[evintho]

Found a cheap way to make a stationary bandsaw for cutting plates for brackets and such. Items required are a stick of 1" square tubing and a $2 garage sale 3-1/2" vise.

$2 vise.



Fabbed up a base.



Made a support bar.



Mounted the vise.



Built the table structure.



Table top scrounged from dumpster at work. 1/8" steel.





Mounted the table top.



Chucked my 6230 in the vise and wahlah...........instant stationary bandsaw!









Now, it's not my idea. Gotta give credit to SWAG Offroad for coming up with the original.
http://www.swagoffroad.com/Portaband_V_THREE.html

Nice piece they have but I built basically the same thing in a weekend and saved $100. I'm just cheap that way! Mine is solid and works really well. The vise just holds it in position. All the weight is on the support bar. I gotta do a little finish welding and make some aluminum jaws for the vise so I don't screw up the bandsaw handle too much. I suppose I could clean everything up, paint it and make it look all purdy and such but I've got a roadster frame to build. Purdy's just gonna have to wait!

[nine4gmc]

killer job, i have seen them bolt in but the vise is a good idea!

[EddieK]

Uummm, a little guard around that exposed blade would be a good investment! It only takes a nanosecond to cause enough damage to postpone your next project indefinitely.

[biggsteve]

also....in your yard sale trips, pick up an old electric sewing machine foot pedal. they work like a dimmer switch, but foot operated. great for any power tool. drill press. band saw. etc. plus, keeps your hands free.

[bullheimer]

whens the last time you actually saw any foot pedal sewing machines at a garage sale steve=o?

i was thinkin that instead of building that, the same amount of work could produce a t-bucket frame! but who needs one o those? but then, this would be great to have if you actually did build a frame.

[evintho]

Originally Posted by bullheimer

i was thinkin that instead of building that, the same amount of work could produce a t-bucket frame! but who needs one o those? but then, this would be great to have if you actually did build a frame.

Yeah, well..................that's exactly what I did.

[graydog]

WOW.....great project. Great job.

[Grease_Fever]

Awesome! Love this kind of ingenuity!

[JAllen]

Have47nashambassador, need help on 6voltsystem

[barrnone50]

Very Nice job on the band saw! How big of material can you cut,between the blade and the main body of the saw? Band saw is the only way to go with fabing parts,my buddy has a very nice jet saw,but$$$,yours might just fit the bill. Thanks for sharing!

[graydog]

Originally Posted by bullheimer

whens the last time you actually saw any foot pedal sewing machines at a garage sale steve=o?

He didn't say "machine".....only the pedal.
You can buy a new one on Amazon for $15 here:

Amazon.com: Singer Sewing Machine Foot Pedal: Home & Kitchen

Amazon.com: Singer Sewing Machine Foot Pedal: Home & Kitchen

[timothale]

I didn't use as much tube -angle iron for mine. No pict . I found that clamping in a vise on the bottom by the trigger will cause it to stick later on, I use a 1 inch wide squeezer spring clamp to hold the trigger on, bent to fit I have an upright tube up the back side and another bracket that clamps it near the top handle. the bottom just rests in a curved piece that matches the shape

[evintho]

Originally Posted by barrnone50

Very Nice job on the band saw! How big of material can you cut,between the blade and the main body of the saw? Band saw is the only way to go with fabing parts,my buddy has a very nice jet saw,but$$$,yours might just fit the bill. Thanks for sharing!

The saw has a 4" deep throat. Many times I've flipped a piece around and was able to cut 8".

[machinee]

That's really cool! How does your homemade band saw work? Tried making projects using it?

[evintho]

It works great! It just sits on the floor in a corner and when I need it I slide it out and plug it in. I cut every piece of steel on my roadster frame with it along with a zillion brackets. I'm gonna use it tomorrow when I cut some 1/4" plate to make an adapter for my pedal assembly/master cylinder. I love this thing!