Spring 2024 meetup in Calgary - date Saturday, April 20/2024. discussion Please RSVP Here to confirm and get your invitation and the location details. RSVP NOW so organizers can plan to get sufficient food etc. It's Tomorrow Saturday! you can still RSVP until I stop checking my phone tomorrow More info and agenda
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Spring meet up in Ontario, April 6/2024. NEW LOCATION See Post #31 Discussion AND THE
NEW LOCATION
I finally decided and pulled the trigger on the King 129DS swivel head. The decision was based on: small footprint; tiny packed garage and not able to swing my material around; repeatability of different miter cuts by not having to remeasure and adjust the vise each time; hydraulic arm for a bit more "automatic" cutting.
To my surprise, the unit came with the cheap metal vertical tables that comes with all vertical/horizontal bandsaws and I was hoping this would a feature even though it wasn't advertised. But I also realize the unit won't swing up to full vertical position. I suspect the hydraulic arm is too short on this model because the Baleigh 128M which allows vertical has a much longer arm.
Any idea how I can hack the King? I thought about removing the hydraulic arm for when I want to bring it vertical; it also probably needs to removed to clear the on/off buttons which double as auto shut off. However, there's no way of locking it up into the position either. I thinking about building a bracket as there is a pin and hole system that I assume helps you lock it at 45 degrees.
Edit: I looked back at my previous post and research and it looks like that is how Busy Bee's model is applying their "vertical" feature. The difference is their rear bracket includes a hole to pin lock into vertical position which was what I was thinking as well by adding a bracket!
Posting this for anyone else that may be researching band saws. The King 129DS sits pretty sturdy in vertical position by just disconnecting the bolt on the hydraulic arm (this thing is 180lbs). I dont even think I need to worry about making a bracket and pin as the cutting action will be pushing away from it's closing action. I can't believe King nor KBC bother advertising that it is a vertical saw when it comes with the vertical table!
I’d pin it regardless. If you snag the blade during a vertical cut and if it is pinned the blade will either stall or chip. If u don’t have it pinned I’ve had the saw lurch and buck (energy followed path of least resistance) and this was worse.
There’s a place in Ottawa advertising a King 5x6 for $550, so not out of line. They showed the extension table but not just a stand. I’ll look more tomorrow during business hours, there’s a local place I got parts for my King belt sander from before