Startrite Bandsaw
Quick links: Usage • Troubleshooting • Maintenance
| Nickname | Make | Model | Where | Manual | Issue Tracker | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ? | Startrite | 301 S | Workshop | Tool: Bandsaw - Startrite 301 S | TBC |
See full safety information below
This saw is used to cut thin wood and acrylic, usually in straight lines but it can do curves if you use a smaller blade.
Because it's a manually operated machine, it's ideal for low volume, basic freeform cutting. If you need to do more advanced or higher volume cutting, use a laser cutter or CNC mill instead.
The blade used by the saw is a belt tensioned around two wheels. When the machine is turned on, the wheels spin to make the belt move very fast in a downwards direction. Material is then cut by sliding it through the path of the belt.
- Maximum cutting capacity: ?
- Speed: Single speed - 800m/min
- Stopping Time: 10 seconds
- Blade Width: 3–16mm
- Blade Length: 2362m (93")
- Table Size: 450mm (W) x 450mm (H)
- Table Tilt: 0 – 45°
Startrite went bankrupt shortly after being bought out by the 600 group. The brand is now owned by RecordPower. More information.
To use this machine, you'll need to:
- Follow safety precautions
- Obtain material to cut
- Turn on the machine
- Cut material
- Turn off the machine
Let's get started...
Bandsaws are dangerous tools and pose serious risk of injury if improperly used or damaged. Training is mandatory prior to using this machine.
Usually a sheet of wood or acrylic to cut:
- There's usually some materials in the workshop (fee to use them?)
- Maximum material thickness depends on how rigid/dense the material is.
- DO NOT try and cut metal in this machine
⚠️ Ensure that bed of the machine, around the blade, is clear of any offcuts, splinters or other particles.- Make sure that the machine is turned on at the wall.
- Press the 🟢 green button on the side of the machine.
- Place the sheet of material on to the bed of the machine
- If it's a large sheet, get someone to help you to ensure it remains steady
- Slowly move the sheet across the path of the blade to cut
- The standard blade on the machine is designed for cutting in straight lines
- If you want to go round corners or curves, you must use a narrower blade - failure to do so could cause the blade to snap causing serious injury to you and damage to the machine
- Be careful of any cut pieces of the sheet falling to the floor or flipping upwards in to the path of the blade
⚠️ The blade takes a long time to come to rest after turning off the machine.
- Once you have finished cutting, turn off the machine immediately – even if you plan to do more cutting later – using the 🔴 red button on the side.
- Never leave the blade running when the machine is unattended or not in use
- You can find usage tips on this machine in the UK Workshop forums
- There might be some spare blades in the drawer near the machine (be careful not mix up with blades for the Ferm bandsaw); if in doubt, ask for help.
- Avoid: don't create useless stuff!
- Reduce: how to minimise materials used?
- Reuse: can waste be reused?
- Upcycle: can waste be upcycled to something else?
- Recycle: Depending on the material, you might be able to recycle it in the bins near the kitchen.
- Disposal: For any remaining waste, please put it in the workshop bin.
- General: Waste, recycling and cleaning up
If the advice below doesn't solve the problem try the manual linked at top of this page, but if all else fails please create a new issue to let us know.
See Maintenance section below for details.
- If the machine is broken or needs maintenance, create an issue in the issue tracker (link in Troubleshooting above)
- Label the issue:
Tool: Bandsaw - Startrite 301 Sas applicable - If broken, add
Brokenlabel (this triggers various systems to flag the machine unavailable) - If maintenance required, add
Maintenancelabel (the machine is working, but needs TLC) - If parts or consumables need purchasing, add
Shoppinglabel
- Label the issue:
- Read the manual linked at the top of this page before doing any maintenance!
- Some additional manuals exist, not sure if they are applicable.
- There are usually some spare belts and blades in the draw near the machine
- Alt-Spares sell spare parts
- Axminster Tools & Machinery might be another source of parts
- where to buy consumables?