Cooksley 24" Bandsaw Project

[MilesH]

I've just bought this 24" bandsaw. Made in the mid-fifties? Really well designed machine. 3 x v belt drive. 3hp motor. 15" depth of cut. I'm keen to know more about Cooksley bandsaws!
Ref: http://www.owwm.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=198142

 

[sunnybob]

Whatever the make is, youre going to need a tuffsaws blade for it, thats for sure.

 

[Ttrees]

Sweet saw, congratulations on getting the lump home
Are you going running it with a VFD or have you got three phase?

 

[MilesH]

Whatever the make is, youre going to need a tuffsaws blade for it, thats for sure.

Actually, the plan is to use a 2" TCT blade. The wheels are 45mm wide which should be sufficient. It's dedicated for resaw use only so, hopefully, I'll only need to change the blade every two years or so

 

[MilesH]

Sweet saw, congratulations on getting the lump home
Are you going running it with a VFD or have you got three phase?

Yes, I'll be running it with a VFD. The existing motor is dual voltage but I'll probably swap it for a more powerful one. 4kW seems to be the limit for 240V motors and VFDs. Need to check how much torque the V-belt drive can handle first....

 

[MilesH]

Trying to match the paint colour that Cooksley used (well....how it looks now after cleaning)
Ref:
http://cpwstonehouse.com/colour-systems ... d-colours/
https://www.e-paint.co.uk/Colour_alternatives.asp

Anyway, from the colours available from Paragon https://www.paragonpaints.co.uk/home.php these are the closest match:
RAL 6000 Patina Green
BS381C 367 Deep Chrome Green
BS 4800/5252 14 C 39 Hollygreen/Hollybush
The last seems to be the nearest.
Yes, I know it looks like battleship grey in the photo :wink:

 

[MilesH]

Need to check how much torque the V-belt drive can handle first....

I found this handy calculator on the SKF website: http://www.skf.com/uk/knowledge-centre/ ... -tool.html
It shows that an input torque of 30Nm (1450 rpm) gives me a service factor 1.43.
2:1 ratio so, that's about 60Nm at the bandsaw wheel (24" dia.).

 

[MilesH]

Found a couple of pictures of earlier Cooksley bandsaws. The green one is for sale in Ireland. The grey one was sold in 2011 for £50!

 

[MilesH]

Just received the motor I ordered. It had to be this one

 

[MilesH]

Need to do some repairs to the tyres. There are some chunks missing.....

According to my newly acquired durometer, the tyres register around 70 on the Shore A scale. That's a good reference to have for choosing the filler material.....

 

[sunnybob]

the tyres register around 70 on the Shore A scale.

Well blimey, that explains EVERYTHING!

:shock: :shock: :shock: (hammer) (hammer) (hammer) =D> =D>

 

[MilesH]

LOL! Got to have some figures when I ring up the technical departments!

 

[Inspector]

You have to keep in mind the rubber has probably hardened a fair bit since new.

Pete

 

[MilesH]

You have to keep in mind the rubber has probably hardened a fair bit since new.

Pete

That's a good point. The hardness does also vary quite a bit at different places. It's hardest at the edge, up to 85 A. Where it's worn the most, in the centre, some parts are down to 55 A. Anyway, I have to repair it in its present state...

 

[Inspector]

I would be more inclined to replace the tires over patching.
https://www.carterproducts.com/band-saw ... ubber-tire
https://www.scosarg.com/accessories-spa ... dsaw/tyres

Or if you want a bonded rubber look into re-coating the wheels from a company like these.
http://www.bhleakerubber.co.uk/our-prod ... g-rollers/
http://www.cmserv.co.uk (click on Bandsaw Wheels)
https://www.sunray-inc.com/services/band-saw-wheels/ (Oops this one is an American outfit.)

You have a heck of a nice saw. Be a shame not to get the most out of it by buckshee fixes.

Pete

 

[MilesH]

I would be more inclined to replace the tires over patching.
https://www.carterproducts.com/band-saw ... ubber-tire
https://www.scosarg.com/accessories-spa ... dsaw/tyres

Or if you want a bonded rubber look into re-coating the wheels from a company like these.
http://www.bhleakerubber.co.uk/our-prod ... g-rollers/
http://www.cmserv.co.uk (click on Bandsaw Wheels)
https://www.sunray-inc.com/services/band-saw-wheels/ (Oops this one is an American outfit.)

You have a heck of a nice saw. Be a shame not to get the most out of it by buckshee fixes.

Pete

Thanks a lot Pete,

I did get a quote from Leakes before re. re-vulcanising. I guess, because of my professional background, I always like to try the repair route first. After all, nothing is lost, apart from the time, if it doesn't work out. The other options are still there. The other factor is that removing the wheels is not simply a case of unbolting them. I'm disinclined to pull the bearings apart, at this stage. There's not a gnats whisker of play... Sure, I could just glue tyres on, that's easily done if my repairs don't work out. It could even be more practical to do this after I've turned down the existing rubber to true it up, rather than by removing it? Glued on tyres are generally pretty thin and there is still 7mm of the existing tyres left to play with.

Does that make sense?

 

[MilesH]

Possible repair compound: http://www.truflexpang.co.uk/pang/produ ... B-Compound

 

[Inspector]

Yes and no but it is entirely in your hands. I just offered opinions and suggestions from my perspective. I have a 20" bandsaw that I inherited from my father, Chinese not a great one like yours, that has dry cracked rubber. I'll look into the options for it too. I have buddies in aviation that could probable get me the bonding glue they use to attach deicer boots to props and then use a strip of rubber on the wheels. I'd still have to rig up a truing method so it might be easier, more costly, to get replacement tires for a straight replacement. My dad would probably have glued a leather belt or a fire hose to it and been happy. :wink:

Pete

Out of curiosity what was the quote to reline the wheels?

 

[MilesH]

Out of curiosity what was the quote to reline the wheels?

More than £300.00 Plus I'd have to get them up there.... and back..... safely....

I have experience of truing these kind of tyres because I did it to my Wadkin MZF bandsaw, years ago. It's just the filling that is a new skill.

It's always good to get different perspectives. That's why I post stuff here

 

[Inspector]

Thanks. All the best.
Pete