power hacksaw vs bandsaw?

[julianf]

Im just wondering about the pro's and con's between these two?

When is one preferable to the other, and do they have significantly different consumables cost (lifetime)?


Thank you : )

 

[MattF]

The main difference of any noteworthiness will be pure and simple speed. Everything else will be fairly balanced. Bandsaw may need a bit of tweaking and modifying to get it set up correctly etc., hacksaw should just work straight away and chug along.

 

[brightspark]

The main difference of any noteworthiness will be pure and simple speed.

and the cost of the blades i been getting the mechanical hacksaw blades for 2 quid each

 

[Fazerruss]

and the cost of the blades i been getting the mechanical hacksaw blades for 2 quid each

Where you getting your blades from brightspark? Mine takes 14 inch and cheapest I've found on line for 10 tpi I'd about 8 quid.

 

[brightspark]

Where you getting your blades from brightspark? Mine takes 14 inch and cheapest I've found on line for 10 tpi I'd about 8 quid.

pick them up from autojumbles the most ive ever paid was 3 quid each

 

[Rig Pig]

Power hacksaws are always well built sturdy ex industrial machines, if they are in good condition the accuracy and durability are in a different solar system to cheap import bandsaws. The blades last far longer as well if you look after them - HSS instead of Chinese carbon steel. They are slower but built to work all day, just stack the steel up and leave it to it!

 

[julianf]

So, if i was looking to buy (at some point - im in no hurry) its a hacksaw that i should keep an eye out for, rather than a bandsaw?


Im only really wondering as i was using my friends clarke style bandsaw the other day, and was considering the cost of blades, and how long they lasted etc.

 

[Rig Pig]

It depends on what you need it for really, most power hacksaws are big, heavy and 3ph. Motors can easily be changed if need be but if your short on space and only using it for light DIY a cheap bandsaw may be the best solution, heavier usage and more space & the hacksaw comes into it's own.

 

[MattF]

It depends on what you need it for really, most power hacksaws are big, heavy and 3ph. Motors can easily be changed if need be but if your short on space and only using it for light DIY a cheap bandsaw may be the best solution, heavier usage and more space & the hacksaw comes into it's own.

The common exception from that would be the Rapidor Minor. They're not much different in size to the horizontal bandsaws, and will merrily run on a standard single or three phase motor. The Major is only a bit bulkier than the Minor. From memory of last time I saw a Clarke bandsaw, they'll be notably heavier though, simply due to the cast versus mainly steel plate construction.

 

[Wallace]

Use coolant with either type and blade life improves, depends if you can tolerate the added mess and smell.

 

[julianf]

I sprayed some wd40 on my friends unit the other day, and the blade slipped off shortly afterward!

(the pulley is slightly on the wobble though, so its not the best example - broken / welded in the past)


A quick look on ebay under donkey saw / completed items brings up this item closest to me -

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/191242808304

That seems like quit a lot of kit for not a lot of money, even when you figure in a motor swap or inverter thing.


Any brands good to keep an eye out for? Im in no hurry at all, and not even sure that i want one tomorrow, but id like to get a feel of what's what with them.

 

[Fazerruss]

Any old British one will be good
eg Rapidor, Atlas, Qualters n Smith, Wicksteed

 

[MattF]

There's one of the larger Rapidor's on Ebay at the moment too. I think it's in London. Those are an even sturdier version which were designed for quite heavy use. Same type as the green one in this photo. One of those would definitely just chug along for ever and a day once fettled. They're nice and basic in design like all of the Rapidor's, but the construction and design is literally double.

This is the one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271630137298

Looks like that one is missing the original coolant pump, judging from the photo's. One thing you need to remember when buying a used machine though is that you will likely need to do some fettling and possibly replace a few bits like bronze bushes. Once you've done that initial work though, you'll have a machine which will merrily just cope provided you keep it maintained.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

Slightly off the subject - what's the grey coloured lathe on the right of your picture? Looks similar to one I purchased recently off the evilbay.

 

[MattF]

That's a WWI Drummond dual height bed 5" lathe. This is a photo of it before it was disassembled.

In that photo, the headstock pulley is not the original one, (it's flat belt drive, originally), and those oil cups aren't standard either. They're actually somewhat superfluous, as the uprights on the headstock casting itself are oil reservoirs for the bearings.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

OK, it is similar (a bit more sophisticated though), to my S. Holmes of Bradford. I think mine's around 1920. Not had it running yet as my shed's not finished.

 

[MattF]

OK, it is similar (a bit more sophisticated though), to my S. Holmes of Bradford. I think mine's around 1920.

Any photo's of it?

Not had it running yet as my shed's not finished.

Join the long and growing queue. Even when they're finished, they're rarely usable.

 

[jinjahbiscuit]

Ha ha, how true!

Kinda buried at the minute, but I'll try and dig it out when I get home in November and take a couple of snapshots.

 

[MattF]

Cheers.