New bandsaw mobile base, coolant setup, and some hot chicks...

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Had to get the crappy base that was under my bandsaw when I got it off of CL out of there, so cut the tack welds that held it in place, measured everything up and made a new base.  Also ordered in a 7 gallon grizzly coolant system so that I can stop burning up spendy bi-metal blades when cutting through thick blocks of SS and Al.Here's the new base all ready to go under the saw:Coolant Tank setup:Yeah, I know a single balanced strap isn't the most osha compliant way to lift this thing...but hell, I balanced it well and I know not to go near either end or get myself under it:Next bit will be to get a dimple die to dimple the coolant drain hole in the saw so it'll more readily allow the coolant down.  Also have to figure out how to put some sort of screen or something around the hole so I don't drain all the chips into the tank (any ideas?).Additional question if anyone knows the answer...what is a good anti-rust additive for water soluble coolant?Here are a couple pics of the sad thing that was the base before this one.  Really sad part is that the guy who I bought this saw from made the base and was proud of it...actually had a shop making roll cages for off-road rigs...I know I kinda made the promise of hot chicks in this thread...this base was actually put together a couple of weeks ago...got the coolant tank yesterday, so took these pics while getting the coolant tank under it.  Can't weld in the shop for the next month or so since I have some chicks locked up in a cage up upstairs...(man you guys have sick minds...they're just six little leghorns that will make us eggs for breakfast just around this summer):--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:For a screen you might look at some cooking strainers (like the old tea strainers). Cut the handle off and drill the hole so it'll slip down in it.Millermatic 252XMT 304'sDynasty 280DXHypertherm PowerMax 1250Miller Trailblazer 302 EFIOptima PulserXR feeder and XR Edge gun and more athttp://members.dslextreme.com/users/waynecook/index.htm
Reply:I've got one of those Carolina bandsaws. Nice little saw.I'd probably opt for something other than the dimple die myself. If you dimple die it, you'd still need to make something to attach a drain line as that tank doesn't look set up for a straight drain. I'd be tempted to add something like a sump to the bottom of the saw and run the drain for the sump in from the side. That would help settle out chips that might get past a top screen. If you set the sump up so it bolts to the base vs welding it direct, you can trap the screen between the base and the sump and use a gasket if need be. That could also help facilitate cleaning the pan. Drop the sump, then use the hole to rake out all the chips and so on into a bucket for occasional heavy cleaning..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Nice setup. As for lifting you are only going up inches instead of 50 stories. Nicks chicks too. All hens ? It's amazing how they determine their sex. I would get tired blowing the feathers away.   My home raised chickens and pigs make for a rewarding breakfast.
Reply:+1 on putting a sump (bucket) that the hole in the bottom pan of the saw drains into.  Then you have the coolant pump draw from that sump/bucket (but not from the bottom!!).  Chips and chunks fall and settle into the bottom of the sump/bucket and just fluid goes back to the coolant pump.  Some baffles and 'shields' to keep chips and swarf from falling or swirling right into the pump intake hose may be needed or not.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Good idea!
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749Looks really good.What did the pump set,you back? BTW, HOT chicks
Reply:This is something along the lines of what DSW mentioned.If you have room for it, and are so inclined, you might want to do a 2 stage drain back system.  First stage would be the exclusion filter or screen/strainer that you already thought of.  This would catch the big chips/shavings.Second stage would be a simple "coffee can" type of container for the first stage outlet to drain into.  You don't really even need to make a drain port in the second stage container if you have a large enough area under the can for it to drain onto, just let it fill up and run over the top edge to drain into the sump basin where your pump picks up the liquid. But, if you want to eliminate any possibility of splash from the coolant stream dripping off, just braze a piece of tubing for a nipple within an inch of the top of the can and add a length of hose to carry the outflow to the pump sump.  The second stage container allows the heavier metal dust and fines to drop to the bottom of the container while the liquid portion just overflows on into the sump, leaving the fine stuff in the bottom of the second stage basin.  Then you occasionally empty the catch can of its collection of fine material.
Reply:I chatted with Monroe Fluid Technology out in NY and I'm going to go with their Astro-Saw A water soluble cutting oil at a 5% mix with water and they recommended 10% mix of food grade propylene glycol to keep it from freezing in the winter.  I think I've got the sump idea worked out in my head...probably run up a cad model tonight to make sure it makes sense overall.--Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:Originally Posted by wintermuteI'll have to see what I can do there.  The coolant tank takes it's return as a gravity feed straight down into the tank.  I may be able to rig up a sump that would slide into some slots underneath the existing coolant drain hole and have that sump connect to the tank hose.  With a screen and some baffles in it I think it may work and would allow me to slide it out to clean the chips out of it.  I'd probably still dimple the existing hole just so that it drains a bit easier.  I'll see what I can come up with...unfortunately though, the bucket idea wouldn't work as I'd have to pump the coolant out of the bucket and into the coolant tank :/--Wintermute
Reply:Originally Posted by wintermuteT I like the pig idea...was actually thinking that myself, but my wife is a bit against it based on the work to take care of them and where to put them.
Reply:For me the big problem with pigs would be that I'd have to take out a number of trees in the back of the property to keep them far enough away from the house so the smell doesn't get to us.  Once there out there, the next two problems are getting food to them and the output away from them and finally, I'd have to keep them from being cougar food since they'd be in the woods where the cougars tend to hunt through.  I think lambs and goats would be easier with the wife since she loves lamb for dinner and she thinks goats are cute --Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:Here's what I'm thinking for the sump...maybe over-engineering it...but hey, stick with what you're good at and I'm good at over engineering --Wintermute"No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience." - John Lockewww.improvised-engineering.comManufacturer Agnostic:Blood----------Sweat---------Tears----|------------------|----------------|----Lincoln Red, Miller Blue, Esab Yellow
Reply:my jet saw has a couple of ingenious features to prevent chips from getting into the reservoir. one is a wire wheel that the blade has to pass over which cleans it. another is a sheet metal strip spot welded across the catch basin to further strain the cutting solution before it drains through a perforated disk into the holding tank. i last cleaned the reservoir a few years ago and don't recall lots of filings on the bottom. i couldn't really see from your post but i'll take a couple pics later this am, maybe you could incorporate these features on your saw.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Glad you posted this about the sump and pump.  I started working on our saw and ordered a cheap pump from wholesale tools but have not  gotten it together yet. I wondered how solid that Grizzly system was. Hope yours does great.
Reply:I like that a lot. I'm steali...errrr. Liberating ! the design for my vertical bandsaw. Gracias Bubble gumTooth pixDuct tapeBlack glueGBMF hammerScrew gun --bad battery (see above)
Reply:I have on of these caroilina and the coolant and chips, shavings  tend to follow the blade movement to finally drip on the bottom right and shavings accumulate inside the right housing it splashes every where, mine had the original pan  on the right (red) a hose to take coolant from the upper pan and some kind of plate to add in angle to pick the extra splash, i just put a piece of very fine mesh (the kind for fire-place doors) in blue, folded over the top. It still splashes the floor a bit, the pump if i recall, a small little giant is about 18 yrs old and still running... (not used on a regular basis i admit)