Tengtooltom
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Hi, I am a new member and I need to buy a bandsaw or chopsaw to handle 4" x 4" box. I need to sometimes cut at 45deg. single phase only. Any info welcome!! Thanks 
- Thread starter Tengtooltom
- Start date
What 'info' are you looking for?
4 x 4 box is big for a chop saw - even if it cuts it, you won't get much action out of a blade before it needs replacing due to the diameter reducing.
Go with a band saw or something else (cold saw/order the steel pre-cut/etc).
Al.
4 x 4 box is big for a chop saw - even if it cuts it, you won't get much action out of a blade before it needs replacing due to the diameter reducing.
Go with a band saw or something else (cold saw/order the steel pre-cut/etc).
Al.
Tengtooltom
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What I need to do is to cut 4x4 and4x2 box and channel for welding/fabricating into frames. Whatever machine that I end up using must be capable of handling these sizes at up to 45degree cuts. the materials will be 6mm max thickness. My project is to build an offroad camping trailer to tow behind my pickup - so its a hobby project. The "info" that I am looking for is: what make and type of saw do I look out for and is there anything available secondhand
wyn
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There are a lot of these 4 1/2" X 6" bandsaws about, sold under different brand names.
I'm not too sure what the capacity is at 45* though.
For the price, they seem to work ok with a bit of fettling first to make sure the blade is cutting straight. And maybe also a quality blade.
I'm not too sure what the capacity is at 45* though.
For the price, they seem to work ok with a bit of fettling first to make sure the blade is cutting straight. And maybe also a quality blade.
Read the spec on all the bandsaws in your price range. they should specify capacity at 90 degrees (cutting straight across) and at angles.
For what its worth I think 4" box is crazy big stock for a car trailer. I have some big trailers in the workshop (big as you can legally tow) and 4" is nowhere to be seen.
I'd go somewhere near 60 x 30 x (3 or 4)mm. You want the long dimension oriented vertically. You're just wasting mass by using equal sided box. The vertical forces far outweigh lateral forces. 6mm wall is also too much. I've got tipper / flatbeds etc and there's no 6mm wall in sight. Offroad trailers should be built light enough to allow offroading! there was a great model in Oz I saw once on a copy of the Outback Challenge. Looked nice and nimble and light. Can't remember the name now.
Secondhand saws depend on your budget. There are quite a few horizontal bandsaws on ebay. If you have 3 phase you'll have no probs finding a big machine for a few hundred quid. I don't know anything about budget machines, but try to get the heaviest built one you can find. Suds pump is a good facility / indication of purpose. If you're looking at the real budget saw, I guess they're pretty much all the same, just buy whatever's easiest to take back.
Al.
For what its worth I think 4" box is crazy big stock for a car trailer. I have some big trailers in the workshop (big as you can legally tow) and 4" is nowhere to be seen.
I'd go somewhere near 60 x 30 x (3 or 4)mm. You want the long dimension oriented vertically. You're just wasting mass by using equal sided box. The vertical forces far outweigh lateral forces. 6mm wall is also too much. I've got tipper / flatbeds etc and there's no 6mm wall in sight. Offroad trailers should be built light enough to allow offroading! there was a great model in Oz I saw once on a copy of the Outback Challenge. Looked nice and nimble and light. Can't remember the name now.
Secondhand saws depend on your budget. There are quite a few horizontal bandsaws on ebay. If you have 3 phase you'll have no probs finding a big machine for a few hundred quid. I don't know anything about budget machines, but try to get the heaviest built one you can find. Suds pump is a good facility / indication of purpose. If you're looking at the real budget saw, I guess they're pretty much all the same, just buy whatever's easiest to take back.
Al.
pidgeon chit welder
sticking metal since 1962
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Just for a trailer jobby why not get a combination square and pencil the cut lines on matt emulsioned sections, then cut on the waste side with an angle grinder fitted up with a thin steel cut blade ..any big lumps to move, remove do it all once everything is basic cut and use a 6 mm grinder disc.
PS I'm happy to go halves with the money you save
PS I'm happy to go halves with the money you save
