which band saws for metal fab?

[sixstringsteve]

After borrowing a friend's porta band + swag setup, I have seen the light for a band saw for more detailed metal work. However, the cut/throat depth was only 5", which really limits the material you can cut and it's extremely loud. So I'm looking for a freestanding band saw that'll be decent for cutting up to 3/8" steel. I'll be buying used.


I'm open to the idea of a horizontal band saw (like what they use for cutting tubing) if it can be converted to a vertical one for detailed work.


Any recommendations? My budget is $500 or less used.

 

[blznnp]

My buddy picked up a small Kawasaki band saw, he loves it. I have the cheaper horizontal/verticle one from HF, it has actually done a lot better than I would have thought it would have. I did my dads stairway railing with it, cut all the parts, 1/4x1.5" flat bar, 5/8" cold rolled round bar. I have cut 3"x3"x1/4" square tubing, pipe. Its really nice to set it up in the vertical position and use it to, used it for my front and rear bumpers. Only problem is that when a part breaks, which I have only had one in the last 3 years break, might be kinda hard to find a replacement part. Here is a picture of the stairway I built, keep in mind I only cut the railing parts with the saw, everything else on the stairway was precut and not used with this saw...

 

[I Lean]

I have a 7x12 horizontal that works well...they included a table to convert it to vertical use--but it doesn't work very well that way. It's best in horizontal use.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'm more interested in vertical use at the moment. Horizontal would be a plus, but if it can't do vertical it's not going to work for me.

It seems that all the saws under $1000 are china garbage and have horrible tolerances on the parts. The tables aren't solid, clamps, set screws, and all that seem to suck. I'd rather pick up a 30 year old unit that can handle some abuse.

I'm not sure what constitutes a good saw for metal work. I assume it needs the following, but I could be way off:

- brushes to clean the blade off and prevent metal shavings from going onto the pulleys.
- bearings for the blade when it deflects
- I would assume I'd also want variable speeds: slower for metal and faster for wood.
- horsepower?

 

[carsonc1974]

Im curious as to what you come up with. Ive been looking for a vertical for years that fits my budget.... havent found one yet. People always recommend and old Do-All (Doall), grob, and Roll-in (Rollin) over the newer stuff.

 

[sixstringsteve]

The woodworkers seem to love the grizzly go 555x, but I'm not sure if a good woodworking band saw also makes a good metal band saw.

 

[sixstringsteve]

This is what I consider a horizontal band saw:





And this is what I consider a vertical band saw:

 

[carsonc1974]

I suffered with a wood saw for to long before I gave up on it.... Worked ok for aluminum but anything else, it was bad bad bad... Blade was WAY to fast, and the frame would flex and all kinds of bad things would happen.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I'd like something like this, but I don't know what to look for:

[video=youtube;hzlSIorsbmA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzlSIorsbmA[/video]

 

[sixstringsteve]

I suffered with a wood saw for to long before I gave up on it.... Worked ok for aluminum but anything else, it was bad bad bad... Blade was WAY to fast, and the frame would flex and all kinds of bad things would happen.

that's what I was afraid of. That leads me to believe that band saws for steel are quite different than wood band saws.

 

[sixstringsteve]

I don't have a particular project in mind, but I've completed a few recently that would have been easier if I had a band saw. Good idea about converting a horizontal one to a vertical. That may not be too bad.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Something like this looks good. 7-speed.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200406676_200406676

 

[carsonc1974]

that's what I was afraid of. That leads me to believe that band saws for steel are quite different than wood band saws.

There are places online where people have converted woodworking bandsaws to metal but it just doesnt seem worth it to me. You would need some kind of gear reduction unit to slow it down, rubber lined (cushioned or tires/wheels, and somehow get the machine rigid enough that you dont keep spitting blades.

As much as I hate and suck at plasma cutting, im starting to agree that it may be a better way to go for a home shop like mine. I will also follow this up that i would never attempt to plasma tabs or the like without a quality belt grinder. It helps everything come out clean. I hate seeing flat work that you can tell it was just cleaned up with a angle grinder. Im guilty of it myself cause i currently have no other option, but i think it cheapens the look of whatever your building.

 

[sixstringsteve]

Great feedback, thanks everyone. I've used a plasma, and while they are amazing, they make too much of a mess in my garage. Someday when I have a shop I'll get a plasma, but I've found myself missing the band saw I borrowed more than the plasma I borrowed.


I'm not opposed to a horizontal band saw that can also do vertical, assuming it does a good job at vertical.

 

[driver920]

i love my portaband and a vert/hor bandsaw would be nice for some things what i would use the most is an abrasive chop saw and a plasma (can get buy with a torch) but i have built miles and miles of hand rail in a steel shop and for tube,(round and square) and most flatbar to about 5 inches wide i would use the chop saw for plate and heavy flatbar the plasma yes the do make a mess but that can be delt with for notching pipe a chop saw and a little practice and if you need to cut long lines with the plasma you just set up a guide and follow it just my opion here

 

[driver920]

just rememberd about this but these saws have less mess and give a better cut because the blade does not flex like an abrasive http://www.mcfrugal.com/products/DeWalt-DW872-14%22-Multi%252dCutter-Metal-Cutting-Saw-%252d-15-Amps.html

 

[ricsrx]

I purchased the HF vertical wood saw, put on a metal blade, and installed a frequency drive to a 3 phase motor, unlimited speed adjustment with a foot pedal on/off switch. it has worked out great.

 

[N-Smooth]

I want a bandsaw sooooo bad. My chop saw makes me an angry elf! I need a money tree

 

[sixstringsteve]

I purchased the HF vertical wood saw, put on a metal blade, and installed a frequency drive to a 3 phase motor, unlimited speed adjustment with a foot pedal on/off switch. it has worked out great.

for those of us who aren't geniuses, how tough is it to install a frequency drive to a 3 phase motor?

 

[sixstringsteve]

I picked up a HF horizontal band saw today with the 20% off coupon. I've seen chocflip's in action and I like it. I hope I can get it to work vertically easily.