Ok to add coolant to band saw?

[DAB_Design]

I have a (cheap HF) horizontal band saw that wasn't set up for coolant when purchased. Would it be ok to rig up some sort of coolant? The motor is up and out of the way, and I'm not too worried about rust (a little wd-40 every so often will take care of that).

I don't see any issues. Is there something I'm missing?

[kong]

I think this kind of thing is very common, I have often thought about setting up a small line dribbling onto the blade. The biggest problem I can see is finding a way to collect the spent coolant afterwards!

[DAB_Design]

Well I figured most of the coolant would stay on the vise area. Which isn't very large. So maybe just using one of those big aluminum disposable turkey pan things. When done, run it through a coffee filter.

Now how hillbilly is that?

[kong]

I knew I had a link somewhere - this guy has built a nice stand for his bandsaw and incorporated coolant pump with drip tray. It is one of those projects I would like to do, but can't find the time for!
http://www.frugalmachinist.com/bandsaw.html

[ESjaavik]

The blade will be happy if you give it more than a drib. Then rather run dry. When dry, the chips fall away, when liberal amount of coolant it carries the chips away. With a bit of coolant the chips gets "muddy" and clings to the blade and in the slot.

No problem to catch what goes directly down, just make a pan to collect it. But you also need 2 pails, one under each end of whatever you put in the saw if it reaches out over the sides of the pan. The good thing is it does not let go until it comes to the end. I just have 2 plastic pails handy.

I use no filters, just 2 chambers with a low ledge between them, one under the return tube where the chips settle before the coolant flows over to the reservoir.

[JFettig]

I thought about doing this to mine a while back, although I used some and it made the blade all nasty, same with the wheels and it would slip.

I got myself a 6-10 tpi bimetal blade from grizzly and it decreased my cut time about 10x. I would suggest you go with that first.

Jon

[joe1970]

I have always just used a squirt bottle on the blade a couple of squirts once and a while will work wonders... I also mount a steel or brass brush to wipe the chips off the blade (some where behind the vise) using coolant will make chips stick to the blade and depending on what type of material you are cutting could clog the blade and you will have an oops on your hands.....

[pfred1]

I'm with joe1970 and the spray bottle approach here on my HF 4x6. And as far as muddy chips go in this thread they have not been a problem for me here. They seem to help keep some coolant near the cut as best as I can tell. When I am done I blow dry the saw with compressed air.

[torker]

I added a coolant system to my 4X6 saw two years ago. Bent up a big pan that fits between the saw base and the stand, got a plastic bucket and mounted a parts washer pump in it. Use radiator taps to control the flow. I'd never go with out it again. I have no idea how much longer blades last but it is a lot! I'm thinking ten times longer when cutting steel. I saw a lot of solid round 4" mild steel and 4" 4140 with mine. Without coolant an ordinary carbon blade would get dull before the first cut was done. With bi-metal blades I get a couple of months or more.
Russ