Bent Bandsaw Guides

[DieselDennis]

Putting a Dayton 18" bandsaw back together.  Was putting the upper blade guide back on and noticed that both pieces were bent.

They bent, but are still intact, so I have to believe there's some chance of bending them back.  Would I be better to bend them back individually or bolt them together and bend them back together?  I have to figure they got bent together.  

What are these things made out of?  Cast aluminum?  Pot metal?  Whatever it is, it's not magnetic.  

Would heat help?  

I'm believe that a steady, firm pressure to bend them back would be better than whacks with a hammer.  

Anybody ever done this before?  Any tips or tricks?  I saw an aftermarket set of guides on eBay that said they fit this saw, but I believe they used one of the original guide pieces, so it would have to be straight.  And I just ordered cool blocks for the original guides this week, so I'd like to fix them if possible.  

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[barryvabeach]

Since it is not magnetic, I would guess Aluminum, and that it will be easy to crack.  I like the idea of bolting them together and applying a clamp and I really like the idea of getting it pretty hot, then applying the pressure gradually.

[Woodshop]

That aluminum is not going to like being bent back.  I would check if it is something you can still buy before you try it.

[Timberwolf]

That aluminum is not going to like being bent back.  I would check if it is something you can still buy before you try it.

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THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Willyou]

My first question is: are causing any alignment problems as they are? If they aren't broke, don't fix 'em.

[Kudzu]

My first question is: are causing any alignment problems as they are? If they aren't broke, don't fix 'em.

Me too.  It a thrust bearing and I have doubts it will cause a problem with that slight of a bend.  Unless you have a source for replacements AND it is causing a problem I would leave it alone.

[DieselDennis]

Just wanted to let everyone know that I attempted a fix yesterday afternoon. There was an auction ending last night for a set of replacement guides, so I figured I better hurry up and see if I needed them.

I kept the parts separate. Placed each one securely in a vise. Gave each a few firm raps with a ball peen hammer.

They may not be perfectly straight again, but they're pretty dang close. Looked over each of them carefully and can't see any cracks beginning to form.

May have gotten lucky. Hope to get the rest of the pieces put back on this thing this week.

[jdonhowe]

May have gotten lucky.  Hope to get the rest of the pieces put back on this thing this week.

Yeah, I think you got lucky. FWIW, (and not much, since I'm not a metallurgist), the piece looks to me more like pot metal than aluminum. Apparently the major advantages of pot metal (non-specific zinc alloys) are that it's cheap, melts at a low temp, and makes good (sharply defined) castings. It feels "heavier" (is more dense) than aluminum, and is also non-magnetic. It's not particularly strong and is brittle, like cast aluminum, so it doesn't bend easily.