Warco band saw

[weldingnovice]

Working at a place and they have one 2020 model, it's not been used by anyone still there so thought I'd give it a run out. TBH it looks like a decent thing.

Put a new blade in it and set it up according to the user guide. Its not very good in terms of alignment and accuracy, the cut rate is extremely temperamental and will chuck the blade off if it's pushed beyond glacial cut rate. The vice has no locking mechanism for rotation that is obvious other than two cap screws that also alter its position on it's mount.

A guy I am working with was messing about with the tension screw so I think the blade could be stretched. There are some other new blades that I can try I think they are decent stuff made in the Fatherland.

Any help appreciated feel like I'm pi55ing in the wind with it.

 

[frank horton]

sorry
but heard many bad things about that brand on other modeling forums...Still a Chinese creation...
I had a lucky escape, looking at a little used Worco miller then just at the right time a Bridgeport came along that needed elec work...no competition.....
As for a bandsaw.....all that was available to me was a SIP 12"ncher...faultless and accureate....20 years old now.....gets a lot of heavy use....
the only small prob was the acme scew nut for the vice wore out..

 

[zzr1200]

It really depends on the machine, I have/use a floor standing Warco Mill (Myford even rebranded it and sold it at one stage) it's 45+ years old all the bolt threads are imperial,
it really needs a strip and clean but it's a good serviceable mill.
Here are a few pictures from when I first brought it home 12+ years ago.

Check out Warco's phone number in the 2nd photo

 

[Agroshield]

Check out Warco's phone number in the 2nd photo

You point directly at the issue there: the bandsaw above is the 2020 model not the 1979 one. In that period, the machines were likely Taiwan-made and a lot better.

 

[Erie Fred]

If the blade is coming off, 9 out of 10 it's not tight enough.
Is there some indicator for tightening ?
or is it just by hand feel ?

 

[Other Daniel]

If the blade is coming off, 9 out of 10 it's not tight enough.
Is there some indicator for tightening ?
or is it just by hand feel ?

Or wheel tracking ....

 

[Erie Fred]

Or wheel tracking ....

But only when the feedrate is increased ?
Bad Tracking usually shows up by throwing the blade the second it is turned on.

 

[zzr1200]

You point directly at the issue there: the bandsaw above is the 2020 model not the 1979 one. In that period, the machines were likely Taiwan-made and a lot better.

I'll bet if you look at a high end industrial lathe/milling machine/ saw cold or band, they won't be built the same as those produced by the same companies 40+ years ago. It's a throw away society now, this is why we mainly buy old kit and repair/restore it, plus even good kit by todays' standard is nowhere near as good as the old days...

IMO:- Life span of new industrial kit is 10>15 years max these days.....

 

[zzr1200]

Or wheel tracking ....

Check the bearing and bushing tolerances.

 

[Keith 66]

We had one at college, i hated the poxy thing as it threw its blades with alarming regularity, I have rebuilt several big wood bandsaws including a Stenner & Wadkin so know how to set bandsaws up. That warco was just too flexible to keep the wheels in the correct plane, didnt matter how you set it up or how often the blade came off!