Keller HY-DUTY power hacksaw returned from the dead

[warezdog]

Bought it here for $36 Public Surplus: Auction #1365513

Planned on selling it and almost did but then the guy didn't show and I decided to keep it.

Cleaned out 3 gallons of sludge and cuttings from the tank, this thing probably sat idle for the last 15 years.

Wire brushed for hours getting the caked on oil/mud off table and arm. Pulled apart the oil pump and cleaned out sludge, works like a champ now.

$40 5gal bucket of A32

$15 for three belts, only needed 2 but measured wrong

$22 for 6 new blades off ebay

$7.95 for oil brass bushing ebay

10 hours cleaning/tinkering/tweaking

Result-priceless

For just under $125 I have a beast that cuts true and square. This was the first cut, 2x2 .188 square tube. Its also hydraulically fed and you can control the rate with the large wheel, pretty impressed with this old school American iron.

There are other vids posted, one receiver tube, cold rolled 1/2" x 4" flat bar, and one of the results of those cuts.

I don't think I could have gotten a HF metal bandsaw to cut as well for twice the price. I don't know the exact year and maybe one of you will but the only history I find on them is late 40's to early 50's.

Hope to have it bolted down new years weekend, trying to film and operate it on a moving dolly while holding a camera didn't make it easy!

 

[Pin_Head]

That is a cool machine, but I think you have the wrong blade. We have a Starrett at work with a 10 TPI Starrett blade and it will cut a 2x2 solid bar in about a quarter of the time.

 

[scrapdaddy]

I've seen those at auctions and thought about one, like you I have a passion for old iron.

Good Job!

 

[warezdog]

That is a cool machine, but I think you have the wrong blade. We have a Starrett at work with a 10 TPI Starrett blade and it will cut a 2x2 solid bar in about a quarter of the time.

I had the feed rate set to slowest and that blade ended up being shot, with the 1/2" cold rolled flat bar I increased the hydro feed and changed to a second blade that came with it and it went thru that in about 3 minutes.

I got 6 new blades on Saturday which 4 are 10tpi and the other 2 are 14tpi, three are Lenox and three are Disston. I haven't had time to put them on but come new years weekend I'll move it to its permanent home and have time to mess more with the lift on the forward stroke I'll swap in a new blade, it's actually supposed to lift off the work slightly on the non cutting stroke.

I've seen those at auctions and thought about one, like you I have a passion for old iron.

Good Job!

Thanks!

I do love the old iron and it seemed like a shame to not give this old girl a little luvin' and see what it could do for just a few bucks.

It turned out to be a good investment compared to buying a new HF bandsaw for around $200 and having to spend as much time with it to get it to feed and cut right, plus the cost of those bandsaw blades aren't cheap either.