Cool Blocks

[Nick Gibbs]

Does anyone know of a supplier of Cool Blocks for bandsaws in the UK?

Cheers

Nick

 

[OPJ]

Hi Nick. I think this has come up before and, sadly, the answer was 'no'; only in America.

They're ceramic, aren't they? I wonder if it's possible to make your own?

 

[Woody Alan]

They are a graphite/tufnol material that I had in my previous machine. Axminster used to do them but appear not to now. Woodcraft in USA who ship here do them or alternatively make your own from oil soaked maple or Lignum vitae naturally oily, if it's good enough for ships bearings it's good enough for coolblocks. A good source is old bowls, as in bowling.
A further thought depending on usage, you can get a slippery nylon block can't recall it's technical name but I bet JasonB knows it.

Alan

 

[neilyweely]

I'm interested in that nylon stuff. My startrite needs new blocks, ATM I am using oil soaked oak, which is an improvement on the worn graphite, but maybe not as good as dedicated material.

Any ideas?

Neil

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I'd thought about making some ourselves. Perhaps we'll have to give it a go.

Thanks all.

Nick

 

[MIGNAL]

I'm interested in that nylon stuff. My startrite needs new blocks, ATM I am using oil soaked oak, which is an improvement on the worn graphite, but maybe not as good as dedicated material.

Any ideas?

Neil

Perhaps but then again your wooden blocks maybe just as effective as any other material.

 

[9fingers]

PTFE is a very low friction plastic material but is not very rigid.
Some sort of carrier made from a harder material with PTFE inserts should make some really 'coool' blocks.

I'm no expert but I get on fine with ball bearing guides on my Startrite 18-S-1

Are solid blocks so much better?

Bob

 

[OPJ]

If you go after Lignum Vitae, I'm pretty sure Yanldes stock it amongst their range of turning blanks - plenty big enough for what you require!

 

[maltrout512]

RS should have what you want. May take a little time finding on their site as they list so many different types of materials, with all the speck's.

 

[PaulO]

If you go after Lignum Vitae, I'm pretty sure Yanldes stock it amongst their range of turning blanks - plenty big enough for what you require!

Last time I checked (a couple of months ago) Yandles didn't have any true LV (Guaiacum lignum vitaes). Even Timberline who are good for exotics say that true LV only appears rarely. To quote their site "Genuine lignum vitae is currently only possible for import with Cites export and import documentation. In practice this means there is not a lot coming through"

 

[mailee]

I would have thought that HDPE would be solid enough to use considering that there is only a short length of it unsupported. If so it can be purchased in rod and bar which should cover most bandsaws. It is indeed very slippery stuff and would make great cool blocks I would think. I have not used it in this guise but have used it for router table fences and it is great stuff.

 

[OPJ]

That's a shame about the lignum vitae, Paul. Cites... Isn't that why they have to machine tenons on the ends of the blanks so they can be exported as "furniture"?

 

[MIGNAL]

Try something like Bubinga, perhaps even Oak or Beech soaked in WD40, end grain against the blade.
At least it's cheap enough to try and I doubt it will do much harm. Not happy? Bin them.

 

[ivan]

I had some cool blocks from LV, quite effective, especially for completely surrounding very narrow blades. No better than standard guide blocks though. Something hard and fine grained soaked in rapeseed oil works just as well; the veg oil is used as an industrial lubricant as well as frying, and it doesn't mark or stain the work. I get mine from Tesco (good for tool rust protection too)