Old German Band saw

[DirtyDan]

My buddy has an old German cast iron band saw that someone gave him. It has a clear window on the back near the belts and gears. He wants to know if he is supposed to put lubricant in this area, if so what kind? Gear oil? Machine oil? Anyone have a saw like this?

Thanks

[Don]

Hey, Dan and welcome to the forum. A bandsaw with belts and gears sounds a lot like a machine used for cutting metal. Most gearsets like this run in an enclosed box and are constantly lubricated. So, if they are drive gears I don't know if I have the answer, it really depends on the speed of the gears an how they're cut.

But . . . if you have exposed gears and this is a wood cutting bandsaw, then maybe this is part of the mechanisim that raises and lowers the top bandwheel? Maybe it's part of a mechanism for tilting the table, raising the saw guides, or any other type of adjustment of the machine? If this is the case then simply light oil like WD-40 sprayed on them will keep them working fine.

If you have pictures we'll be able to help you a bit more.

All the best, Don

[DirtyDan]

Thanks, Don. I will tell my friend about what you said.

Dan