per cut when you figure in blade life. In heavier cuts like 2" + steel, the wax on the blade seam to do best and still keeps a good drive on the blade with the band wheels. Less of a mess on the floor to clean up after after as well. It comes down to what you are using the saw for. My little saw has made cuts in alloy steel and SS well with the wax if you slow down the speed properly. When I get bigger than 3 3/4" or longer bars, will just move to the larger saw and forget it until it's cut. Some can't do that. Another option might be a cool mist system, they are cheap, do the same job, but with the compressed air flow might keep the chips off the ban wheels better, still think you'd end up with drive problems on this one as well.
Chris

 

[BXpanded]

Check your manual before you get too far along with your coolant system. Your saw and wheels might be designed for dry cutting. I think the oils can ruin the rubber on some drive tires.
We have a good sized Ellis rated for something like 11" x 17" or 14" rounds. The manual specifically says to avoid lubes. It has a wire brush that rotates against the blade to clean out the chips and an air cooling nozzle that automatically comes on to cool and clean the blade. Blades last a long time and it runs several hours every day.

 

[ericher69]

Check your manual before you get too far along with your coolant system. Your saw and wheels might be designed for dry cutting. I think the oils can ruin the rubber on some drive tires.
We have a good sized Ellis rated for something like 11" x 17" or 14" rounds. The manual specifically says to avoid lubes. It has a wire brush that rotates against the blade to clean out the chips and an air cooling nozzle that automatically comes on to cool and clean the blade. Blades last a long time and it runs several hours every day.

No rubber on the drive or driven wheels. Could definitely benefit from a brush and/or sweeps to remove chips and coolant.

I'll know a little more when I start cutting more