Replies

1. 
   DougF | Sep 09, 2006 04:53pm | #1

   Grainger

2. 
   Napie | Sep 09, 2006 07:11pm | #2

   All things for small bandsaws

    

   Iturra Design
   4636 Fulton RD
   Jacksonville, FL 32225-1332
   1.888.722.7078 voice
   1.904.642.2802 fax

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 09, 2006 11:54pm | #3

   Thanks for the ideas.

   I've tried the Grainger site before, but I can't seem to negotiate to the right part for pulleys - perhaps a phone call to them will sort that out.

   Iturra also sounds promising - I'll try them on Monday.

   Mike

1. 
   EdHarrow | Sep 10, 2006 01:02am | #4

   McMaster-Carr.  They also sell Fenner drive belts.

   http://www.mcmaster.com/

3. 
   gb93433 | Sep 10, 2006 08:09am | #5

   Grainger sells Browning cast iron pulleys up to almost any size you can imagine.

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 10, 2006 06:10pm | #6

   OK, here's where my stupid shows.  Is a cast iron pulley's outer diameter and belt ways always machined as part of the manufacturing process? 

   The reason I ask is that folks tell me that in order to improve my stock pulley's out-of-round-ness, I will need to replace them with "machined" pulleys.

   Thanks for your patience.

   MikeIf my hands were only as smart as my head.

1. 
   gb93433 | Sep 10, 2006 09:42pm | #7

   My understanding is that the pulley is machined. Those I have used on machinery have made an incredible difference in the smoothness. I have found Browning to be an excellent company. Often the vibration on a machine is due to the seam in the V Belt.At http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/productIndex.shtml?originalValue=Browning&L2=Sheaves&operator=mfgRefinementSearch&L1=BrowningI found 512 Browning sheaves. At http://www.grainger.com go to the search by MFR/Brand tab and then click on Browning and then sheaves. You will get 512 hits.

   Edited 9/10/2006 2:47 pm by gb93433

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 11, 2006 04:02am | #8

   EXCELLENT!

   Thanks,

   MikeIf my hands were only as smart as my head.

2. 
   TKanzler | Sep 11, 2006 08:28pm | #9

   CI sheaves (pulleys) always have machined grooves and bores, and usually the OD and a bit of the rim is trued up as well.  For a slow-speed, small sheave application such as a bandsaw, I wouldn't worry about sourcing sheaves milled from bar stock, and I don't think anyone makes them for the arbor anyway. 

   Be careful about the diameter, though.  Many CI sheaves are made for two different sized belts, like A or 4L (1/2" across the top) and B or 5L (5/8" across the top).  Use the Pitch Diameter (PD) for sizing them.  Die-cast aluminum sheaves go by the OD, and the PD is usually about 0.15" less than that.  But the OD of a CI sheave can be much larger than it's PD, depending on belt size.

   If you're replacing a die-cast sheave, subtract 0.15" from the OD, and that's the PD you're looking for in a CI sheave.  If you get the PD's right for the belt width you're using, the same belt will go right back on.Be seeing you...

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 12, 2006 12:09am | #10

   Hi, and thanks for the information.

   Since I just hit the order button an hour ago at McMaster-Carr, it's too late to change now.  However, I'll take what you've told me and see if I could have done a better job.  And, if what I've ordered does not work as I expect, I'll know how to do it right, next time.  Yep, I just checked my order status - shipped.

   Again, thanks -

   MikeIf my hands were only as smart as my head.

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 13, 2006 05:14am | #11

   Many thanks to all who responded bo my question regarding replacement pulleys.  McMaster-Carr turned out to be the place that could both help me with my questions and allow me to order the needed pulleys via e-net.

   I received them this afternoon, and immediately went to the shop to see if they were really what I needed to finish taming the Ridgid BS1400 that I had recently purchased.  Just out of the crate, it literally shook like a dog every two seconds or so, with a really annoying vibration in between.  Balancing the main wheels, replacing the drive belt with a segmented belt, and throwing away the stock blade in favor of a decent one went a long way to making the saw work right - no more dog shake, but still a LOT of vibration that ruined any chance of doing precision work, especially resawing.  I suspected out of round pulleys. 

   Naturally, the key-ways on the Ridgid are wider than standard, so, being impatient, I carefully enlarged the key-ways on the new cast-iron, machined and balanced pulleys and installed them.

   Ahhhhhh, sweetness....  The little BS1400 finally runs like a piece of real woodworking machinery.  No dog shake or vibration at all.  Quiet, smooth, runs like it should (as you can see, I'm kind of jazzed).

   MikeIf my hands were only as smart as my head.