Smaller metal cutting bandsaw thoughts?

[tomplum]

It seems like a metal cutting bandsaw could be good thing in my future. My bigger projects tend to be working with 3-4" c channel, up to 1/2 thick flat bar, some tube. When I need a better cut, the dry cut chop saw is the go to, but it lacks precision and versatility on angle cuts plus the ability to do miters. Is a model that is rated for 5-6 inches even worth it for upping my game? I'm not running a metal fab shop but having the right tool for a project is always helpful.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have a Milwaukee Deep Cut Portable bandsaw mounted on a Swag table. Good for 5" deep cuts. I find it very useful.



gg

 

[spitter]

Bite the bullet and buy a 7x12 horizontal ,vertical band saw . Used $500 new $1000 . Make all the rest of your time in the shop a pleasure.:thumbsup::drink:

 

[arrow]

It seems like a metal cutting bandsaw could be good thing in my future. My bigger projects tend to be working with 3-4" c channel, up to 1/2 thick flat bar, some tube. When I need a better cut, the dry cut chop saw is the go to, but it lacks precision and versatility on angle cuts plus the ability to do miters. Is a model that is rated for 5-6 inches even worth it for upping my game? I'm not running a metal fab shop but having the right tool for a project is always helpful.

There is always the 6 1/2" or 7 1/4" Diablo metal cutting circular saw blade. I find mine very handy and can make all kinds of angled cuts once the piece is clamped. Just cut 45* "ears" on a piece of 3" channel. Took about 5 seconds per cut.

 

[WranglerX]

I do a lot of cuttings on old Craftsman Professional horizontal band saw..... Got it for $20 because idiot I got it from put blade on backwards and he said it did not cut...

Other option would be chop saw. I have a abrasive one, but If I had to do it again I would have gotten "cold cut" Bit at the time I didn't realize the pros and cons of cold cut vs abrasive and let price guide (mistake)...

Worked many hour with a Porter Cable "Porta Band" during my work career, but find in retirement and for property projects it would be nice to have, but I really fine my chop saw and horizontal band saw more useful, only wish for some operation the Craftsman would go vertical but that may be about 1% of my work....... And vantage of say a 60 inch (blade length) horizontal/vertical band saw it you can set up cut and walk away and let it go, and come back in a bit and it is done mean time you has time to sip a bit of coffee or do something else....

Dale

 

[tomplum]

Bite the bullet and buy a 7x12 horizontal ,vertical band saw . Used $500 new $1000 . Make all the rest of your time in the shop a pleasure.:thumbsup::drink:

I was checking out the craigslit and someone at least within driving distance had a Ramco 8x13. Bigger than what I was going for, but I see your point. 1200 OBO

 

[tomplum]

I do a lot of cuttings on old Craftsman Professional horizontal band saw..... Got it for $20 because idiot I got it from put blade on backwards and he said it did not cut...

Other option would be chop saw. I have a abrasive one, but If I had to do it again I would have gotten "cold cut" Bit at the time I didn't realize the prows and con of cold cut vs abrasive and let price guide (mistake)...

Worked many hour with a Porter Cable "Porta Band" during my work career, but find in retirement and for property projects it would be nice to have, but I really fine my chop saw and horizontal band saw more useful, only wish for some operation the Craftsman would go vertical but that may be about 1% of my work....... And vantage of say a 60 inch (blade length) horizontal/vertical band saw it you can set up cut and walk away and let it go, and come back in a bit and it is done mean time you has time to sip a bit of coffee or do something else....

Dale

I agree that the dry cut saw is a big notch up from the abrasive wheel. The porta bands that you and others have mentioned just may not be the right tool for me. My problem is I get busy and everything becomes work and maintenance and when I go to craft something, my mind needs a reset. A true artist I am not, though I want to be! I have a small Milwaukee circle saw which is good for thin stuff, a dry cut and a plasma cutter. It seems if I had the time to work with this stuff more, my level of proficiency would improve. The set and and watch the cutter do the work sounds like a good thing to me.

 

[WranglerX]

I agree that the dry cut saw is a big notch up from the abrasive wheel. The porta bands that you and others have mentioned just may not be the right tool for me. My problem is I get busy and everything becomes work and maintenance and when I go to craft something, my mind needs a reset. A true artist I am not, though I want to be! I have a small Milwaukee circle saw which is good for thin stuff, a dry cut and a plasma cutter. It seems if I had the time to work with this stuff more, my level of proficiency would improve. The set and and watch the cutter do the work sounds like a good thing to me.

Then you want horizontal band saw....

Dale

 

[dragoneggs]

Other option would be chop saw. I have a abrasive one, but If I had to do it again I would have gotten "cold cut" Bit at the time I didn't realize the pros and cons of cold cut vs abrasive and let price guide (mistake)...

I did the same thing. I hate my abrasive saw and someday I will replace it with a dry saw or whatever you call them.

I do like my portaband saw. It is pretty much permanently vertically mounted in a SwagOffroad table w/foot switch. Fine for small stuff but a dry cut miter saw with infeed/outfeed roller tables would be nice. A quality horizontal bandsaw would be great but I don't have the real estate.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I have a maybe forty year old WF Wells saw. Also Plasma Cutter, torches and Chinesium Chop Saw. None really get much use. I have friends with better bandsaws and since I get my steel there, it often gets cut.

Am thinking about getting a hand held Cold Saw. Is that even what they are called? Like Milwaukee.

Built a frame with casors for my Wells Horizontal Bandsaw and it mostly lives under some racking out of the way.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I made a 4.5" vertical bandsaw some years back using a DeWalt handheld saw for the powerhead. I use it constantly when doing metal work. It is perfectly square in all three axes. The saw moves through the material, which is securely clamped to the table. Rather than moving the material through the saw. This provides great accuracy. It is a miniature version of the big vertical saws at the place where I get steel. I also have a Makita dry cut saw and metal cutting circular saw and plasma. But this does things those other tools cannot. The footprint is about 30x34.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Nice. No stamped out chinesium tin.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I have two porta bands, with one of them mounted on a tripod stand, that's fairly easy to move to a job, and also of course, a gas ax...
BUT, What I use the most, is a Delta 4x6 horizontal bandsaw.

It's a china cheapy with Delta name tag on it, but I've had it for many years any it's at least decent quality.

I think one of the better cold cut saws would be the thing to own...

SR

 

[BravoXray]

I have a Buffalo horizontal band saw I bought at Big R nearly 40 year ago. I think it's 4" capacity, but I have cut 5" exhaust tubing with it.
It will do miter cuts too, and I have marks so I can set it right at 45ｰ and 30ｰ angles.

I have cut more tube and bar stock than I can imagine with the thing. It's probably the most used tool I have, next to the drill press.
Until a couple of weeks ago all I had ever done to it was change blades. I finally had to change the guide bearings, there are six of them and are easy to change. Probably took 30-45 minutes total. Only the one on the top of the guide nearest to the pivot was bad, but I had new ones, so I changed all of them. It was a universal double shielded ball bearing, don't recall the number, but I got a sleeve of 10 off Amazon for less than $20 bucks.
I've never even changed the belt on it, and have only tightened it a couple of times.

I have looked around and they still make the very same saw, many different brand names on it. Must still be using the same molds in the foundry where they make them.

 

[MF RED in MT]

It seems like a metal cutting bandsaw could be good thing in my future. My bigger projects tend to be working with 3-4" c channel, up to 1/2 thick flat bar, some tube. When I need a better cut, the dry cut chop saw is the go to, but it lacks precision and versatility on angle cuts plus the ability to do miters. Is a model that is rated for 5-6 inches even worth it for upping my game? I'm not running a metal fab shop but having the right tool for a project is always helpful.

I purchased a horizontal bandsaw about 2 years ago that also can turn into a small vertical bandsaw fairly easy.

I added a 1/4" plate to the bottom of the legs that extended out past about 3", and then bolted on 4 HF swivel/locking 2" wheels to this plate.

I find it very handy to cut multi parts that are alike while sitting in my chair next to it.

There are plenty of other colors of these bandsaws out there, but I was looking for a value/benefit for my cutting.

There are bigger ones also, it all depends what your needs are.

Here's a link to the one I purchased, and I wish I'd done it years ago:

KC

WEN 397 Metal-Cutting Band Saw with Stand, 4" x 6" - - Amazon.com

 

[metalbender]

Have a gypsy tool sales Carolina type band saw, added a small drill press vise for smaller material. Works, but not great. Use the Milwaukee deep cut lots. Also have plasma, abrasive and of course a few angle grinders. All have their place. The deep cut with a Honda 2000 gets the nod for harvesting useable steel from old farm equipment.

 

[TractorGuy]

Don't see them come up on CL or FB often. I picked up this 7x12 Clarke a while back for $300.

 

[spitter]

Grizzley got a 7 x 12 on sale for $950. My buddy just bought a 8x16 kalamazoo for $1000 . If you buy used you will have to wade through the dreamers to find a good deal but they are out there . If you don't need it rite away take your time you will find a good deal . $1000 sounds like to much for a 8x 13 Ramco offer him $500 cash in hand I got lots of good deals like that . The worst he can do is say no than move on.:drink:

 

[tomplum]

Maybe there isn't much between that Ramco and the little 4x6s that come out of the same factory. Anything I see on these make me think that I should move up a grade.

 

[user.69169]

Why not just do like dis guy in Poland?
Whole how to video right dere to work from.
Cutting steel like butter! - Machine build DIY - YouTube