Bandsaw stand - new project - idea's wanted

[steve_b]

I am looking at the existing stand (a DIY that came with the unit when I bought it used) on my bandsaw. The existing stand has a 1/2hp (1725) motor hung underneath - tension by gravity..

I have sitting in a corner a 1hp (3450 rpm) that I thought would be the ideal to put in. (or just keep using the 1/2hp?)

Since I like the idea of mobility in the shop (my BT3100 has flip down feet with wheels) and the fact that I am on an uneven garage floor. Could I put the bandsaw on a stand that has 3 points on contact to the floor - 2 under the table are and the 3rd off to the side (under the motor). I would move or place the motor up and out to the side and a slide and clamp to tension feature. Changing pulleys to give blade speed around 1500fpm (as a compromise) and using the under the saw area for storage and adding some form of flip down feet to wheel it around.

Kind of loose design features - but I'm just trying to work through some idea's.

Thanks for any feedback ...

Stephen

[LCHIEN]

3 point is notoriously unstable.
The tip lines can be determined by drawing a line from each point of contact.
In this case a triangle.
The center of weight must remain inside this triangle or it will tip over. The closer the center of weight (or center of gravity as its called) to the line the less stable it is.

the center of gravity is the theoretical balance point... tending towards the heaviest parts... if you had to balance this on a pole then that point where the pole would contact is the COG.

Even assuming the unit is perfectly balanced (COG in the center) the stability is much better for a square than for a triangle.... there just mnot much distance from the center of a triangle to the edges by its nature.

[dlminehart]

Loring's explanation leads me to the image of a square inscribed inside a triangle. You can picture how much bigger the triangle has to be to include the square . . . and then consider that the square is equally stable. Perhaps the solution is to have one of four wheels with adjustable height, to counteract the uneven floor.

[poolhound]

Stephen,

I agree with Loring that 3 points of contact is not a very good idea especially if the item e.g. bandsaw has lots of weight.

I (and I am sure others) are all troubled with uneven floors. If you work in a garage,as I do, then as well as the general variations in surface there will be a slope that by design goes towards the door so water will not run in. the slope gets worse the closer to the door. My swamp cooler goes there and even though its only approx 3ft sq I have to prop up the rear end at least 1/4" to make it level.

I have been looking at various solutions for my mobile tools and benches that all live around the edge when the cars are in there and get moved when in use. Just relying on casters doesnt work unless you know there is a pretty flat spot. I am going to be adding some adjustable feet that will take the unit off the casters and enable leveling. One option is to use lag bolts with captive nuts e.g. T-Nuts and a foot. for my heavy bench I think I am going to get a set of these from rockler.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?p...ilter=leveling