Gravity Fed, Drip Oiler for a Horizontal Bandsaw

There are many different homemade oilers found on the internet. This Instructable takes the best features of each and combines them into what I believe is the best (and easiest) oiler for a horizontal bandsaw.

A small metal container with twist off lid will become the oil reservoir.

Also needed: a needle valve, 5/16" flat washer, rubber o ring, brass elbow and nipple, magnets, 1/4" copper tubing and a short piece of clear tubing.

The horizontal bandsaw has a 2" shelf running across the top of it. This shelf is where the reservoir will rest.

Start by scuffing up the backside of the oil container, this will help the JB Weld adhere to the metal.

We used 5 small circular magnets but any shape will do as long as they are strong enough.

Mix up the JB Weld, secure the magnets and set this off to the side to cure.

As seen in the pictures, our container cap must be drilled for the needle valve.

The 5/16" washer must have the ID opened a little more to accept the brass nipple. A little file work takes care of this quickly.

For now, dry fit all of the parts to make sure everything will line up correctly.

On a side note... we had to also file the OD of the flat washer down because it was interfering with the cap when trying to tighten it on the container. Depending on the size of container and cap that you use this might not be an issue.

Using a drill press drill a vent hole at the opposite end of the cap. This hole will also serve as the refilling point.

This design is great because once the cut is made and the saw is lifted into its verticle position the oil will drain back into the container. The needle valve will only be needed to adjust the flow of oil. The following steps will show pictures of how this works.

With the parts dry fitted together attach the container to your bandsaw and adjust the angle of the needle valve. Mark the location on the container cap.

Mix up some JB Weld and coat the threads on the nipple and cap threads. Reinstall the flat washer, o ring and container cap onto the nipple. Thread the nipple into the elbow and line up the mark on the cap and needle valve. Now screw the cap onto the container making sure the needle valve still lines up with the mark on the cap. Tighten everything down and set it aside.

In these pictures you can see how the oiler attaches to the bandsaw. Once lifted to the verticle position the container can be filled.

Also notice a larger magnet was placed under the container to help keep it from slipping when in the verticle position.

Since the oiler is held on by magnets it can be slid the entire length of the bandsaw lip. This option is really great for cutting different thicknesses of metal. The oiler can be placed right where it is needed and not be in the way.

The close up picture shows how the plastic tubing was split to keep it on the blade but not interfere with the cutting teeth.

The tubing is bent slightly to the left. This is done for two reasons..... first, the oil will track down the right side of the tube and exit the tubing at the split where it contacts the blade. If it was pointing straight down it would follow the interior wall of the tube and just drip out onto the floor. Secondly, the bend to the left will assure that the oil will drain from the tube back into the container when lifted into the verticle position. No need to turn the needle valve off!!

Hope you enjoyed reading this Instructable. Thanks!!