January 29, 2007

Today I spent most of my time in the garage "dialing in" my cheap-cheap HF bandsaw. It was on sale sometime last year when I bought it and I had a 20% off coupon so I got a pretty good deal (around $35 if I remember). I don't know if its going to hold up, but after I got the blade changed to a 14tpi blade and got the tension and tracking set right it seems to be doing fine.

Amazingly the wheels and the motor have bearings - I was expecting bushings. The belt drive has slipped to the motor side of the shaft and is kinda digging into the plastic housing - we'll see how long the belt lasts.

I hit harbor freight for a brake today at lunch. They were running a sale (aren't they always running a sale?) on clamps - the 3" clamps were $0.99 (holding down the brake) and I also got some 6" clamps for $1.99. The same import clamps are available at home depot for $10 each.

I used the bandsaw to cut out the 2"x4" rectangle of .060" AL to make the forward root clip. I cleaned it up with a file and some sandpaper and the bent it on the brake. I didn't get in progress pics - I'll get them next time.

The brake makes a nice bend, exactly as the full side drawings indicates. I really like the full size drawings, it makes it really easy to verify I'm making the part right.

Next I measured the pilot holes and drilled them on the drill press. They might look a bit big for #40 holes - thats because they are. I accidently put the #30 bit in the drill press instead of the #40. Oops. I'm pretty sure the part is still useable - I'll just have to carefully drill the holes in the rib where the bracket meets it. If I have to remake it there is enough .060 AL in the kit to do it.

Thats all for tonight - I burned up a lot of time adjusting the band saw and then when I drilled the pilot holes the wrong size I knew it was time to call it a night.

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