Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Posted: **Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:25 am**

If you, like me are often tempted to (and actually do) reach around the still moving blade of your not so new bandsaw, then you might consider to give this tool a brake (for its birthday, Christmas, or whatever).

The blade of newer bandsaws stops spinning quickly once the machine is turned off, according to European Standards ten seconds or less are considered as a "reasonable short time" for a woodworking machine to stop after it has been switched off *. My INCA bandsaw needed about 13 seconds, and also 10 seconds would still annoy me.

So I retrofitted the bandsaw with a foot-operated bicycle disk brake. When I step on the pedal a microswitch first cuts off power, which triggers the main switch off too. The foot one millimeter or so further down actual braking starts and the saw stops as fast as I want. Once I take foot pressure off the pedal the microswitch closes again, but as the saw's main switch is off

*
I have found this information on a HSE sheet here (see PDF "Retrofitting woodworking machine brakes WIS38")

Here some pictures of the "brake I gave" (to) my trusty bandsaw:

: The pulley with the disk is spinning counter clockwise, so that the plywood support of the brake gets pushed against the bottom of the saw frame.; 2014_P7700_2242c.jpg (135.36 KiB) Viewed 47403 times

: The foot pedal, obviously!; 2014_P7700_2243c.jpg (88.3 KiB) Viewed 47403 times

: The whole "brake system" in one picture.

The white thing hanging down from the fence is an additional switch, which allows me to "unplug" the saw without actually pulling the plug. ;-); 2014_P7700_2248-2c.jpg (118.48 KiB) Viewed 47403 times

: The innards 2: microswitch, electric and mechanical wiring.; 2014_P7700_2244c.jpg (97.56 KiB) Viewed 47403 times

: The innards 1: in order to keep the microswitch closed without using the brake's business end spring I had to install a spring (a section of a de-toothed old saw blade) to the pedal.; 2014_P7700_2245c.jpg (82.89 KiB) Viewed 47403 times

Thanks for watching, and don't reach around a spinning blade!

Posted: **Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:18 pm**

Excellent application Markus. There are 1 or 2 machines i know of that would not pass "OH&S" muster so if you don't mind i will pass your link on to a certain woodie i know. thanks M

Steve

Posted: **Wed Nov 05, 2014 2:19 am**

Cheers Steve. Why would I mind if you help me to become famous?

Of course, a footbrake is not an overwhelming safety feature, it only prevents from getting impatient after switching off the saw, and as a side-effect I also find it nice that there is no more need to stretch my arm to reach the off-button (which a couple of years ago I have retrofitted with a "stop paddle" over the tiny stop switch).

And here a sound sample of the brake to compare the time the saw needs to stop completely - actually more than 15 sec. without braking down to less than 1 second when hitting the brake with violence which doesn't make much sense though because braking smoothly stops it also in about 2 seconds.

youtu.be/

... note how the worn out blade runs!

I'll have to replace it soon.

Posted: **Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:04 pm**

Just checked it out on the other post Markus, and hope someone can get some fame or money

Steve

Posted: **Wed Nov 12, 2014 1:57 pm**

Nice Markus, add a set of handle bars and your off.

Jim

Posted: **Thu Nov 13, 2014 8:26 am**

My laguna bandsaw has one of these factory fitted, it's the first time I'd seen a foot brake on a machine.

Great feature.

Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Give it a brake! :-)

Give it a brake! :-)

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