Rapidor Power Hacksaw in need of tlc!

[blacksmithstris]

A few years ago I bought this for £5, I thought what a bargain! I used it a little bit at first, then it sort of fell by the wayside as it has a broken bit of the vice that holds the steel for cutting. I don't normally cut bigger stuff, I mainly work with thin bar (6-16mm) so I've just got into the habit of using my grinder with cutting disc to cut stuff as I don't usually need accurate cuts. However, I decided to dig it out last week as I needed to cut up some really big angle as I'm making a stand for my Post Vice and Swage Block. Still works fine, if a little slow which could be down to the blade being dull, the motor is really rattly though, and as you can see it generally is in a sorry state, needs a good clean...

I am wondering how, if at all I might be able to fix the broken bit, I've attached a pic. It's broken off right through the threaded hole. I don't have the part that has broken off. Perhaps I might be able to find a replacement if someone has one of these that doesn't work anymore? Where would be a good place to advertise for something like that?

Also, the tray that catches the waste "metal dust" for want of a better word is completely full and has fused into a big solid lump. (It was like that when I got it) I've tried chiseling it out and managed to get the top layers off, but it gets more stubborn at it gets further down, anyone have any suggestions how to get rid of this, I've soaked it in oil, that helped a bit, or is it just down to elbow grease and a bigger chisel??

There is also a pot with a rod in it full of "gunk", I'm guessing it might be a kind of damper? what should it be filled with?

Anything else I should be aware of? I'm not experienced at taking machines apart, just operating them, I'll just excuse myself now if I don't explain myself well, use the wrong terminology or say something that doesn't make sense!! Pictures aren't the best, I don't have very good lighting in my workshop.

Thanks in advance for any advice you might be able to give!

 

[stormin]

We've got the same saw in the workshop at Ellenroad Engine museum.
The pot filled with gunk you refer to is actually the hydraulic lift to raise the saw arm. There should be a small lever down to the right and rear of the saw as you look from the front and above the vice. it'll turn about 180 degrees. In the up position the blade will raise whilst the motor is running and in the down it will lower to cutting position.

Why not just replace the broken vice? The one on the saw at Ellenroad is slightly different with a quick adjust feature, using a tilting lever and rack system underneath the vice. I could get a photograph of it this weekend when Im back there, give you an idea if yours can be modified to be similar.

They may be old but they're a good solid piece of kit and well worth persevering with in my opinion. Biggest problem on ours is the coolant feed.

 

[brightspark]

cut the bad broken piece out and make a square cube of steel to fit between the rails drill and tap it for the vice bolt and drill and tap the side rails to hold it in with grubscrews the main pillars on the vice take the strain that bolt is just to turn the angle the dashpot just uses any 20 50 oil i never bother usin the one on mine. it relieves the blade on the backstroke but the blades last ages without it . if i want it to cut fast i press down on the saw frame while its running

 

[blacksmithstris]

Hi Stormin, Thanks, Yes, I was reminded of how good it actually is when I used it again after not using it for sooooo long!!! It cuts rather nicely, the thing weighs a tonne though, which is a bit annoying as I have a small workshop so it's stored parallel to the wall and when I need to use it I swing it out from the wall. Perhaps it could use some wheels on one end. Yes, I would like to see the vice that you mention.

Brightspark, that's a great idea!! I don't have a tap that big though, so I would have to get one, and I'm going to guess it's not a metric thread!! Any idea what kind of thread it would be? Or is that a silly question?

 

[brightspark]

Hi Stormin, Thanks, Yes, I was reminded of how good it actually is when I used it again after not using it for sooooo long!!! It cuts rather nicely, the thing weighs a tonne though, which is a bit annoying as I have a small workshop so it's stored parallel to the wall and when I need to use it I swing it out from the wall. Perhaps it could use some wheels on one end. Yes, I would like to see the vice that you mention.

Brightspark, that's a great idea!! I don't have a tap that big though, so I would have to get one, and I'm going to guess it's not a metric thread!! Any idea what kind of thread it would be? Or is that a silly question?

there all whitworth but u can just get a standard metric bolt of simlar size as u would have to thread the cube to suit

 

[blacksmithstris]

there all whitworth but u can just get a standard metric bolt of simlar size as u would have to thread the cube to suit

Doh! Yeah, I should just put my brain in gear eh!!!

Yours looks nice and shiny!!

 

[brightspark]

Doh! Yeah, I should just put my brain in gear eh!!!

Yours looks nice and shiny!!

it was copletely re built new bushes bearings and the guide bars surface ground 30 years ago apart from oiling the bars and greasing the bushes its never been touched apart from a new belt

 

[blacksmithstris]

Mine definitely needs a switch for it as well, it is wired up so that I have to plug it in or unplug it to turn it off or on, and the wheels have no guards, complete health and safety nightmare, but I'm living dangerously for now.

 

[blacksmithstris]

if i want it to cut fast i press down on the saw frame while its running

You seem to live dangerously as well, then!

 

[ronan]

Hi Stormin, Thanks, Yes, I was reminded of how good it actually is when I used it again after not using it for sooooo long!!! It cuts rather nicely, the thing weighs a tonne though, which is a bit annoying as I have a small workshop so it's stored parallel to the wall and when I need to use it I swing it out from the wall. Perhaps it could use some wheels on one end. Yes, I would like to see the vice that you mention.

Brightspark, that's a great idea!! I don't have a tap that big though, so I would have to get one, and I'm going to guess it's not a metric thread!! Any idea what kind of thread it would be? Or is that a silly question?

Find a supermarket trolley in the local canal and take the castors off it and fit them to the saw, we had one exactly the same in my old job, we could move it about and stick it out of the way when it wasn't used, it was sadly skipped when a new one was bought, i am still sorry i didn't take it.

 

[MattF]

With regards to that rusted heap of filings which won't shift, soaking it in some mild citric acid solution overnight should loosen that up.

 

[blacksmithstris]

Find a supermarket trolley in the local canal and take the castors off it and fit them to the saw, we had one exactly the same in my old job, we could move it about and stick it out of the way when it wasn't used, it was sadly skipped when a new one was bought, i am still sorry i didn't take it.

Unfortunately, (or rather fortunately) where I live there is not often a supermarket trolley in the river, (no canals either!) but I imagine some heavy duty casters wouldn't be that expensive, but they would need to be put on in such a way that they would only work once the saw is tipped. As it is the whole saw shuffles very slowly forward on it's own when it's on!

With regards to that rusted heap of filings which won't shift, soaking it in some mild citric acid solution overnight should loosen that up.

I wonder if vinegar would do it as well,I've got a 5l jug of it I use for removing scale from items. I assume citric acid would be stronger than vinegar and might be an idea to have some of that around anyway- as I imagine it would work quicker.

 

[ronan]

They are a great saw and well worth having and saving.

 

[MattF]

I wonder if vinegar would do it as well,I've got a 5l jug of it I use for removing scale from items. I assume citric acid would be stronger than vinegar and might be an idea to have some of that around anyway- as I imagine it would work quicker.

Any mild acid should work. Whatever you use, it may need a couple of applications. Just make sure you rinse it off with hot water when you've done to flush/neutralise any remaining acid.

I had some of that type of filings residue on something of mine a while ago. Wouldn't shift for love nor money to start with, but once I started derusting the piece, it made it quite flaky and a lot easier to remove.

 

[500e]

Man should be horse whined for letting his tool get in that state
Think the one we have is slightly newer

 

[graffian]

Man should be horse whined for letting his tool get in that state
Think the one we have is slightly newer

Is that when a horse whines in your ear?

lovely saws, mine walked around when I ran it on a gatwick trolley;-)
blades last a lot longer if you use coolant.

 

[candor]

What do all the various controls do? Got one recently and going to tinker around over christmas hopefully.

 

[normspanners]

Find a supermarket trolley in the local canal and take the castors off it

To save gettin ya feet wet, The trolleys are only a pound at our asda-------------thats only 25p a caster! ha

 

[ronan]

To save gettin ya feet wet, The trolleys are only a pound at our asda-------------thats only 25p a caster! ha

Wow , i am surprised the scrap metal tea leaves haven't copped on to that scam.

 

[blacksmithstris]

To save gettin ya feet wet, The trolleys are only a pound at our asda-------------thats only 25p a caster! ha

Wow , i am surprised the scrap metal tea leaves haven't copped on to that scam.

Around here they're free at the Waitrose, and the Co-op!!

(Am only just sayin', of course!)