Robinson 54 inch Band Resaw

[Stopper]

In an attempt to improve recovery I have gone out on a limb and purchased an old Robinson 54" Band Resaw. If I can get it going it will replace my tractor driven sawbench.
The Robinson 54 runs a 6 inch band and is powered by a 75 hp electric motor. The book says it's maximum cut is 27" and it can do a 12" cut at 3 ft per second. (Sorry about the imperial measurements but its an old spec.)
I will keep you posted on the repairs and trials. I think the first time I turn it on I will do it with a long stick then run like hell. If anyone has had experience with this machine I would appreciate any tips.

cheers
Steve

[dai sensei]

What a beast. I'd be interested in your final set-up, so keep the posts coming.

[BobL]

Fantastic - any chance of posting a bigger picture?

[pjt]

That's a serious bit of saw. But i'm jealous as well, wouldnt that have my neighbors running round like chooks with their heads cut off if something like that turned up here!
How did u get onto that machine? Second hand machine sellers?
Keep the pics coming.
Peter.

[nifty]

Great machine. There is one over here in a joinery shop that I used to work in. they are a hungry machine when they are running well. they cut alot better with tungsten than stellite but that probably goes for alot of bandsaws

[bobsreturn2003]

well done looks like you need a pit for the bottom wheel? used to be one in cairns , long gone now though . will last several hundred years . if looked after . enjoy . bob

[Ben from Vic.]

..... powered by a 75 hp electric motor.

cheers
Steve

75hp!?! or do you mean 7.5hp? You'd be up for about 40,000 watts in single phase, which is about 200 amps. Now that I come to think of it I have seen a 400amp 3ph motor, but it was about the size of an old mini.

Ben.

[Stopper]

Hi Ben,
75hp is correct. The switch gear is old so I might be up for a new soft starter for the motor. Can't have the milking machines falling off the cows when I turn it on and draw too much current from the local grid.
The Saw requires a pit for the bottom wheel so first step is excavation and concrete.
I'll get some better pics as things progress.

cheers
Steve

[Vernonv]

What a beast! Can't wait to see some progress.

I reckon when you turn it on it will scare the milk out of the cows.

[Stopper]

Progress has been slow but there should be some action over the next few weeks. Attached is a picture of the pit. I was told it should be big enough to get the bottom wheel out without removing the saw. This would be huge - at least 2.5m long. That was going to be too hard so I made it deep enough to lower the bottom wheel. This will allow the saw to be lifted out of the way with the loader should the bottom wheel ever need re machining. Hope it doesn't come back to bite me.

Also attached is a better (bigger) picture of the saw.

cheers
Steve

[weisyboy]

nice job

where abouts is dorigo?

[BobL]

I just worked out that 75 Hp is 56 kW or 136A at 415V. That's a lot of power - what's the total input power capability of your property?

[texx]

yep that will require a big transformer .
on our irrigation we run 2 lecky motors on pumps one is 20 hp and the other is 50 hp both are 3 phase they run centre pivot irrigators along with 2 x 90 hp diesel motors you should see the power bill ( although they do run a lot of hours )

[bsrlee]

For Weisyboy - Dorrigo is inland of Coffs Harbour, NSW, on top of the mountains. It was very big in the timber industry until the big anti-logging protests shut down most of the mills. There is also a trout hatchery that supplies a lot of fingerlings for stocking NSW streams. Nice bit of walking a sub-tropical rainforest that was part of an old National Park - too steep for logging, the cut trees would end up in the ocean

That is a nice & horrifying piece of machinery too - hate to think what would happen if the blade walked off the wheels . Looks like you might have to knock the end wall out of the shed to get the big logs thru'.

[Burnsy]

Is that an old pit you are digging out? Looks like some kind of pyramid archaeological dig! Great looking shed with the high walls and old bricks, you got an overview picture of it. I love big old brick sheds with pitched roofs, they have so much character and always seem warm and inviting.

Machine is awesome, I did not truly fathom the size of it from your first pictures