Metal Cutting Bandsaw Blades

[Cami]

@GT2: Goofy shapes, eh? On my wood cutting bandsaw blades, I take a sharpening stone and use it to round the back side of new blades in the running saw. It makes for easier going in tight turns and I wonder if it'll help you with your metal cuts. I'm afraid to say that for all the days I've spent running a metal cutting bandsay, I've only made straight cuts and don't know if it'll actually help with your curved work.

 

[GT2]

@GT2: Goofy shapes, eh? On my wood cutting bandsaw blades, I take a sharpening stone and use it to round the back side of new blades in the running saw. It makes for easier going in tight turns and I wonder if it'll help you with your metal cuts. I'm afraid to say that for all the days I've spent running a metal cutting bandsay, I've only made straight cuts and don't know if it'll actually help with your curved work.

Yes, Goofy, not Mickey Mouse!
Hmm.. not sure if rounding the back side would help, but I'll give it a try!

 

[GT2]

I am getting ready to cut out my grapple tooth bars from 1/4 steel (may be harder than mild steel but it cut OK with a recipricating saw) with a band saw...

I have a lot of experience with the saw but not cutting steel...I bought a 1/2 bi-metal 18TPI blade to cut the bars...

my question is...should I tack the two pieces together and cut them out as one (1/2") going very slowly or should I cut one then use it as a pattern to cut the second one?

What if anything should I use as a lubricant/coolant?

This is an old 10" Rockwell stand up shop saw...

If your cutting by hand on the vertical, it would depend on how powerful the saw is and how patient you are.
If cutting horizontal with gravity feed, go ahead and tack it.

 

[2manyrocks]

I've seen some smallish Rockwells and then I've seen some big ones. If you have a smallish one, I"d cut one at a time.

I think some folks use automatic transmission fluid as a drilling lubricant, and I guess you could use it as a cutting lubricant. Easy to find anyway.

Watch your fingers when you cut. Cutting steel can be slow and boring, so don't let your mind wander.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I use bimetal blades. If you're cutting odd shapes in vertical position, look for thin and narrow blades. I've seen 3/8" blades before... I've also cut down blade lengths to fit my saw (off-brand); silver solder the joint and file smooth. You'll go through a lot of blades breakng, as you already know, trying to make sharp turns. Pathing blades will save you a pile of money on blades.

Running at slower speed, if you have variable speed, keeps the blade cooler, but I also use WD40. Spray on the guide wheels and the blades to keep the finds washed down. There may be better stuff, but WD40 in 1 gallon cans and a hand spray bottle is cheap enough, and it greatly speeds up the cut. Cutting fluid like I use on my drill press just costs too much to use on the band saw.