herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jun 24, 2022 21:48:25 GMT -5
Marginally lapidary related since I sometimes use my tile saw to chop up lapidary rough. This time, however, I was cutting some flagstone for a new and improved waterfall for my fish pond. In mid cut the blade started slowing down and when I removed my ear protection I could hear squeaking, so I right away suspected a loose pulley. Taking off the guard, I discovered that the pulley is held on the shaft with a key and there is a set screw that is supposed to hold the key in place. Here is what it is supposed to look like: IMG_8512 by Shiny Objects, on Flickr Here is what it currently looks like: IMG_8511 by Shiny Objects, on Flickr Here is the set screw that is supposed to keep the key in place: IMG_8513 by Shiny Objects, on Flickr The key is rectangular 5 x 5 x 30 mm in size. Does anyone know a source for one? I was able to crank the set screw way down to hold the pulley in place to complete my last 2 cuts I had to make, but it would be better to replace the key instead of just depending on the set screw. So far, I only found 1 source. They want $3.50 plus $6 shipping. I really hate paying more for shipping than for the product! My main problem is I am not really sure what the part is called. In my searches I've seen them called "pulley keys", "axle keys", "alignment keys", "woodriff keys" (although these apparently are supposed to be crescent shaped), and I think a few others. Each search returns lots of irrelevant things and an occasional right thing but in the wrong size!
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Post by manofglass on Jun 24, 2022 22:14:33 GMT -5
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Post by Son Of Beach on Jun 24, 2022 22:28:23 GMT -5
Yea you are looking for key stock, if it's metric it usually harder to source and more costly for the same reason. Woodruff keys are a specialty and dying breed though, the right width and length would do the trick. If you have a local industrial outfitter they may have some old stock or random that would fit the bill Here is a conversion chart if you think you can make something else fit, 3/16 for example
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vwfence
has rocks in the head
Member since January 2013
Posts: 564
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Post by vwfence on Jun 25, 2022 0:12:30 GMT -5
tractor supply stores carry key stock and also locktite to use on the set screw
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Post by Peruano on Jun 25, 2022 6:19:18 GMT -5
Ace is the place as well.
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herb
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2011
Posts: 470
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Post by herb on Jun 25, 2022 9:59:31 GMT -5
manofglass Son Of Beach vwfence Peruano Ah! Key stock! Searching is a lot more fruitful if you know what you are searching for! Grainger has a mind boggling number of choices: over sized, under sized, normal, many different material choices... I ended up going with Tractor Supply because I could pick it up today. They had a 5 pack of 3/16 inch by 1 inch stock for $2.05 with tax. That should be a lifetime supply! 3/16 inches is less that .01 inches smaller than the 5mm of the original so I assume it will still be a good fit. The 1 inch length is less than the 30mm of the original but it still gives 3 or 4 mm of material past the set screw which I also hope is good enough! Thanks to everyone for the help!
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Mark K
Cave Dweller
Member since April 2012
Posts: 2,764
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Post by Mark K on Jun 25, 2022 11:59:42 GMT -5
Grainger is a rip off. It is for businesses who have to use up a budget so they blow it there because you can be assured that everything costs more there.
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Post by Peruano on Jun 25, 2022 13:16:25 GMT -5
Tractor Supply is not a philanthropic organization; however for the purpose of the OP almost any close match will work. The fit need not be great; the set screw secures the key stock in place and if it moves it moves only a shade and then it can move no more unless the set screw jiggles loose. The "key" is loctite and a bit of key stock in the groove. When I bought a similar material at Ace I purchased about 4" and hence had to cut my own with extras for the future. These machines vibrate and you should always be prepared for a pulley to loosen (screech) or spin off (work stops). Keeping the machine running is part of the process. Life is simpler than you think, but don't believe everything that you think.
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jimaz
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2018
Posts: 463
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Post by jimaz on Jun 25, 2022 17:43:45 GMT -5
Grainger is a rip off. It is for businesses who have to use up a budget so they blow it there because you can be assured that everything costs more there. Big businesses that do a lot of business with Granger get a substantial discount.
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rochaura
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2013
Posts: 14
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Post by rochaura on Aug 5, 2022 17:06:39 GMT -5
Keystock should be as exact a fit as possible. I buy mine oversize and file to fit. Any slop will eventually cause wear in the slot followed by swear words and headaches.
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