scrubflex
Well-known member
What are the best electric hand-size tools that can be used to cut agitator vanes or fins?
Cutting Tools
- Thread starter scrubflex
- Start date
Help Support :
Coping saw to cut the initial profile, followed by a hand file to refine the shape, and fine-grit sandpaper to finish it off?
Anything that cuts with pressure would risk cracking.
Anything that saws aggressively would risk flex/fatigue cracking if it bound up.
A Dremel would make it too easy to gouge or melt beyond what you wanted to cut.
I don’t see power tools making this much easier than hand tools, to be honest.
What are you working on?
Anything that cuts with pressure would risk cracking.
Anything that saws aggressively would risk flex/fatigue cracking if it bound up.
A Dremel would make it too easy to gouge or melt beyond what you wanted to cut.
I don’t see power tools making this much easier than hand tools, to be honest.
What are you working on?
The best "electric" tool isn't electric.
Pipe saw (that yellow one) or a wire saw.
Then use a file to smooth the surface.
After that, a Dremel with a fine grinding stone to make the surface even smoother.
super high speed (30k+ rpm, ideally 35k if your dremel can reach it) and very gentle strokes so the friction GENTLY melts the plastic and gives a polished finish.
Pipe saw (that yellow one) or a wire saw.
Then use a file to smooth the surface.
After that, a Dremel with a fine grinding stone to make the surface even smoother.
super high speed (30k+ rpm, ideally 35k if your dremel can reach it) and very gentle strokes so the friction GENTLY melts the plastic and gives a polished finish.
scrubflex
Well-known member
I'm planning and preparing to work on reshaping a Maytag agitator base so I can install a Kenmore agitator in my A712. I need and want a cutting tool I don't have to take time struggling with the removal of the 'flex-fins' and 'fixed vanes' I want to be able to cut the fins and vanes close as possible to the agitator base surface.
The Kenmore agitator I'm searching for is the "GOLD" colored Super Roto Swirl with the matching "KENMORE" logo agitator cap. I haven't had any luck on the internet. But, if someone from the AW.org club that's willing to be "GENEROUS" and out of the "KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART" sells...swop (something else)...or donate a spare one, I can complete my project...it would be an awesome "MIRACLE" and "GREATLY" appreciated.
To fasten the agitator cap on, I thought about finding (swop or buy) a Whirlpool/Kenmore agitator drive shaft...cutting it short enough to set down inside the Maytag agitator base...place the agitator drive shaft SPLINE inside matching spline of the Super Roto Swirl...attach the double-ended screw bolt and washer and tighten the agitator cap into position.
I'll use 3 to 6 rustproof stainless steel screw bolts to join the agitators together at the bases.
The Kenmore agitator I'm searching for is the "GOLD" colored Super Roto Swirl with the matching "KENMORE" logo agitator cap. I haven't had any luck on the internet. But, if someone from the AW.org club that's willing to be "GENEROUS" and out of the "KINDNESS OF THEIR HEART" sells...swop (something else)...or donate a spare one, I can complete my project...it would be an awesome "MIRACLE" and "GREATLY" appreciated.
To fasten the agitator cap on, I thought about finding (swop or buy) a Whirlpool/Kenmore agitator drive shaft...cutting it short enough to set down inside the Maytag agitator base...place the agitator drive shaft SPLINE inside matching spline of the Super Roto Swirl...attach the double-ended screw bolt and washer and tighten the agitator cap into position.
I'll use 3 to 6 rustproof stainless steel screw bolts to join the agitators together at the bases.
What does the underside (or inside) of the Super Roto Swirl agitator look like?
A powered cutting tool to try would be a Rockwell Sonicrafter tool-or the DeWalt equivalent.Instead of rotating these machines oscillate-vibrate the cutter tool very rapidly.I would imagine the saw attachment should cut thru an agitator blade quite well.Then you put the sanding pad on the tool and sand it smooth.These machines are quite safe to use-but they are noisy.These are available as corded or cordless.-variable speed.Think of it as a Dremel tool that vibrates instead of rotating-and Dremel makes one,too.
scrubflex
Well-known member
Thanks guys...LowEfficiency here's a pic I found of the bottom and inside the top of the column of the Super Roto Swirl
Perhaps it is an optical illusion, but I would think that the "base" of the Maytag agitator with the fins removed would be larger in diameter than the inner opening of that Super Roto Swirl agitator...
You could of course cut further into the Maytag agitator, since it is semi-hollow with the water channels molded in... but once you cut the cylindrical shell off, you would no longer have anything for your fasteners to connect to.
Have you considered instead the option of creating your own adapter without using Maytag parts as a base? You could form a thicker casting of material around the Maytag shaft, and then glue or fasten that into the SRS agitator... Or even have an exact-fit part modeled and 3D printed if you wanted to be fancy.
You could of course cut further into the Maytag agitator, since it is semi-hollow with the water channels molded in... but once you cut the cylindrical shell off, you would no longer have anything for your fasteners to connect to.
Have you considered instead the option of creating your own adapter without using Maytag parts as a base? You could form a thicker casting of material around the Maytag shaft, and then glue or fasten that into the SRS agitator... Or even have an exact-fit part modeled and 3D printed if you wanted to be fancy.
scrubflex
Well-known member
Hey LowEfficiency, my plan is to use the Maytag LoadSensor agitator base. If it isn't an optical illusion, the base column appears to be narrower than the Super Roto Swirl agitator...(actually, I did not think about removing the base)...if so, I'd cut up to and off where the 'FLARED-funnel shape' begin/ends at the bottom of the LoadSensor. The LoadSensor agitator base diameter is 12" and the Super Roto Swirl is 13". So I believe there will be a little overhang...not very much but, some.
Hmm, creating my own adapter without the Maytag agitator, that would be AWESOME. Except, I wouldn't know how to begin. Where could I go to have an 'exact-fit part modeled and 3D printed' created?
Hmm, creating my own adapter without the Maytag agitator, that would be AWESOME. Except, I wouldn't know how to begin. Where could I go to have an 'exact-fit part modeled and 3D printed' created?
Ah! I see now. So your plan was to remove the fins, but keep the general trumpet-bell-shaped flare, and attach the two skirts of the agitators together? I've never seen a LoadSensor agitator in person, but it would make perfect sense for it to have a smaller core than the earlier one-piece agitator.
For making an adapter, the Maytag shaft is actually relatively simple to model, so it wouldn't take too much work to make an adapter. Getting the tolerances and alignments correct, however, would likely take several iterations. So realistically it's probably not something you would want to pursue unless you knew someone nearby with a 3D printer, and had plenty of time... Otherwise, the end result would probably cost as much as a washing machine.
For making an adapter, the Maytag shaft is actually relatively simple to model, so it wouldn't take too much work to make an adapter. Getting the tolerances and alignments correct, however, would likely take several iterations. So realistically it's probably not something you would want to pursue unless you knew someone nearby with a 3D printer, and had plenty of time... Otherwise, the end result would probably cost as much as a washing machine.
scrubflex
Well-known member
You're right. As soon as I find a GOLD Super Roto Swirl agitator and logo-name cap I'll start the project. I'll keep you posted and if you come across a GOLD one please let me know.
