I got a new bandsaw!

OutbackL130 · Dec 1, 2013

I found an ellis 1500 bandsaw and drove 5 hours to pick it up for $800.

It's in good shape but appears to have not been used in years. There are a couple things I need to do before putting it to work. The hydraulic downfeed doesnt work and I'm hoping its just out of fluid. Also the vice shaft seems too short to let the vice clamp all the way closed. I'm not sure why it would be like this maybe its just setup wrong or possibly operator error but any material less than 3/4" it wont clamp down.

How do you determine proper downfeed pressure and blade speed?

mhinch · Dec 1, 2013

Here's my old kysor Johnson model j I kinked off craigslist fer $300 with, get this, 100' of 10-14 tpi blade to go with it. Glad grandpa taught me to silver solder!
Best to get manual from web somewhere. Yur probably right on hydraulic cylinder (make sure all fittings and plugs are tight). Do a little research on speeds and feeds. Personally I cut slow on all materials with the saw determining downforce. Best of luck!

Arc weld · Dec 1, 2013

Horizontal bandsaws don't have down pressure. Most of them have a cylinder, usually air but could have oil in it for better metering, with an adjustable valve to limit how fast it drops. Some of the low end saws just rely on the weight of the saw for cutting so you have to be really careful not to let the saw fall on the piece your cutting. Other types use a spring for feed pressure. Better blades will cut pretty aggressively and can pull the saw down too fast.

Shield Arc · Dec 2, 2013

Did your saw come with the cam lock vice, or the screw vice? It didn't take long for me to discover the cam lock vice is a joke! I damaged a $50.00 blade because of that POS!

I ordered the screw vice, nothing has moved since.

OutbackL130 · Dec 2, 2013

I know that cylinder on the left side of the machine is supposed to take some of the head weight off the blade while cutting but mine is just letting the head drop full weight either way I turn the valve. Ellis was nice to put an operation and parts manual on their website. I see there is supposed to be an oil fill plug near the top of the cylinder but I cant find this plug anywhere on mine. I will probably give them a call and ask for their advice on it.

Shield arc that screw vice looks expensive! How much was it? My saw has the cam type. This is my first bandsaw other than a harbor freight 4x6 so there are many things I need to learn about it. I was wondering is the blade supposed to cut into the aluminum bottom plate and if so do you have to replace it every now and then when it gets grooved out in a lot of places from mitering?

Shield Arc · Dec 2, 2013

Oh gezz,:confused3: seems like it was close to $200.00. My saw cuts into the aluminum saw table just a little bit, maybe 1/16-inch. Yes you can buy a replacement saw table, I think I've seen them for around $50.00. I got a piece of aluminum set aside, I'm just going to make one when the time comes.

yomax4 · Dec 2, 2013

I have a spare cylinder with the plastic tube damaged. If you cant get yours to work ( needs oil ) you can have the one I have been storing for 12 years. Just PM me your address.

OutbackL130 · Dec 7, 2013

thanks I got mine to work. It was completely out of oil. I found out my bandsaw was made in 1983 and although the cylinder does not have a plug like they show in the manual for the newer saws, I was able to unscrew the top cap, remove the seals and just fill it through the top opening. Bled the air out and it works like new!

I ordered a new screw vise too.