Bandsaw

[Hitch]

I know a few of you have been looking at bandsaws, On Saturday i recieved the latest offer leaflet from Axminster Power Tools, Metal cutting bandsaw, £110 inc vat, complete with leg stand.

Thought i would let you in on it!

 

[pauld]

I know a few of you have been looking at bandsaws, On Saturday i recieved the latest offer leaflet from Axminster Power Tools, Metal cutting bandsaw, £110 inc vat, complete with leg stand.

Thought i would let you in on it!

mmm, some tasty looking things there! Would a bandsaw be a better option than a chop saw for making accurate neat cuts? Similar price to the chop saw I was looking at from machine mart.

 

[Hitch]

You mean an abrasive chop saw?
I'd pick a bandsaw every time.
Quieter, less mess, no sparks, better accuracy, blades last a long time...

 

[pauld]

You mean an abrasive chop saw?
I'd pick a bandsaw every time.
Quieter, less mess, no sparks, better accuracy, blades last a long time...

yeah, abrasive chop saw, that's the thing! Bandsaw definately looks like a possibility to add to my ever growing tool selection!

 

[Hitch]

They are okay if you need something portable.

It must be 3/4 years since i used one last.

Once the blades worn down you limited to what you can then cut. Dont have that problem with a bandsaw.

 

[pauld]

Don't think I am after anything portable particularly. Accuracy of cut is more important! Noise and mess and lack of sparks would also be good! Once I have my welding skills up to some sort of reasonable standard I have some gates to construct out of box section and solid round lengths (12mm? maybe 16mm), so would like a tool that will help me cut it all up to the right lengths etc. 45 deg cuts for the box section to get good corners would be good!

 

[aametalmaster]

I also would take the bandsaw over a chop saw. I have too many neighbors for the noise that it makes. Here is a yahoo group for some 4x6 bandsaw cutting tips for some oddball cuts i have make over the years...Bob
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sawking/

 

[Drains]

The advantage of a chopsaw is speed. It cuts quicker than a bandsaw, so if you have a lot of components to knock out, it's as good a tool as any.

You can also build one into a table to give a backfence which you can put stops on for accuracy. If you're really feelin fancy you can make a turning bed or 45 degree bed for the saw to sit in. And of course you can chuck the things around and take them on site.

But like Hmad says, if you want accuracy and a bit of peace and quiet, + no iron filings going rusty all over the shop, and lower cost blade replacement, it's got to be the bandsaw.

 

[Welderpaul]

Just to add my little bit - we have a donkey saw, a reciprocating hacksaw if you will. It is the oldest and most mankiest thing you have ever seen, but cuts as square as you like. Stick a lump of 4" solid round in it, and it's cut before the brews are made. Takes an overgrown hacksaw blade that lasts forever. Will post a pic when i remeber.

 

[pauld]

Just to add my little bit - we have a donkey saw, a reciprocating hacksaw if you will. It is the oldest and most mankiest thing you have ever seen, but cuts as square as you like. Stick a lump of 4" solid round in it, and it's cut before the brews are made. Takes an overgrown hacksaw blade that lasts forever. Will post a pic when i remeber.

There was also this little beast I saw! Anything similar to yours?

 

[Hitch]

I wouldnt have said theres much in it speed wisse simon, guess it depends on what blades your using.

 

[Drains]

I wouldnt have said theres much in it speed wisse simon, guess it depends on what blades your using.

Depends on the material. For smallish box and tube i'd say a wheel, for anything with a larger area or solid, bandsaw. The wheels hate large surface areas and you can be there for hours work hardening everything. I've used an old makita cut off for years - it's ok in its place, - outside!

 

[Alex]

Not sure about metal bandsaw blades being cheaper than metal abrasives for chops saw, I've always seen metal bandsaw blades cost £30 odd, while abrasive 300mm type size £5-10 average quality.


I prefer like you all know bandsaws or electric hacksaws etc over abrasives, purely because I find the cut much neater.

Abrasives can almost melt the edges of the steel being cut and it leaves a nasty finish.

Go for the cutting bandsaw anyday.

 

[Hitch]

A blade shouldn't cost more than about £15 for that saw, ones for the saw at work are only about £25 each, and they are MUCH bigger than that, about 5metres long and about 4-6 tpi. Cuts fromm 400x 400mm solid down to 6mm bar.

Might be worth giving them a buzz to see if they can supply the blades.
Shouldn't think youd use more than 2/3 a year in a home saw. Yet 14" abrasives youd easilly get through a box of 10 a year (same cost as 2 bands)
What ever your cutting you should try and minimise the area of the blade being used, like cutting flat bar on its edge rather than flat.

 

[Baz-Cem]

Try these people,

Dragon Saws Ltd.
Unit G3, Britannia Centre for Enterprise
Pengam Road, Pengam
Blackwood
Co Borough of Caerphilly
NP12 3TB
United Kingdom
Tel: 01443 834491
Fax: 01443 836491

They sell on Ebay as well, Very cheap. Used them in the past, very good.

Search for this on Ebay 120115115891, It tells you all about them and what they offer.

 

[rusty69bus]

i have a clarke bandsaw cms45 i have just bought a set of blades 5 for £26 24tpi seems okay, bought it to cut small box sections and bar neater cut and not so noisey as a angle grinder

 

[chuk]

I have that band saw from axminister, its great for the money. there so accurate the extra time spent cutting is saved 2x over if you have to sand every piece down. You also save a small fortune in blades/disc whater you use.

chuk

 

[Alex]

The equivalent from Axminster aint so accurate. Cut a piece of hollow section and put a square to it, it may not seem much out but if you weld a long section to a flat piece of steel you'll see how bad it is, the longer the metal length the worse its gets, accuracy is very important in metal working if everything is to fit properly.

 

[Hitch]

Not being funny Alex, but you should never rely on a saw cut being perfect.

See which corner is longest, tack this corner first. Then use your square to set it one way, then the other.

Another simple thing to remember, dont bother relying on the angle markings if you want a perfect cut, always check it with a square or protractor when setting up.

 

[Alex]

I agree, but if you have expensive tools the markings are generally a LOT more accurate.

With an Axminster you would have to spend a fair time setting up using proper measuring instruments and then putting your own markings on the angle guage.

I have no doubt the Clarke would require the same adjustments.