Metal cutting band saw usage?

[Big Barn]

I have an older horizontal bandsaw. That brand from Three Rivers Michigan. It's not the smallest, but I have had a lot of trouble not having the clearances to get the angles I wanted. Something is always in the way. I built a cart with castors so it gets out of way when not needed. Much better than a abrasive saw although I sometimes find it quicker to get out the chop saw.

A friend just got a Vertical band saw, where the carriage moves under spring tension. It also has a foot lever. Never seen anything like it.

Putting the carriage under tension is something I have to do to mine. It gets tiring and hard on your hands pushing the material into the blade (for cutting steel).

Terry

 

[Industrial Toys]

He has limited space, and a large horizontal saw, so I don't really know why he needs it. I just picked up his blades for it today, so I will see what he does with it.

 

[Big Barn]

He has limited space, and a large horizontal saw, so I don't really know why he needs it. I just picked up his blades for it today, so I will see what he does with it.

Photos of the counterweight mechanism would be appreciated if you could.

 

[franklin2]

Have you thought about a portable band saw? That's usually my go to saw for cutting metal. I have always wanted to get a horizontal cutting band saw but never got around to it. Each time I get close I wonder if it would just be in the corner requiring me to dig it out. For a large project I don't think it would be an issue but for small stuff I can do a great job with my Milwaukee and a vice. Plus with a portable saw you can make finesse cuts that would be difficult on a regular band saw. That doesn't mean I wouldn't like a nice horizontal floor saw as a complement. I'm pretty accurate at cutting straight lines but not perfect.

You really have to hold your mouth right to get a straight cut with a porta-band. Like you said it can be done, but you really have to watch what you are doing. That's what is great about a horizontal, you get nice straight cuts without thinking about it.

 

[muddstopper]

I have a Carolina 8x12. I got it used in a trade. First thing I had to do was replace the bushings in the drive wheels. It does alright and I have cut a lot of 1in thick flat plate with it going across the flat side. I took a lot of fiddleing with to get it to cut square. The vise isnt the best. I try not to cut angles because its hard to get back square. The belt tensioning on it aint worth a crap either. It uses step pulleys for cut speed and you cant keep them tight so they slip. Another thing I dont like is the bed is stamped steel. If I put anything really heavy on it, I have cut 8x8 hbeam and even pieces of railroad track, the bed flexes creating a out of square cut. I get by with it, becasue I have a chop saw, plasma cutter and torch. But if I was buying again, I would skip the Carolina brand

 

[sdef]

muddstopper- Thanks for the warning. Really. These are the kinds of things I am trying to stay away from.

 

[DaveK OR]

While I'd love to have a decent cold-cut saw, I find that the portable bandsaw (mine's a DeWalt) is more than enough for most cuts. My biggest problem is keeping the kerfs straight, but the usual solution is to allow a little "extra, then use an angle grinder to bring it back to the desired "cut line". I built a deck that uses 5 x 8" I-Beams as perimeter supports (it is a VERY heavy deck), and was able to do all the cuts I needed (including miters) with that saw, though it took some thought and imagination.

 

[muddstopper]

I have thought about buying a coldcut saw a few times, but have always talked myself out of the purchase. Cold cut saws are good at what they do, but a hobby shop isnt going to pay the price one would cost that could cut thru 8x8 hbeam like my bandsaw can. For everyday cutting, my abrasive chop saw is worth the price, altho dusty. The chop saw has some of the same drawbacks of the coldcut saw and same for the portaband, limited cutting range. I built a track saw I can use either my gas torch or plasma in to make long straight cuts, and a straight edge for making cuts buy hand. So while a cold saw would be nice to have, I have the basic cutting needs met with what I have.

 

[franklin2]

I have a Carolina 8x12. I got it used in a trade. First thing I had to do was replace the bushings in the drive wheels. It does alright and I have cut a lot of 1in thick flat plate with it going across the flat side. I took a lot of fiddleing with to get it to cut square. The vise isnt the best. I try not to cut angles because its hard to get back square. The belt tensioning on it aint worth a crap either. It uses step pulleys for cut speed and you cant keep them tight so they slip. Another thing I dont like is the bed is stamped steel. If I put anything really heavy on it, I have cut 8x8 hbeam and even pieces of railroad track, the bed flexes creating a out of square cut. I get by with it, becasue I have a chop saw, plasma cutter and torch. But if I was buying again, I would skip the Carolina brand

Sounds like a decent sized saw that needs a little revamping if you don't have the money to buy a better one. The bed probably can be re-enforced, and once you get the saw cutting sqaure, you can drill a hole in the swivel and put a pin in it. Move it for angle cut, pull the pin, use it, and then swing it around and put the pin back in for square cuts.

As long as the frame with the blade wheels is strong enough to hold the blade in good alignment when the going gets tough cutting something big, everything else can be improved or modified.

 

[muddstopper]

I have thought many times about beefing up the Carolina saw. Just never got around to it. For angle iron, small pipe or tube. It does alright. It only when I try cutting anything really tall or really wide that the accuratcy shows up. One day I'll get around to making things a little stiffer, but I aint in any hurry.