Bandsaw silver soldering fixture

[thehomeengineer]

Hi All

I was able to purchase two coils of bandsaw blade from a local scrapyard for my Startrite bandsaw at a great price (£10 each coil). My bandsaw is fitted with a blade welder but for some reason I have never been able to get it to work well. So, I have always silver solder the blades together which works really well.

As a treat to myself.

I knocked up a new soldering fixture to aid the alignment of the two ends. Once the blade is cut to length I grind the two ends at approximately 45 degrees to increase the surface area of the joint rather than just butt the ends together. I have used this technique for years and have never had one break yet. The photos below show the fixture. Two M6 penny washers are bent to clamp/hold blade in place


Fixture with welded bar to enable it to be held in the vice so the heat source can be placed beneath the blade.


Ready for silver solder NOTE the splice to increase the mating face surface area and bent M6 clamp washers.


Silver soldered together. Another advantage for silver soldering the blade doesn’t require annealing

Thank you for viewing
The Home Engineer