Post by LarryS on Feb 18, 2012 17:43:47 GMT -5
Finally rigged up a gravity feed system for my 10" Covington saw. Now I have the option to either run the existing modern power feed on smaller rocks or use old school gravity feed for the large rocks. I only cut insanely hard jasp-ag. In past posts we discussed problems I was having with the motor over heating or locking up. I switched pulleys to increase my BD 303 blade speed to 2100rpm which made a major difference. Also added a on/off toggle switch to the power feed motor. While at Covington's factory, I had a long discussion with Brian, the head tech who assembles and repairs the machines. Super nice guy by the way!
Brian stated that you can not have both power & gravity feed at the same time because of the way the 10" saw is designed. He showed me the roller that they place between the blade shield bolt and a tab that is a part of the table casting located near the power feed motor. They install a longer 1/4" bolt on the blade shield and another one on that tab, which holds the roller in place.
They drill a hole in the vice frame where you'll see a tab in the vice casting. He said you can make a hook and attach the string to the vice shaft and let the string go over the roller and run between the motor and tank frame. But you'd have to drill a hole in the base table for the string to run through.
They could still install a gravity feed system by just using a roller half the length and install it using a double nut method on some all threaded rod running between both mounting locations. It would clear the power feed. But that's too easy! You can actually make your own pulley. Just use a screw or 1/4" bolt with washers and a plastic or metal bushing as the roller. These are available in those special hardware drawers at most hardware stores. But I went high tech and bought a pulley.
I had many ideas to work around this and use parts I had laying around in the garage. Went to an ACE hardware store and bought a small pulley for $3.00. Had a 6" L bracket laying around and screwed everything to the back corner of the base table. Used some string I use to tie up my tomato plants and tied it to a 1 gallon Jesco grit bucket I had laying around. I'm experimenting using liquid weight measurement now and it is working out great. 8 oz or 1/2 lb does make a difference! The power feed is actually designed to have 5 pounds of pulling force before the clutch slips.
I attach the string to the vice knob. This is the location where I push feed the vice to speed things up anyway so figured it would be a good place for the string to pull. Just make sure everything is lubed up properly and moves freely.
The string clears everything. One thing Brian mentioned is you need a consistent pulling force with the string. One concern I had was what would happen when the rock is finished cutting and the vice would go slamming back? I installed a stick behind the vice to stop it from crashing.
As many of you know, I've been having issues with Lube Cool. I'm currently experimenting with RV antifreeze, Borax, etc. Main issue with Lube Cool is Goober is allergic to it and had to stop using it. RV antifreeze is ok but it fogs too much, fogging up the plexiglass hood so you can't see what's going on inside. They use RV antifreeze for fog machines in Hollywood by the way. It's safe. Also I stopped cleaning the saw in Goober's dog compound and had to cut his chain link fence and install a gate so I can roll the saw to a new dump/cleaning location. Still need to add some paving stones. Diane would get mad at Goober if he tracks mud inside the house.
LarryS
Brian stated that you can not have both power & gravity feed at the same time because of the way the 10" saw is designed. He showed me the roller that they place between the blade shield bolt and a tab that is a part of the table casting located near the power feed motor. They install a longer 1/4" bolt on the blade shield and another one on that tab, which holds the roller in place.
They drill a hole in the vice frame where you'll see a tab in the vice casting. He said you can make a hook and attach the string to the vice shaft and let the string go over the roller and run between the motor and tank frame. But you'd have to drill a hole in the base table for the string to run through.
They could still install a gravity feed system by just using a roller half the length and install it using a double nut method on some all threaded rod running between both mounting locations. It would clear the power feed. But that's too easy! You can actually make your own pulley. Just use a screw or 1/4" bolt with washers and a plastic or metal bushing as the roller. These are available in those special hardware drawers at most hardware stores. But I went high tech and bought a pulley.
I had many ideas to work around this and use parts I had laying around in the garage. Went to an ACE hardware store and bought a small pulley for $3.00. Had a 6" L bracket laying around and screwed everything to the back corner of the base table. Used some string I use to tie up my tomato plants and tied it to a 1 gallon Jesco grit bucket I had laying around. I'm experimenting using liquid weight measurement now and it is working out great. 8 oz or 1/2 lb does make a difference! The power feed is actually designed to have 5 pounds of pulling force before the clutch slips.
I attach the string to the vice knob. This is the location where I push feed the vice to speed things up anyway so figured it would be a good place for the string to pull. Just make sure everything is lubed up properly and moves freely.
The string clears everything. One thing Brian mentioned is you need a consistent pulling force with the string. One concern I had was what would happen when the rock is finished cutting and the vice would go slamming back? I installed a stick behind the vice to stop it from crashing.
As many of you know, I've been having issues with Lube Cool. I'm currently experimenting with RV antifreeze, Borax, etc. Main issue with Lube Cool is Goober is allergic to it and had to stop using it. RV antifreeze is ok but it fogs too much, fogging up the plexiglass hood so you can't see what's going on inside. They use RV antifreeze for fog machines in Hollywood by the way. It's safe. Also I stopped cleaning the saw in Goober's dog compound and had to cut his chain link fence and install a gate so I can roll the saw to a new dump/cleaning location. Still need to add some paving stones. Diane would get mad at Goober if he tracks mud inside the house.
LarryS