Qualters & Smith 6” Power Hacksaw

[Dieselman 63]

So as it happened, I was browsing online, bored out of my skull and drinking a few beers around Christmas when I saw this saw in an online auction. Now, I don’t 100% need this, but after a bit of a runaround, I’ve managed to drive the price down to a figure I’m happy with, and I collect tomorrow.

I’m always excited about a new project and I’ve long appreciated these machines. Can’t wait to get it back home and in bits for a repaint

 

[Dieselman 63]

An interesting fact for the trainspotters is that these machines were supplied by the same sole dealers of Colchester lathes in NZ, Jas J Niven & Co.

I know it’s not got a suds pump but my lathe does. If I position it behind the lathe I can run a line from the lathe sump tank (now isolated from the lathe controls and running on single phase with a cap). I’d need to install a splitter and control valve, but it could be a fun project

 

[RonA]

Interesting to see its been mounted on wheels. I have the same machine & it does tend to rock a bit in service.
RonA

 

[Fazerruss]

Use locking castors and it won't move.....

 

[RonA]

Just as a matter of interest paid £50 stering for mine (sold at scrap price from where I worked, they’d just purchased a bandsaw to replace it). How much do they go for in NZ.
RonA

 

[Dieselman 63]

Interesting to see its been mounted on wheels. I have the same machine & it does tend to rock a bit in service.
RonA

Could always turn it into a fairground attraction and ride it around the garage

 

[Dieselman 63]

It’s arrived! I paid $400.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Now for the full year down and inspection.

The hydraulic ram is dead, looks like the gasket is busted, and an internal spring has been flattened. Some work to do here.

The bare metal parts are rusty, this isn’t so much of a problem as I can deal quite well with this. The paint is the usual terrible affair with a few repaints - strip and inspect the surface before repainting methinks.

I’ll put a new motor in, it’s supposed to have a .66hp 1000rpm but that seems unlikely to find, so probably a 1420rpm... single phase from three, and work out how to wire in a cutoff switch. I’m hoping to sell the original switch as a vintage industrial relic. The original motor is fubar’d.

It’s very dirty so I’m going to waterblast it tomorrow After I’ll try and get the base in primer. With the nature of the machine, a ground up restoration is probably best.

 

[RonA]

This thread might prove useful if the rams not working
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/qualters-smith-power-hacksaw-feed.50766/
I’m running mine with a 1hp single phase motor seems to be adequate for the job.
RonA

 

[merryman]

$400, for a machine with a busted ram and motor. They must be worth a lot more in NZ than the UK. I paid about £40 for my cheapo hacksaw at a local machinery auction a couple of years ago, can’t remember the make, made in Ireland. Plugged it in and it was ready to rock and roll, quite literally, as the floor isn’t all that level. The on/off switch is a domestic 240v rocker lighting switch. Looks like it is original equipment too. I fitted an emergency stop as well, because getting your finger onto the rocker switch as the stop control, (an ordinary M6 bolt) descended on it, is quite difficult if anything goes wrong. This spring there was a well maintained and complex looking Starrett hacksaw at the machinery auction, it didn’t make much either, about £30 I think.

 

[Dieselman 63]

$400, for a machine with a busted ram and motor. They must be worth a lot more in NZ than the UK. I paid about £40 for my cheapo hacksaw at a local machinery auction a couple of years ago, can’t remember the make, made in Ireland. Plugged it in and it was ready to rock and roll, quite literally, as the floor isn’t all that level. The on/off switch is a domestic 240v rocker lighting switch. Looks like it is original equipment too. I fitted an emergency stop as well, because getting your finger onto the rocker switch as the stop control, (an ordinary M6 bolt) descended on it, is quite difficult if anything goes wrong. This spring there was a well maintained and complex looking Starrett hacksaw at the machinery auction, it didn’t make much either, about £30 I think.

The switch is 500v. The wires inside it cracked and shattered when I cut them. It’s old... in a bad way.

The ram isn’t busted, just some issues. It still fell slowly for a cut, but would not rise. It’s a unique design with a pump which runs off the cam motion of the flywheel. I’ll post a pic in the morning. The motor however is busted, but I knew I was scrapping it from the get go so no loss there.

Re price, I know what I like machine wise, and whilst I’m prepared to wait, I’m also not prepared to let a chance pass me by. I’ve seen lesser machines go for similar so I’m happy with the price paid.

 

[Dieselman 63]

This thread might prove useful if the rams not working
https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/qualters-smith-power-hacksaw-feed.50766/
I’m running mine with a 1hp single phase motor seems to be adequate for the job.
RonA

Looks good. I like the diagram. How did you refill the cylinder with oil?

 

[RonA]

Looks good. I like the diagram. How did you refill the cylinder with oil?

Through the height “stop” on the top of the ram, it just screws in the top & has a check nut to set the correct height.
RonA

 

[Dieselman 63]

Through the height “stop” on the top of the ram, it just screws in the top & has a check nut to set the correct height.
RonA

The long knurled one? Is there a valve in there?

 

[RonA]

The long knurled one? Is there a valve in there?

Yes it doubles as filling point depth stop. No, its just a knurled length of rod with a screw thread on one end. Its height (locked by the nut) determines the lowest height the blade cuts & when it hits the control lever it causes the leakage hole in the piston to close & the blade frame to rise.
The original lubricant is unavailable but LP 150 general purpose lubricant is a modern equivalent

 

[Rig Pig]

This is the drawing for mine.

 

[RonA]

The arrgt of the oil pump is very similar to the Q&S saw but the leak off from under the piston via a seperate drilling in the casting, is completely different. The Q&S saw has a hole in the piston which is uncovered/covered by a spring loaded bevelled washer to let the blade frame fall/rise as described in the link above.
RonA

 

[Rig Pig]

The arrgt of the oil pump is very similar to the Q&S saw but the leak off from under the piston via a seperate drilling in the casting, is completely different. The Q&S saw has a hole in the piston which is uncovered/covered by a spring loaded bevelled washer to let the blade frame fall/rise as described in the link above.
RonA

The drawing is of the last Q&S power hacksaw design so I'm surprised they changed anything from the previous model

 

[Dieselman 63]

This is the drawing for mine.View attachment 163686

That is truly brilliant, thanks very much for posting!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Lots of metal filings in here, and importantly the hose for the coolant tank is still attached, so I know where to attach it to. Someone has broken two bolts off the vice front plate too.