Converting a Horizontal Bandsaw to Vertical

[ScubaSteve]

Here's some pics of my horizontal metal cutting band saw. It's a Wells 5-M with a coolant system....I actually scored this for $100. I was recently cleaning it up in preparation for sale, when I fell back in love with it and realized what a great machine it is.

Quiet, cuts like butter, and it really doesn't have a large footprint. My plan was to sell it and get a vertical band saw or even a portaband...but then I realized I'd be on the losing end of the deal because the verticals are mega expensive/huge, and a portaband would be made of plastic. I saw a thread on "Pirate 4x4" where a guy converted a saw like this, but the pics are gone. Not much else on the intertubes about this kind of mod, but I wonder what you all might think about modding this to be able to go vertical when necessary? I plan on fitting guards to the wheels/pulleys/blade, and fitting some sort of locking mechanism to keep things upright. Here's some more pics:

As you can see above, there is a semicircular casting which has notches for the locking mechanism. There is a guard that bolts over everything to keep things in place, and I wonder if I take it off whether I will be able to lock the saw vertically.

Interestingly, in the above photo I thought they "misspelled" the word careful. But, now that I think about it, this was grammatically correct for the era. The word is now obsolete, but the machine is not!

Obviously, I would need to fit a table around the blade; it will have to be bolted in since I don't dare weld anything....its completely cast iron.

So, what do y'all think

 

[nine4gmc]

pretty sure that latch you mentioned in the second picture is to lock it in the vertical position.

 

[tylerae40]

I love collecting old stuff, and modifying it to my needs, but in this case i would leave it well alone and build a vertical bandsaw using other bits, believe me I've used both options and a bandsaw like that is used ten time more than a vertical. I'd look at craiglist or auctions sites for a vertical thats not running if your on the cheap side and mod that. also the way that saw is setup your cutting length will only be the distance from the blade to the frame.

 

[Big-Foot]

I'd love to own a saw like that...

 

[EOC_Jason]

I've seen modern horizontal saws that can be converted to vertical use. I think there is one in the Northern Tool catalog. Perhaps you can steal some ideas from it.

 

[Outlawmws]

The small Asian import saws do go up to a vertical rest position and have an add on table to complete the picture. the issue (and it's a serious defect) is that they can go over backwards pretty easily, so you really need to add a set of,,, Um, "Wheelie bars" to keep it from tipping over in use.

Your "bottom" guide looks like it could be drilled and taped for an extension table pretty easily, so I think that part is a go. the key question is does your saw come up vertical safely? (probably not. I'd do something about that issue before anything else)

 

[Major Ramifications]

This brings back memories (but no pictures).
I purchased a very similar old saw for the test shop where I used to work.
I made a simple aluminum table for it that screwed on pretty quickly to the blade guide bracket. It required no welding, and no real fab skills other than drilling and countersinking, IIRC.
It was simple, worked well, and was cheap. It made me wonder why they didn't offer it as an option originally.

You've got a great saw there, if you don't want it, I'll come get it!

 

[Brad54]

I've got a ShopFox horizontal that goes up to vertical by disconnecting the hydraulic feed ram (which limits how far the saw can tip up/back while connected). It came with a simple stamped steel table that bolts to the area around the blade's guide bearings.

I use it in the horizontal position 95-percent of the time, but that 5-percent where I need it vertical, it sure is nice.

-Brad

 

[Packard V8]

As previously suggested, a bolt-on table is basically all you need. Just don't do anything which will destroy the horizontal utility.

jack vines