Thread: Retrofittting a bandsaw brake?

The only form of bandsaw brake I am aware of is just what you describe - a rub pad of some sort that is applied by a foot pedal. Your school shop should be able to make one from bits on hand, just make sure that the brake pad is trailing, otherwise a vigourous application will cause the whole thing to jam & probably break the brake. Oh, and make sure it is reasonably out of the way so it is not used as a foot rest by the operator, but can still be readily reached.

A few months or so ago, Fine Woodworking had a short article on a US school that was so paranoid about being sued by an injured student that they converted all their stationary power tools to hand crank operation - one student cranks the machine while another cuts the wood!

Why do they want to fit a brake? I can't imagine it will make the saw any safer. It would have to be automatic to do so. It's not like some kid would have the presence of mind to stomp in the brake if something goes wrong.

Mick

Hi Nick,
I am a Man Arts teacher myself.I would offer a word of caution in that in a legal situation exists if teachers were found to have altered a machine and a student is injured. Some bottom feeding lawyer will ignore what you and I call common sense to try to hang the blame on the teacher.

Of course, it is beyond the usual realms of common sense but I am sure that you are aware of "duty of care" that teachers work under and lawyers may try to exploit.I am not criticising, but merely offer advice based on similiar personal experience . Our " name brand" departmental approved bandsaw arrived fully fitted out with the verticall adjustable guard exposing 50mm or so of moving blade to student fingers.If the kid slipped while pushing the timber without a push stick - big injury. I obtained a piece of Lexan and drilled and tapped the guard so that the lexan completely covered the exposed blade when the saw guard was in the lowest position. I had a hard time convincing the managerial boofheads that the mod was legimate.

The department Manuals state that ypu can't alter machine.We covered our rrses by having a enginneer check it out.

To date the only student who has been injured on the bandsaw was one who ignored the teachers operating instruction and written posted procedure and flicked the waste away with a flick of the finger.The blade cut part way into the back of the knuckle of his index finger.

If the managers insist on the mod have them send it out to be done-its then their duty of care -not yours.The state Work Health and Safety dept should have an opinion on this proposed mod .It may be benificial to seek an opinion.

I hope this will assist you
Grahame

I am studying manual arts teaching at Uni at the moment. This semester particularly teaching methods and realistic expectations of adolescent behaviour. One of the lecturers mentioned a case similar to this whereas the student using a machine must stay at the machine until it had stopped moving. This was to ensure that no-one accidently touched the machine while it was slowing down possibly causing an accident.

I know it sounds a bit much, but unfortunately teachers have to everything possible to cover their backsides.

I'm with Graham on this, and its not just schools...if you modify a machine in the workplace, you are deemed to be a manufacturer. The onus is on you to have engineered it to spec. and if someone has an accident...get yourself a lawyer!
As for the brake on a bandsaw, the ones I've come across don't really stop it in an emergency. You have to turn it off first, and the brake is applied, as Wood Butcher says, to stop rotation before moving away from the machine. No doubt one could be knocked together, but as it will be used in a school, I'd push for a new one with that feature engineered in to start with. Then put in a tender to take the old beauty off their hands!

Cheers,

Just like everyone else, I'd stongly suggest you ask the management to find a way to get a new saw, already fitted with an approved emergency braking system, or have an approved/engineered brake fitted by
an approved repairer.

Regrettably, it's not possible to make something safe by yourself anymore, especially where someone else is likely to come into contact with said 'thing'.

On my own bandsaw, I have toyed with the idea of using a spare bicycle disc brake connected to a foot lever that also cuts the power. I'd have to stand on the lever to cut power, and at the same time apply brakes to the wheels. I have the brakes there, they are more than strong enough for a smaller saw and they are very reliable.

An idea to throw at whoever you get to do the modification.