Bandsaw on each end

[JPG]

This thread did bring up something that has been on the back of my mind for awhile.

It would be very handy to have two band saws up and running when doing boxes, but not all of us have the privilege/luxury/wherewithall to have a PowerPro. Nor do we see a stand-alone power station or enough extra SS to build a mini (they don't go cheap here).

Has anyone worked out a way to mount two band saws to one Shopsmith with some kind of reversing gear/pulley set-up for the one turning off the front end of the headstock? Or should I look at home-building my own stand-alone?

Totally 'off the wall', but like the strip sander, could one drill/tap a hole in the end of the lower wheel shaft(the end the wheel is attached to) and screw on a shaft extension that protrudes out the cover. I think it could be done accurately enough with a metal lathe(assuming sufficient swing to clear the wheel:D* and softness of the shaft???). A 'normal' right hand thread would work.

Bet Bill could do it!:D*

[jere]

if someone had another style of band saw with a couple of pulleys that would work (or mount the pulley to the ss if that is possible). you might have to get creative with mounting the saw but it would be do able. might have to walk around the shopsmith to use the second saw though

[fredsheldon]

I believe the Power Pro has a computer program that attempts to match the rpms/torque to the work being done via the answers it receives from the user as to what type of tool is being used and the type of wood as well as the blade size. If you had two units attached at the same time the PP may not know what to do with all the extra load and shut down. I don't expect to have to use both at the same time, and it only requires 30 seconds to move the power head from one end to the other to power whichever unit you need to use at the moment.