Vertical band saw use

[Gareth J]

A decent sized startrite is for sale very locally. While I'm tempted, other than tool hoarding, I'm struggling to justify it's use.

The woodworking use would be limited to resawing stuff that's too big for a couple of passes through my table saw. Or, potentially, in theory, planking smaller lumber. I don't really do any curved woodwork that can't be done with a jigsaw. I can't see a new boat building hobby or something like on the horizon, but would like to do more, rather than less wood bothering in the reasonably distant future.

Metalwork; straight or mitred cuts up to 100mm are done in a cold cut saw. My setup is too small to do much bigger anyway. The very rare sheet metal profiles that need to be cut can be done with grinders or plasma.

Have I missed some game changing usefulness that only a bandsaw can provide?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Have I missed some game changing usefulness that only a bandsaw can provide?

I bought one when I did my house refurb...but sold it because I needed the space back.

Main advantage for me was that it made jobs a lot quicker as it had zero setup vs my track/jig saws. Overall saved quite a bit of time I reckon...I then sold it and I think I made +£100 too .

 

[addjunkie]

I use a wood cutting bandsaw to cut ali have easily cut breeze block size bits.

 

[magnet]

I have a start rite band saw which is great however I got a coronet imp bench top band saw and it does everything I need in a much smaller package. I will be moving the start rite on soon

 

[Islander71]

I find the Startrite bandsaw in my workshop probably the most used and most useful machine I have. Better at cross cutting than ripping, but it can do both and with wood even 10 or 12 inches thick. It will also zip through alloy and at a pinch I've cut sheet steel with an old wood blade. If you buy it , get good blades - the best by far I've found are Hakansonn. I get them from https://www.justbandsawblades.co.uk/index.html

 

[MattF]

They're handy to have, if you have room for one. They don't suffer blade wander, as jigsaws can, & they come into their own, occasionally. I've only used mine a handful of times, but I wouldn't let it go.

When I made the packers for fitting the Oak beam, for example, a piece of mahogany & a session with the bandsaw gave me several thicknesses.

 

[Guineafowl]

I’ve got a Startrite 18-S-5 - if you’re resawing large timber, you’ll find a night and day difference from a table saw.

 

[Gareth J]

I’ve got a Startrite 18-S-5 - if you’re resawing large timber, you’ll find a night and day difference from a table saw.

This one is a 24v10. To be honest, my table saw is terrible but does a near enough job for my levels of bodgery.

 

[Gareth J]

Edit, to add; I have a cross cut saw in the armory too which really was a game changer in household woodwork/building/bodging.

 

[Guineafowl]

This one is a 24v10. To be honest, my table saw is terrible but does a near enough job for my levels of bodgery.

With that size of thing, plywood templates would be easy.

The other thing you’ll enjoy about a bandsaw is the cheapness of the blades, vs table saw ones which are getting ridiculous.

 

[minimutly]

I use my vertical on metal - Ali and steel all the time, best tool I have. I don't have a cross cut or tables saw or cold saw.

 

[Gareth J]

I bought one when I did my house refurb...but sold it because I needed the space back.

Main advantage for me was that it made jobs a lot quicker as it had zero setup vs my track/jig saws. Overall saved quite a bit of time I reckon...I then sold it and I think I made +£100 too .

What sort of jobs did you find it ideal for?

 

[Gareth J]

I use my vertical on metal - Ali and steel all the time, best tool I have. I don't have a cross cut or tables saw or cold saw.

While I don't do any ali stuff, I can see that an ok bandsaw would be a really useful jack if all trades, without a lot of other, more specific tools.

Maybe my justification ought to be though of in terms of stopping using the cheap site table saw; if a decent bandsaw can do all it can and more.

 

[MattF]

They more make a pair, than one being more useful than the other. Both have their uses.

 

[mightymig]

Vertical bandsaws can go through all sorts of metal with the right blade, really really thick stuff x many inches. A roll in style bandsaw with linear rails is something I really want to build, and a chop saw for the rest of the stuff that won't fit through the throat.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

What sort of jobs did you find it ideal for?

From memory...it allowed me to buy cheaper timber and then trim to size. We fitted taller skirting in the downstairs lounge...I was able to cut some pieces to extend the existing skirting in the hall to match.

Other big job was oak flooring...so much easier trimming the wall pieces to fit with a band saw.

Plenty of other tools can be used to do the above too.

Band saws are very handy for taking small cuts off pieces which are quite narrow.

 

[Keith 66]

There are Startrites & there are Startrites, Early ones are excellent & have proper guides with roller thrust wheels & can accept coolblox side guides (well worth fitting). The later 1990's machines had a box section frame with diagonal steel side guies & a simple hardened steel thrust pin for the blade to run against. These machines are ok if well set up but not a patch on the earlier ones, the guides are simply awful. Dont buy the later one that i had mounted on castors, the lead caught on the bumper of my moggy truck & i towed it over one morning. I fixed it but was never the same again!
Look in the bottom of the machine & check the pulley, my current 352-S has a 4 or 5 speed pulley so can cut metal with the right blades, the 2 speed machines will ruin blades in no time if used on steel.

 

[BrokenBiker]

i have a cheap 10 inch wood cutting saw with a 14tpi bi-metal blade on it...i use it for wood and ali, plus i have cut 304 stainless with it. i will be using it for some 2mm sheet steel sometime soon as well as need to make some brackets from bent sheet and the template is a weird shape so bandsaw comes in handy if you have one

 

[Erie Fred]

Vertical bandsaws can go through all sorts of metal with the right blade, really really thick stuff x many inches. A roll in style bandsaw with linear rails is something I really want to build, and a chop saw for the rest of the stuff that won't fit through the throat.

I have one.

Roll-In Saw | Vertical Band Saws

www.rollinsaw.com

I have visited the factory in Parma.

Street View of 15851 Commerce Park Dr · Google Maps

15851 Commerce Park Dr, Brook Park, OH 44142, USA

maps.app.goo.gl

Believe me, YOU can make one, in your garage......

 

[Gareth J]

There are Startrites & there are Startrites, Early ones are excellent & have proper guides with roller thrust wheels & can accept coolblox side guides (well worth fitting). The later 1990's machines had a box section frame with diagonal steel side guies & a simple hardened steel thrust pin for the blade to run against. These machines are ok if well set up but not a patch on the earlier ones, the guides are simply awful. Dont buy the later one that i had mounted on castors, the lead caught on the bumper of my moggy truck & i towed it over one morning. I fixed it but was never the same again!
Look in the bottom of the machine & check the pulley, my current 352-S has a 4 or 5 speed pulley so can cut metal with the right blades, the 2 speed machines will ruin blades in no time if used on steel.

Well, the one I'm looking at is on castors. And the power cord ...

Pardon our interruption...

However, I think it's older than 1990s.

The buy it now price is his price, rather than the opening bid.