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What is the right amount of water for cutting.

Started by rasorbackQ, June 14, 2013, 07:04:50 PM

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bandmiller2

Marmatone,I built my bandmill close to ten years ago and still have the original Vee belts on the bandwheels and their still in good shape.Always used diesel/oil for lube,the secret is how much you use, just a little on a wick is all  that's needed.Now I'am leaning more to ATF because I drained the hydraulic tank and have a lot of it clean used. Frank C.
A man armed with common sense is packing a big piece

thecfarm

I was not going to comment,just because I don't saw alot. I have been sawing at least 2-3 hours a day,3-5 times a week for a year now steady. I sawed all last spring,right up until snow time. Than I started again this spring. Had my mill with the rubber belts for the blade to run on and all I have ever used is diesel for lube. Had my mill for 10 years now. Not alot of hours,just for my own use. No problems at all with the belts in the wheel.  It's just a drip or two every few seconds. I have no idea what would happen if I was sawing full time.
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

Brucer

Blade lube serves more than one purpose. Diesel is great for preventing pitch buildup but makes a poor coolant. Water or water-based lubes are much better for keeping a blade cool; not so great for some kinds of pitch.

Pitch isn't common in my logs. I do have problems with the blade getting hot in wide heartwood cuts and losing tension. So in my case water works much better.

I added a WM solenoid valve to my gravity lube system so the water would only flow when I was moving the head forward. Later on I added an on-off switch so I can disable the solenoid when I'm moving the head up to the log. Most of the time I can just leave the tank valve at one position.
Bruce    LT40HDG28 bandsaw
"Complex problems have simple, easy to understand wrong answers."

dboyt

When I'm cutting freshly felled oak, I don't use any blade lube.  There seems to be plenty of moisture in the wood to cool the blade, and I don't get any pitch buildup.  The only time I use blade lube is when I'm milling wood that has been down for a while, or if I am milling a species that does have problem with pitch buildup.
Norwood MX34 Pro portable sawmill, 8N Ford, Lewis Winch

rasorbackQ

 I use all my sawdust for the poultry and pigs bedding. Think I will stay away from diesel as a lube .Soap and water may make the coops smell nice.
Thanks for reading, Steven

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