Mystery bench top hacksaw

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Hi All,

This small bench top hacksaw was acquired the other day, but I have no idea of the make,age,etc..

Hope some of our members can cast some light on it.

 

Phil

Edited By Robbo on 12/06/2013 20:01:44

Edited By Robbo on 12/06/2013 20:04:30

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

[oldveloParticipant @oldvelo]

Hi Robbo

A nice little project to restore with a bit of TLC and Gear Motor fitted will be a great "Model Makers "

tool.

Sorry I have no information for it.

Aim for a cutting speed of 80 to 120 strokes per minute and cutting on the "Pull Stroke" Clock wise from the pulley side.

Have fun

Eric

[Neil GreenawayParticipant @neilgreenaway71611]

HI phil,

Looks like there is a hydraulic dashpot fitted so i would set it to cut on the forward stroke, the dashpot will hold the blade off the cutting surface during the return stroke and should remake contact with the blade again ready for the next forward stroke. This reduces blade wear.

Neil

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Hi Robbo,

These were made from castings supplied I think by Cowells, not sure if this is the same Cowells as make the lathes & mills but they were called Cowells.

In the 1960's our local college used to buy sets of these and the ones for the Dore Westbury milling M/C and have the apprentices make them in the workshops many were then sold and if you were lucky !!!

John

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Hi all,

Thanks for that John, I suspected it might be a kit job, that gives me a date anyway. The only info I had on that score was that it belonged to somebody's Dad. Obviously there are a lot of bits missing, motor, gearing,switchgear etc, but nothng that can't be fabricated or replaced. I do have one of the old-style "knock-off" switches left from a "Duplex" hacksaw build, but a modern NVR is simpler and probably safer.

Ian, there is a dashpot, of the same style as fitted to the "Kennedy" hacksaws, a piston with a circle of holes and a floppy washer underneath – thanks for the cutting direction.

Eric, I got it for restoration, and have a selection of motors to trial, though when I tried one of them it got hot and emitted a lot of smoke, at which point I switched it off. It was a split-phase and I think the centrifugal switch was bu—-ed. It would have needed a countershaft anyway. Next up are 2 motors with gearboxes built on.

You may detect here a certain obsession with mechanical hacksaws, and I have to hold my hand up to that!

Phil

[Stephen Houston 1Participant @stephenhouston1]

Robbo

I have a full working version of your find

the motor is 1/4 HP, Drive pulley is 1" Dia, Driven pulley is 7", 3/4" wide flat belt, the dashpot has flow v/v were the hex plug is,

The right hand side has a spring operated holed up that resets the micro switch when pushed away from you and starts

the saw, the adjuster screw on the frame will switch the saw off once it has cut though the metal.

I have mine under the bench, I just put what ever i what to cut in the saw and walkaway.

[RobboParticipant @robbo]

Thanks for that Stephen, and the PM. The "system" didn't alert me to this new post, so didn't see it until I was browsing.

This info and the pictures you sent will be a big help when I can get around to doing something with it. At the moment still in a box on the shelf.

Phil

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