Laugh at me...

[Ryan]

So... I'm hooking up a DC motor to my vintage band saw in an effort to slow it down for steel duty. This morning, I decided to wire it all up temporarily just to see how it all worked before I went to the effort of making it all pretty.

Anyway, it worked beautifully in my initial test, so I decided to make a little video for a how to that I plan on posting later. Started the camera, fired her up, and:

The chassis grounded itself... cuz well... I'm stupid. And that stupidity cost me one $80 Speed Control.

Admittedly though, this is pretty funny to watch.

 

[FJ 432]

I thought this **** only happens to me!

 

[Professur]

I love how you face palmed the camera

 

[the gypsy]

Why didn't you change out the pulleys instead?

 

[Ryan]

I thought this **** only happens to me!

Oh no. It happens quite regularly over at TGJ world HQ. Daily even...

I love how you face palmed the camera

I do this quite a bit too...

Why didn't you change out the pulleys instead?

That's what I wanted to do, but I can't get it slow enough with just pulleys unless I use a jackshaft arrangement. And my thought was that if I was going to the trouble of doing a jackshaft I might as well do a DC motor so I can have adjustable speeds for whatever material I'm cutting.

I'll get it done and post about it... assuming I don't burn my shop down first.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ryan: if we are laughing its only because you didn't hurt yourself and we've all been guilty of forgetting something every now and then.

sorry it cost you a part and happier it didn't do something worse.

good luck on the do all bandsaw and like i mentioned on your other thread i have one for each job, but hard to keep them all at the ready and not stuffed in a corner if you have too many machines.

 

[54FordPanel]

I hate electrical the sound of those electrical PAPP!s

Looking forward to the writeup, because I'd like to find a bandsaw and use it for steel.

 

[zkling]

What motor and speed controller are you using?

 

[Ryan]

What motor and speed controller are you using?

I'm using this motor:

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Electr.../3-4-HP-90-VDC-1800-RPM-MOTOR-56C-10-2577.axd

Long story on why I chose that one, but I'll tell it when I do the write up.

And this speed control:

http://www.surpluscenter.com/Electr...rs/90-180-VDC-SPEED-CONTROL-W-POT-11-2269.axd

 

[Zrexxer]

There's just one thing to say in cases like that...

 

[FlyOverStateFarmboy]

That *****. At least we can (hopefully) learn from your mistake. I'd like to do something like that for my old Delta Milwaukee bandsaw. What is your bandsaw? It looks Craftsman-y.

 

[PFSard]

Oops. I hate it when I do things like that. Thanks for showing your error. Maybe it will help someone else who will remember your mistake.

And keep up the great work on this site.

 

[nehog]

I have an identical setup on my 'baby' lathe. Except mine doesn't go bang when I power it up!

(I use a 90V DC motor, and my controller is great at maintaining speed--it monitors current to see if the motor is slowing down.)

 

[Jarhead0408]

Hahaha. Sorry for ya man. I always have a few choice words to say when something like that happens.

Nice Craftsman bandsaw though. I'm hoping to get an early/mid '50's Delta one day.

 

[Waterlooboy2hp]

I have had a DC motor on my 12" band saw for about 15 years. The motors in dime a dozen treadmills are perfect for the job. I used the wiring guts and controls from the treadmill. You can go from zero to flat out and flying. I did use an existing jackshaft to gear it down even more, but may not have had to do so.

My dad had put a Bendex washing machine motor on the saw back around 1960. That motor had a mechanical gear box on it, with an electric shift solenoid, that went from wash to spin. Pop had a 2ed switch on the machine to go from low to high range. He also had step pulleys on the shafts. I just took things a step further, when the Bendex motor wiring got to be a fire, waiting to happed. Found my treadmill, dumped on the side of the road. --- John

 

[404]

Sorry for your loss here. This is why I save junk mail and use it between electrical parts when testing. It can be folded or taped to stay in place.

 

[rodster_67]

Stuff happens, you aren't alone

 

[drivesitfar]

2HP: I and maybe we would love to see a few pictures of your treadmill motor and belt setup on your bandsaw. can you take and post a few. great knowledge you just shared and teach us how to do it since some of us would like to and don't have a clue. thanks

 

[Outlawmws]

Ryan, a treadmill controller will manage that motor easily...

Look for an MC-60, (all over Eprey, not sure of costs...)

 

[1/2 Cup]

Ryan,
I am a sparky. All I will say is that I am guilty charged as well.

It happens.

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

At first, I always laugh when I do things like that. Then I realize that I could have had my fingers in there, and might of had a different outcome. Then I stop laughing.

 

[Heavymetalmechanic]

At first, I always laugh when I do things like that. Then I realize that I could have had my fingers in there, and might of had a different outcome. Then I stop laughing.

Ha! It's good that the moment of clarity occurs, I just wish more of my lightbulb moments happened before the magic smoke crawls out of the wiring.

 

[JRC3]

When I was about 14yo I got the idea to put a regular grinding wheel on an electric lawnmower motor. 1.5 seconds after I flipped the switch I realized what I'd done...Sadly the switch was mounted very near the motor so turning it back off was not an option. I at least knew to run out the door and watch the carnage from a distance.

I know I'm comparing apples to oranges but for some reason your mishap made me think of me doing that.

I love how you face palmed the camera

Haha.

 

[Waterlooboy2hp]

2HP: I and maybe we would love to see a few pictures of your treadmill motor and belt setup on your bandsaw. can you take and post a few. great knowledge you just shared and teach us how to do it since some of us would like to and don't have a clue. thanks

=======================================

Well, it is far from being pretty to look at, but it has served me well for many years. Here are a few photos, that will give you at least an idea of how it is set up. The motor itself is only 1 hp. Most treadmills went on to 2 and 3 hp motors. The original iron flywheel is left in place, as well as the cooling fan. This motor maxes out at some 9000 rpm, but you will never need near that much.

The first photo shows the treadmill motor , that hangs under the saw table. It swings on a shaft to tighten the belt. A simple spring keeps the tension on the belt. The red belt runs from small pulley on the motor to a larger pulley on the jackshaft. The black belt runs from a small pulley on the jackshaft to the very large pulley on the saw itself. When the motor shaft makes 20 turns, the shaft on the saw makes 1 turn.

The second photo shows the large saw pulley, that I was talking about.

The 3ed photo is the power box. I just put the wiring from the treadmill into it.

Last photo is just the switch box. I used a toggle switch for the on/off, and new potentiometer to vary the speed. As I recall, the one on the treadmill was bad. Chances are, that was the reason the treadmill was junked.

It is not a high dollar set-up and not at all pretty. I just used what I had lying around at the time. -- John

 

[Ryan]

I just got it all put back together with a new speed control... I corrected my previous issues and all is good now. Works wonderfully. I'm waiting on a bimetal blade. Once I get it, I'll post a write up with a demonstration.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ryan: awesome

2HP: thanks for the treadmill tutorial. that might come in handy some day soon.

 

[Ryan]

Here's a quick and dirty:

I'll do a writeup of what I learned (lots) later this week.

 

[drivesitfar]

Ryan: i'll be the first to say that your new wiring and switch look very cool on that old Craftsman bandsaw. sounds like it works great too. details as you get time. i had my doubts that you could do it and just wanted to say nice work.