Equipment/Donkey Saw

Donkey saw
Model	Unknown
Sub-category	Metalworking
Status	Out of order
Last updated	21 January 2022 12:56:11
Consumables	Blades, Oil
Accessories	Unknown
Training link	Unknown
ACnode	No
Owner	Unknown
Origin	Pledge:_Donkey_Saw
Location	Basement, Dirty Metal Shop
Maintainers	yetifiasco

CURRENT STATUS: Working - Needs to be properly fixed to the floor and levelled. UPDATE: Shock absorber fixed.

Update: 20 Aug 2013 - Liam - cut and drilled new tensioner bar for the free end of the blade mounting. Fitted new blade and tested. Working OK. 5mm wall 50mm scaffold pole cut through in <20s!

Needs: New cable, mounted in steel conduit and cut to length (Work can fall on and damage the present cable). Emergency stop mushroom in power feed on wall. Cage or guard needs fabricating for the top belt pulley. Floor levelling and machine needs bolting down. Extra work rest needs fabricating to support longer work pieces.

A nice clean Donkey saw, please keep it that way.

Oil holes on top, fill before use.

Oil holes on the left side, fill before use.

Oil holes on the back arm, fill before use.

NEVER LEAVE THE VICE BAR IN THIS POSITION! The saw will hit it and break.

Clean the swarf away after use.

Types of Materials it can Cut

All iron/steel tube/box section
All iron/steel rod/bar
Larger aluminium tube/box section
Larger aluminium rod/bar
Non-ferrous rod/bar (NOT copper piping)

Types of Materials it CANNOT Cut

ANY plate material, only a few teeth catch during the cut and there is a high chance of snapping the blade
Small aluminium rod/bar/tube/box section, the saw is too heavy duty and will mangle the piece
Copper piping for the above reasons
Wood
Plastic

Before Use

Check the machine is stable and doesn't wobble
Brush swarf from the clamping area
Add oil to all oil holes with oil can
Put a few drips of oil on the runners

Clamping

Lift the saw arm up and prop it using the connected metal bar
Set the vice to the correct angle using a 21mm spanner and a set square/angle gauge against the saws blade
Clamp the job firmly, make sure it is level against the vice bed and any excess is supported
GENTLY lower the saw arm back down until it is resting on the job, making sure the metal prop bar has fallen back in its slot - Shock absorber now fixed, arm will lower slowly by itself when dropped
IMPORTANT: Make sure the vice handle is out of the way of the saw and will not fall in front of the saw whilst in use, this is the only way to machine can really be damaged

During Cutting

Keep the cutting area well lubricated with oil throughout
DO NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE SAW ARM, this will not make it cut faster, it will only stress the blade and strain the motor, potentially breaking both
Once the cut is complete, the saw should automatically turn off, if it doesn't, turn off the saw using the stop button and contact either YetiFiasco or paddyd on IRC

After Cutting

Clean any metal swarf from the vice beds, vice head and screw thread
Brush any metal swarf from beneath the blade to the trays at the side
If the trays are full, scoop them out using a scraper
Apply a light coat of oil to the vice bed if it is dry
Make sure you leave the saw lowered