Donkey saw/powered hacksaw

[BrokenBiker]

Looking for inspiration.

I have a rough design in my head but always handy to see what other have done/made so has anyone made a powered hacksaw/donkey saw based off a 12" blade?

I'd love a horizontal bandsaw but space is limited so need something easy to move outside for use and easy to store inside the shed.

Currently using an abrasive chop saw, but cutting through 30-60mm solid bar creates too much noise and you need to be stood there holding it

 

[Agroshield]

Hemingway do a kit one, which likely appeared in days gone by in Model Engineer.

Compact Powered Hacksaw - hemingwaykits.com

Unique projects for the small workshop owner. Please browse our Toolroom and Engine Bay for our latest project kits.

www.hemingwaykits.com

Of the pre-built ones, I think Kennedy is on a reasonably small footprint:

Kennedy Power Hacksaw for collection | eBay UK

The Kennedy Power Hacksaw is a high-quality metalworking tool from the renowned brand Kennedy. This hacksaw is designed specifically for precision cutting and is suitable for a range of metalworking applications. With its durable construction and reliable performance, the Kennedy Power Hacksaw...

www.ebay.co.uk

Have you considered the 'Portaband' size of hand-held bandsaw and making a stand/holder for it?

Pardon our interruption...

See also:

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/forums/topic/hemingway-compact-powered-hacksaw/ (Myfordboy is mentioned)

Power Hacksaw WE54 - Sarik Hobbies - for the Model Builder

Designer: R J Cochrane Designed to work using normal hacksaw blades, and be powered by an electric motor of about 1/4 bhp. No castings are required, uses stock sections and bearings. Access to a small welding set is preferable (Vol.168-169).

www.sarikhobbies.com

 

[hotponyshoes]

The one I have is a really solid, heavy thing.
I'd think it would be cheaper to buy a used one than make the equivalent unless you had a cheap source of parts?

 

[BrokenBiker]

The one I have is a really solid, heavy thing.
I'd think it would be cheaper to buy a used one than make the equivalent unless you had a cheap source of parts?

I have a twin axle trailers worth of steel to utilise, but mostly want to make to ensure it fits the space i have...plus its fun to make things then use those things for other projects

 

[Robotstar5]

 

[BrokenBiker]

View attachment 507472

I started thinking about it last weekend based off seeing this

 

[dieselsamurai]

I think to make one would not be too tricky (please dont give me ideas !!) but for time invested they are so cheap to buy most are around £100 to £150 its just not economical to make one unless like me you just fancy a challenge sometimes

how about something like this much more portable too

 

[julianf]

I started thinking about it last weekend based off seeing this

View attachment 507473

I have one of those. I put it up for sale here a while back but the sale didn't work out.

I can't remember how much I was asking but I think it was less than £100.

There's no chance that one could be built for less.

I'm in Devon, if you're in any way keen.


Note :

They're superb tools, but, very much, a one trick pony. I'm not selling mine for "money" but just that the space / amount of use ratio doesn't really work for me well. I will be sad to see it go, but would also be glad of the space back.

I've owned it about 10 years ish, I guess.

 

[Porkypine]

Brilliant tool, we used a mate's one only the other day to cut some bits of unistrut to length, obviously comes into it's own on thicker materials though.
As others have said prob way easier to just buy one, I bet there's lots of them out there unwanted and available for pennies.

 

[hotponyshoes]

If you are making one it would be nice to make it so you could use different size blades,
I think mine takes 14" blades. It's useful to have the capacity to cut bigger stuff but I normally end up chucking the blade away when only 3" of it is worn out!

I suppose the vice could move around to let you use all the blade. Mine does I think I just don't move it as I'd need to re-square it each time. Maybe mount a swivel vice base on a slider or just make it quick & easy to change blade arms.

Thats one advantage of a band saw is the blade wears out evenly but a downside is the blades take longer to change if you want a different material or tpi.

 

[BrokenBiker]

If you are making one it would be nice to make it so you could use different size blades,
I think mine takes 14" blades. It's useful to have the capacity to cut bigger stuff but I normally end up chucking the blade away when only 3" of it is worn out!

I suppose the vice could move around to let you use all the blade. Mine does I think I just don't move it as I'd need to re-square it each time. Maybe mount a swivel vice base on a slider or just make it quick & easy to change blade arms.

Thats one advantage of a band saw is the blade wears out evenly but a downside is the blades take longer to change if you want a different material or tpi.

I was thinking about an adjustable con rod to alter where the blade sits in relation to the stroke, and thinking about it i could make the top section of the saw telescopic so smaller blades could be used if ever needed.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Brilliant tool, we used a mate's one only the other day to cut some bits of unistrut to length, obviously comes into it's own on thicker materials though.
As others have said prob way easier to just buy one, I bet there's lots of them out there unwanted and available for pennies.

There are a few about for £50ish, but i have no idea on actual condition other than photos and the ones ive seen don't quite tickle my fancy.

The one in the hemmingway kit looks about the right sort of design im after with the gubbins all tucked neatly under the pivoting mechanism. That saw cuts 2", but would be easilly altered to cut 4" and apart from 1 bit of ally tube, ive not needed to cut more than 4" in a very long time and am fully aware you cant build every tool to meet every scenario so 4" would be ideal...the plans are 25 quid and I have an abundance of heavy angle iron to make a base from, small box section for a frame and the pivot, I can get small quantities of brass, stainless or en16 rod quite cheap to make bushes, shafts and clamps etc...

I think it would be a fun project

 

[Porkypine]

There are a few about for £50ish, but i have no idea on actual condition other than photos and the ones ive seen don't quite tickle my fancy.

The one in the hemmingway kit looks about the right sort of design im after with the gubbins all tucked neatly under the pivoting mechanism. That saw cuts 2", but would be easilly altered to cut 4" and apart from 1 bit of ally tube, ive not needed to cut more than 4" in a very long time and am fully aware you cant build every tool to meet every scenario so 4" would be ideal...the plans are 25 quid and I have an abundance of heavy angle iron to make a base from, small box section for a frame and the pivot, I can get small quantities of brass, stainless or en16 rod quite cheap to make bushes, shafts and clamps etc...

I think it would be a fun project

Totally, obviously it's nice to make a custom built thing for your own requirements, and as you say you've lots of metal knocking about, go for it !