How Nice is a Metal Band Saw?

[Iplayfarmer]

I see in the picture of yours it has a hole to the right side of the table. Get yourself a 1/2" dia. rod about 24" long and make a stop so you can make repeated cuts without having to measure everyone. I have a stand I bought at the scrap yard I go to all the time and it is adjustable but no roller. I realy dont think you need a roller but thats up to you. I wish I had gotten two of them at the time but I like tlbuser sugjested but I dont think mine are tall enough but will have to check it out.

I was wondering what that little hole was for. Do you have a picture of the stop you're talking about?

 

[2manyrocks]

He probably meant this repeatable stop.

The white gizmo underneath mine is a piece of plastic milk carton (reinforced with a metal plate) to catch some of the metal chips. The rest go everywhere.

 

[k0ua]

He probably meant this repeatable stop.

The white gizmo underneath mine is a piece of plastic milk carton (reinforced with a metal plate) to catch some of the metal chips. The rest go everywhere.

On my saw, I put a nice powerful flat magnet inside of a strong plastic bag (with ziplock closure) The and place it near the cutting area. it gets covered with fillings but every cut or two, I remove it and open the bag over a 5 gallon pail I keep for cut offs, reach in and start to turn the bag inside out and remove the magnet quickly and the fillings all fall into the bucket. helps clean up the saw pretty quick..

James K0UA

 

[2manyrocks]

Great tip. Thank you.

 

[600rider]

Iplayfarmer yes I do, if you look closely in this photo you can see my saw in the back ground and it has the round bar and the stop on it. I will try to get a better pic for you tomorrow.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Iplayfarmer yes I do, if you look closely in this photo you can see my saw in the back ground and it has the round bar and the stop on it. I will try to get a better pic for you tomorrow.

Thanks. I think I get what you're talking about. I'd need to scrounge up something to be the stop on the end of the rod.

 

[600rider]

Here are some close up shots of just the stop. If you make one the inside length of the "L" is about 1.75 and you will need that to make small repeat cuts. It hangs over the table so you can get closer to the blade to make those smaller cuts.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Here are some close up shots of just the stop. If you make one the inside length of the "L" is about 1.75 and you will need that to make small repeat cuts. It hangs over the table so you can get closer to the blade to make those smaller cuts.

Huge thanks for posting those pics. That will make the fabrication much better.

 

[mjncad]

Take a look at the first two pictures in this link on how I handled the stock Grizzly stock-stop.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jtpyo.mjn/ToolsPower#5155572524756578370

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Take a look at the first two pictures in this link on how I handled the stock Grizzly stock-stop.

https://picasaweb.google.com/jtpyo.mjn/ToolsPower#5155572524756578370

Nice! The collar is a creative solution.

 

[mjncad]

Nice! The collar is a creative solution.

Thanks, and best of all its a cheap way to save on breaking blades and bad words.

 

[600rider]

Iplay, Just wanted to show you what I did with my HF bandsaw the other day. That is 2"x2"x1/4" square tubing and it measures .013 with my calipers!!!! Lets see someone do that with an abrasive saw!!! :laughing:

See if it is set up right they will cut very nicely!

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Iplay, Just wanted to show you what I did with my HF bandsaw the other day. That is 2"x2"x1/4" square tubing and it measures .013 with my calipers!!!! Lets see someone do that with an abrasive saw!!! :laughing:

See if it is set up right they will cut very nicely!

You must have yours set up perfectly. I moved mine a bit, and now I've noticed it's cutting a little off from true.

 

[mjncad]

Getting a bandsaw tuned up just right can take a while; but the results are worth it.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I tinkered and fiddled with mine for about an hour and a half. I found a few loose bolts on the swivel head, but tightening them didn't make any difference. I think that somehow I've dulled one side of the blade (already). By the time the saw cuts to the bottom of a 4" tube, there's a noticeable bow in the blade. Once the piece falls off, the blade snaps back and there's almost 1/8" of space between the finished cut and the blade.

I'll get the new blade and see if that makes a difference. If not, then I'll keep tinkering and fiddling and have a spare blade.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

It was the blade. I got a new one today, and the cut is as straight as can be. I also went with a finer toothed blade. It seems like the first one I got would grab at the steel, and that was what caused it to wear faster. When I took the first blade off I even noticed a few bent spots. Looking back I can remember what would have put the kinks and bends in the blade.

It's a learning curve.

 

[sandman2234]

Long time users of bandsaws recommended to me if I break a tooth, to go ahead and change the blade, as typically the broken tooth gets embedded in the piece your cutting and is as hard as the teeth that are dragging across it. Oh, and scrap the part...
Being CHEAP, I usually try to keep the blade cutting, rather than trashing the part, but realize why it usually completely trashes the blade.
David from jax

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Long time users of bandsaws recommended to me if I break a tooth, to go ahead and change the blade, as typically the broken tooth gets embedded in the piece your cutting and is as hard as the teeth that are dragging across it. Oh, and scrap the part...
Being CHEAP, I usually try to keep the blade cutting, rather than trashing the part, but realize why it usually completely trashes the blade.
David from jax

I think there's wisdom in keeping an extra blade on hand. Then it's a simple matter of switching out the blade rather than tinker and fiddling trying to get the thing to limp along.

Of course this come from me who still doesn't have an extra blade.

 

[mjncad]

Having at least one spare on hand is a good thing.

 

[Bison]

I use an old big automatic cast iron hacksaw for cutting light and heavy tubing or solid shafting up to 7" in dia.
I don't need to babysit this thing while it's doing it's job either.
It never failed me yet,blades last a long time