DIY Drip Oiler

[Vegaman_Dan]

A horizontal metal cutting bandsaw is a fantastic tool for cutting down lengths of angle iron, pipe, bar stock, etc. The ability to set up the cut, lower the blade and walk away for a few moment is great. But the problem is that you need to still hit the material with cutting fluid/lubricant/etc to help the cut and avoid dulling your blade. Standing there watching it cut or having your lubricant can nearby is a hassle.

I finally came up with a drip oiler setup using a squeeze bottle with a vent hole drilled in the top, aquarium tubing, a small inline valve, some bendable wire and zip ties.



I mounted the oiler to be used mostly while in horizontal mode. I put the bottle near the front/top of the arm so that it won't be in the way if the unit is being used in vertical mode. I can easily remove the oiler if need be. It's fastened using some 1/4" holes I drilled and tapped into the stock.



It was a quick mod and the valve does a good job of giving a very slow drip or shutting it off entirely. It's up to you to decide flow rate appropriate for the job. The metal wire is bendable to position the tip where you want it. There's some nice units out there with bendable stalks that I may upgrade to, but this is what I had handy.

Total cost? About $6 and I have enough material to make two more, maybe one for the drill press?

 

[akdiesel]

Very clever. Nothing like applying an IV to keep your band saw hydrated.

 

[zkling]

Good job, very clever. Enjoy the mess.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Shouldn't be any different than me dribbling solvent on the piece as I do now. Being able to turn it on and off easily with a knob is worth it to me.

If it doesn't work- well, not exactly out much except a little time and a few bucks.

 

[bad_idea]

The horizontal band saw at work uses a water based cutting fluid to lube the blade. Fluid is pumped to a tube at the beginning of the cut and another at the end of the cut to lube and cool the blade. The saw is in a tray w/ a sump, so the fluid is recirculated. Much more complicated than what you have, but a thought.

I would suggest a water based cutting fluid.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Eventually, a water based setup is preferred, and it is relatively easy to set up, but I would want to start small and see if this actually helps for time and effort or not. Adding a catch pan is easy to do. The KISS method is always in mind.

But then if KISS applied, most of us on GJ wouldn't have anything to do.

 

[woodstockva]

Great idea!

 

[aka Larry]

Hey, I know I guy that built one of those, wait, I'm sleeping with his wife!

I fabbed my DIY "auto-oiler" using some 1" flat stock, ice maker tubing and valve, and a small plastic bottle. Works like a champ.

 

[bimmer1980]

Nice!! I saved these picture in my "Ideas to Fabricate" folder..... Some day....