DB-100™ Wet/Dry™ Mini-Band Saw
archived user guide for models made prior to 2-2001

Thank you for buying this saw. With the enclosed DiamondCut™ blade your DB-100™ saws glass, marble, ceramic tile, porcelain, plastic, fiberglass and more. With an optional WoodCut™ blade Stock #90001 ) it saws any wood and many plastics. Or with the optional MetalCut™ blade (Stock #90003) you can saw thin nonferrous metals such as lead, zinc, brass and copper.

Safety Notes

In Your Shipping Carton

Before assembling your saw, check and find the all the parts listed below.
Use the Exploded View Drawing on page 2 for reference:

1.White plastic mainframe with motor and 2 drive wheels mounted. 2. 'Saw Leg Supports' in bag containing:

3.'Work Table Assembly Parts' in bag containing: 4.'Coolant Reservoir Parts' in bag containing: 5.'Miscellaneous Parts' in bag including: 6. 1 - DiamondCut™ band saw blade placed inside main frame (Stock #90005)

Page 1

Exploded Assembly View

Your saw is partially unassembled to protect it during shipment. Assembly takes about 30 minutes with phillips head and slot style screwdrivers. Use this drawing and the assembly photos for reference

DB-100
Page 2

1. Attaching Saw Leg Supports Attaching

Use the parts in the bag marked 'Saw Leg Supports'. Twist the four black rubber feet into the white plastic leg supports from the ribbed side. Running the feet under hot water makes it easier to twist them into the leg support holes. Attach the white plastic leg supports to the white plastic mainframe using the four 10-24 x 1/2" screws making sure that the "F" and "arrow" point out toward the saw front.

2. Attaching the Work Table Supports

Use the parts in the bag marked 'Work table Assembly Parts'. Mount the white plastic work table supports on the mainframe with the ribbed side up and the "Table Front" marking and arrow pointing toward the saw front . Tighten down using four 10-24 x 1/2" phillips head machine screws. NOTE: A short handled screw driver make it easier to reach all screws.

3. Installing the Blade

  1. Open the front cover of the saw.
  2. Position the blade around the lower wheel and into the right and left blade channels. Do not bend or twist the blade at any time
  3. Use one hand and grasp the bottom of upper wheel between two spokes and pull down and out enough to place blade on upper wheel using other hand.
  4. Slowly release the wheel making sure the blade is on both wheels and passes through the right and left channels.
  5. The position which your blade rides on the wheels (tracking) is controlled by adjusting the upper wheel tilt with the nylon tilt adjustment screw in the back of the saw DO NOT turn on the saw yet. Rotate the lower wheel by hand several revolutions and check blade position. The blade should remain centered on both wheels. If not, follow adjustment procedures in step 7 on pages 4 and 5 before continuing.

Installing View

4. Install Work Table and BladeSert™

Installing BladeSert

Secure the white plastic work table onto the table supports (with the blade slot behind the blade) using four 10-24 x 1/2" phillips head machine screws packed with the table supports. NOTE: A short handled screw driver will make it easier to reach all screws.

Place the BladeSert™into the work surface making sure the blade rides in the back of the slot in the BladeSert™. Secure in place using the two 6-32 x 3/8" stainless steel flat head machine screws and 6-32 hex nuts.

Page 3

5. Install the Coolant Hose Holder

The white plastic coolant hose holder is in the 'Coolant Reservoir Parts' bag. It holds the small diameter clear plastic coolant feed hose that delivers coolant from the white plastic coolant reservoir to the blade. The holder is not a blade guide and the blade may cause it to wear. Minimize wear by keeping it in the highest position possible when sawing

Attach the holder to the upper back of the mainframe using 10-24 x 3/4" nylon thumb screws found in the 'Coolant Reservoir Parts' bag. Make sure the blade passes through the vertical slot in the coolant hose holder. Work the screws in and out a few times to set the threads. Install the hose on the holder. NOTE: To make attaching the hose tube easier, run the end of the tube in warm water for a few minutes. The rest of the coolant system is explained in step 8.

6. Adjusting Blade Tension Back

Proper blade tension is important. The saw has springs preset for a blade 37.7" in circumference (+ or - .005") That is the exact size of an Inland DiamondCut™blade. The tension springs lessen the stress twists and pulls put on your blade while sawing to prolong the blade life. If they are too tight, they will be ineffective If you use that blade, you do not have to adjust the tension.Spacer

If you use a blade larger than 37.7" it will seem limp, may stall or keep popping off the drive wheels and you need to increase the spring tension with the white plastic spring tension spacers in the 'Miscellaneous Parts' bag by:

  1. Compressing each spring and snapping in one spacer under it and testing the sawing action. If the blade doesn't stall or pop off, the tension is correct.
  2. If not add a second spacer under each spring. If the tension is still too loose, do not use the blade.

7. Adjusting Blade Tracking Wheel

The position which your blade rides on the wheels (tracking) is controlled by adjusting the upper wheel tilt with the nylon tilt adjustment screw in the back of the saw. Check tracking by hand turning the lower wheel several revolutions and watching the blade position. The blade should remain centered on both wheels. If it is not or runs off the wheels while mounting or sawing follow the appropriate solution below. Remember when adjusting blade position that changes to the blade position on the upper wheel have the opposite effect on the lower wheel Make adjustments in small amounts and you'll quickly learn how to adjust the tilt for best blade placement on both wheels.

  1. If the blade 'walks' off the front of the upper wheel: Tilt the top of the upper wheel backward by turning the nylon tilt adjustment thumb screw clockwise. Make ½ turn adjustments and test the tracking by hand turning the lower wheel. Repeat as necessary until blade position is corrected.
  2. If the blade 'walks' to the back of the upper wheel: Tilt the top of the upper wheel forward by turning the nylon tilt adjustment thumb screw counterclockwise (left). Make ½ turn adjustments and test the tracking by hand turning the lower wheel. Repeat as necessary until blade position is corrected.

    Page 4
    AccessingAdjusting

  3. If the blade 'walks' off the lower wheel: The upper and lower wheels are not properly aligned with each other or 'in plane'. The lower (adjustable) wheel is closer to the back of the mainframe than the upper (fixed distance) wheel.  
    1. The underside of your BladeSert™(with the ridge) is your wheel placement gauge. With the blade off, place the BladeSert™ against the bottom edge of the lower wheel and the end against the back of the mainframe. The front edge of the wheel should touch the small ridge just behind the first screw hole. See right.
    2. The lower wheel can be moved in or out by with the upper wheel by inserting the long # 8 allen wrench through the hole in the lower left side of the saw frame and loosening the set screw on the wheel hub Move the wheel to the correct position, check with BladeSert™ and secure the set screw.

8. Install the Coolant Feed System

Screw theone 10-24 x 3/4" nylon screw from the 'Coolant Reservoir Parts' bag into the brass threaded hole on the bottom front of the coolant reservoir. Screw it in and out 5 or 6 times to wear it into the brass threads which will make it easier to adjust when it is in use. With the screw backed out, feed the loose end of the small diameter coolant hose (one end was already attached to the coolant hose holder in step 5) through the coolant flow adjustment tube where you just inserted the nylon flow adjustment screw. Attach the hose to the stem on the bottom of the coolant reservoir. Refer to picture on top of page 4. NOTE: To make attaching the hose tube easier, run the end of the tube in warm water for a few minutes.

9. Install the Drain Hose Attaching

The large diameter clear plastic coolant drain hose is found coiled loosely in your saw box. Slide it onto the drain stem located at the bottom of the front of the saw. Place other end of tube into an appropriate collection container located below the level of the work surface. The saw should be placed at the front edge of your bench with the drain hose laying flat and extending out and down off your work surface. NOTE: To make attaching drain tube easier, run the end of the tube in warm water for a few minutes. To remove kinks or bends, soak the entire hose in warm water for a few minutes and then straighten. Periodically remove the hose and clean out cutting residue to keep it working correctly.



10. Optional Leather Wiper Leather

Your saw has a leather wiper in the bag marked 'Miscellaneous Parts'. It's function is to help reduce the amount of over spray that might be carried from the blade to the upper wheel chamber. Install the wiper by:

    Installing
  1. Using a pair of pliers to compress one end of leather. Squeeze down hard.
  2. Apply a small amount of soap to this end.
  3. Use your pliers to push the crimped end into the slot so that the edge of the leather just brushes against the blade.




Page 5

Wet Sawing With the Diamond Blade

The DiamondCut™ blade with your saw cuts: glass, ceramics, ceramic tile, marble, stone, granite, porcelain, semiprecious gems, silicon, many plastics and fiberglass. To start sawing follow these steps:

  1. Plug the saw into your grounded electrical outlet.
  2. Make sure that the coolant flow adjustment screw is closed and then fill the coolant reservoir with water.
  3. Adjust the coolant drip rate by opening the nylon coolant flow screw on the back of the coolant reservoir. The flow of coolant should be about one drop of coolant every 4- 5 seconds. Test the flow rate by gently pulling the blade forward out of the coolant hose holder. Excess coolant is unnecessary and does not increase blade life or speed up sawing. Only increase the coolant flow rate if glass or other materials form a dry powder on top while being cut. 
  4. Never use the diamond blade without coolant when sawing glass, porcelain, ceramic or metal objects!
  5. Turn the saw on. The switch is on the motor cover and it's also your speed control. We recommend you run the saw at about ¾ of full speed. NOTE: Consistently running the saw at full speed can cause extra stress on the blade and does not increase its cutting ability.
  6. With the saw running, place a scrap piece of glass flat on the work table in front of the blade. Using light pressure initially, slowly push the material into the blade. Let the blade do the work, and for now just get a 'feel' for the sawing action. It has been described that when you have the right 'feel' the blade will seem to pull the glass (or other material) into the blade. Don't push too hard as you will not increase the cutting speed but likely slow it down! Learning to get that feel for the sawing action is the true secret to using a diamond blade. Use the speed control mounted on the left side of the motor housing to adjust your sawing speed. The material and intricacy of the cut will determine the speed control setting.
  7. Don't leave the saw running when you are not cutting. The blade will last longer.
  8. If the blade seems loose, limp or slips on the wheels as you saw, increase the blade tension. Refer to sections: 6 - Adjusting Blade Tension or 7 - Adjusting Blade Tracking on pages 4 and 5.
  9. Shut off coolant flow after use.

Material & Blade Use Information
Material DiamondCut™/Wet DiamondCut™/Dry WoodCut™/Dry MetalCut™/Dry
Glass + no no no
Ceramic Tile + no no no
Other Ceramics + no no no
Porcelain + no no no
Marble + no no no
Granite + no no no
Other Stone + no no no
Semiprecious gem + no no no
Silicon + no no no
Thin Brass + no no +
Thin Zinc + no no +
Thin Aluminum + no no +
Hard Plastics + + no +
Other plastics + + + +
Fiberglass + + no +
Fiberboard + + + +
Wood no + + no
Leather no + + +

1 - Several materials can be sawed on each blade. Optimum results are obtained with one blade type
2 - Blade life varies with material hardness. A blade will last longer sawing ceramic tile (soft) than granite (hard).
3 - Both Inland CopperAlloy™ and Stainless steel diamond coated blades are available for your DB-100™.

Page 6

Sawing Tips When Using a Diamond Band Saw Blade

  1. Sawing effectively is an acquired skill. If you let the diamond do the work, you will not experience blade breakage caused by putting too much stress on the blade. Push the glass straight into the blade. Sawing with a diamond blade is quite different than sawing with a wood blade. The material is hard and the diamond is actually wearing away the material opposed to ripping wood fibers. The rate at which diamond "saws" depends on the material you are sawing. ôThe key is to never twist the blade excessively.
  2. Use lighter pressure and slower speeds when starting a cut, for intricate cuts and when completing or backing out of a cut.
  3. If a white powder appears on the glass or the blade, increase the drip rate. You need more coolant!
  4. If excess coolant is 'spraying' off the blade or coolant puddles on the work surface , decrease the drip rate.You may also want to install the leather wiper.
  5. The life of any band saw blade is determined, in part, by the fatigue factor related to the revolutions the blade makes around the drive wheels. YOU CAN INCREASE THE LIFE OF THE BLADE AND THE MOTOR BY TURNING THE SAW OFF WHEN YOU ARE NOT CUTTING, even if it is just for a few minutes.

Dry Sawing Using the WoodCut™ Blade

You can use the Inland WoodCut™ blade (Stock #90001) for sawing all woods, softer plastics, fiberboard and leather.

  1. Shut off the coolant feed system and dry the saw interior. The WoodCut™ blade is used dry.
  2. Remove the coolant hose holder.
  3. Install the WoodCut™ blade as you would a diamond blade with the teeth pointing downward. Refer to the installation information on pages 3-4 and tension/tracking information on pages 4-5 if necessary.
  4. The same guide lines for sawing glass apply to sawing wood. The wood blade is much sharper. Keep your fingers away from it at all times!
  5. Before returning to a wet sawing setup, clean the saw interior removing any sawdust to make sure the coolant drain and hose is completely clear.

Dry Sawing Using the MetalCut™ Blade

You can saw thin nonferrous metals including brass, zinc, lead, copper, aluminum, some plastics, fiberboard and leather with the Inland MetalCut™ blade (Stock #90003).

  1. Shut off the coolant feed system and dry the saw interior. The MetalCut™ blade is used dry.
  2. Remove the coolant hose holder.
  3. Install the MetalCut™ blade as you would a diamond blade with the teeth pointing downward. Refer to the installation information on pages 3-4 and tension/tracking information on pages 4-5 if necessary.
  4. the same guide lines for sawing glass apply to sawing metal. HOWEVER, the metal blade is much sharper. Keep your fingers away from it at all times!
  5. Before returning to a wet sawing setup, clean the saw interior removing any metal saw shavings to make sure the coolant drain and hose is completely clear.

Page 7

Maintenance

Blade Guide Replacement: The BladeSert™ blade guide wears over time and requires periodic replacement.One extra BladeSert™ is included with the saw. More are available from your Inland dealer (Stock #90012).

Plastic Work Table: Wipe or rinse clean periodically. Replacement surfaces are available from your Inland dealer (Stock #90013).

Leather Wiper: The leather wiper eventually wears and needs replacement. (Stock #90014).

Drain Hose: Periodically rinse out the drain tube to remove cutting residue and keep it free flowing.

Upper Drive Wheel: The upper drive wheel bearing and the bronze bearing cylinder should be oiled about every 10 hours of running time to prolong the life of these parts. Do this by:

  1. Emptying the coolant reservoirs.
  2. Tilt the saw backward 450 or more and drop 4-6 drops of general purpose oil into the bearing area.

Saw:The main components of the DB-100 ™ are virtually maintenance free since they are plastic. Periodically rinse the interior clean of glass residue. Wood or metal residue can be brushed or vacuumed out.

Motor: The motor housing protects the motor and speed control. Do not remove it.

Available Blades:
Type Stock # Description
DiamondCut™ 90005 CopperAlloy™ Standard Grit
Fine Grit 90006 CopperAlloy™ Fine Grit
Standard Grit 90007 Seamless Stainless Steel, Standard Grit
WoodCut™ Blade 90001 1/8" wide, steel
MetalCut™ Blade 90003 1/8" wide, steel

Information and Service

If you have any questions or comments regarding the use and operation of your DB-100™, please call Inland Customer Service at 1-800-521-8428 between 9 am and 5 pm EST.

Specifications

Construction: Structural thermoplastic
Size: 18.0" high x 12.0" wide x 10.0" deep
Work Table Size: 9" x 10"
Weight: 9 lb.
Motor: Perm. magnet type/speed control, 30 oz.-in. torque max. rpm: 2,800 at 115V, 3,000 at 230/240V
Warranty: Two year, limited. Includes major components and workmanship. Excludes blade, leather wiper, BladeSert™ and coolant hose holder. Service

If you have any questions or comments regarding the use of this or any Inland product please call Inland Customer Service at 1-800-521-8428 9 AM to 5 PM EST. or write us at:

Inland Craft Products, Co.
32052 Edward Dr.
Madison Heights, MI 48071 USA

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