Looking to buy a BandSaw

Cat_Driver · Feb 1, 2009

Forgive m efor asking a stupid question, BUT do they make a vertical metal cutting band saw?

rhamer · Feb 1, 2009

Sure do.

However from what I've seen most (if not all) of the horizontal ones flip and can be ised as a vertical saw. There is a table that screws on when using it vertically.

Cheers

Rohan

Bill Barrett · Feb 1, 2009

Something different, very high end top quality.
Metal Cutting Band Saws, Roll-In Saw

Cat_Driver · Feb 4, 2009

Bill Barrett - Good find, but YIKES, the price on those things.

mjncad · Feb 4, 2009

These are the two bandsaws I own.

The Wilton I got at ENCO.
WMH TOOL GROUP - WILTON 14 Wood/Metal Vertical Bandsaw 1HP 115V 1Ph

G9742 4" x 6" Metal-Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head
Jet has the same saw as the Grizzly with a nicer stand and a few extra refinements.

I wouldn't be without either one for metal work.

2manyrocks · Feb 4, 2009

mjncad, how do you like the miter feature on the Grizzly? Is it an accurate scale and can you repeat the same angle setting easily if you have to change an angle and then go back to a prior angle?

mjncad · Feb 5, 2009

2manyrocks said:
mjncad, how do you like the miter feature on the Grizzly? Is it an accurate scale and can you repeat the same angle setting easily if you have to change an angle and then go back to a prior angle?

The miter scale on the Grizzly gets you close; but I then zero in with a digital protractor. I use machinist's squares to set it back to zero. I wish it had detents at 15, 30, 45, and 60. I'm not sure; but the Jet might. As I mentioned, the Jet has a few nicer features; but Grizzly had this saw out before Jet did. Grizzly lowered the price by $100 from when I bought mine. Maybe they are getting them from mainland China now, I don't know. I've made a couple of minor modifications to the bandsaw, and the first three pictures show them. Picasa Web Albums - Matt - Tools - Power
The Jet has one thing I really wish mine had and that's a ball valve on the hydraulic downforce cylinder to set the bow at any position above the material to be cut. Jet wanted $225 for the cylinder with ball valve, and I thought to myself I might as well by the complete saw. The Grizzly has a pin with three holes for this purpose, of which two are meant for bow position, and the third is for locking the bow in the down position.

I got quite a bit of use from the cheap blade that came with it, and replaced it with a Starrett after the OEM blade broke.

If you get one regardless of brand, take the time to square up the blade in both directions.

In any case, the swivel head bandsaw beats jockeying a chop saw and/or material to get an angle cut. I did see on the MillerWelds forum today that some guy built a stand for his chop saw that swivels the saw for angle cuts. It looked good; but also a bit complex.