Band saw for basic fab work - this one?

[vidio1]

A cold saw and a dry saw are 2 totally different animals. Shop for a dry saw, should be more in line with the prices of smaller band saws.

 

[stuckmotor]

Here's a link to the thread on cold cut and dry saws that was going on the other day. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/375392-cold-cut-saw.html
RustyIron's post #8 gives a quick explanation of which is which.

 

[stuckmotor]

When I used to use an abrasive chop saw I hated seeing the wide kerf turned to powder. The bandsaw kerf looks to be narrower than that of the cold saw and dry saw too. Another advantave of the bandsaw is that it can rip up to the width of the throat when in the vertical position and some people say they'll cut off a railroad track. I've never tried this. Those people recommend starting on the softer bottom of the track.

 

[bamboozled]

I've got a JET horizontal band saw. It's good for rough cutting things down to size, not great for cutting stock square. If it's something I need precision on, I will roughcut it with the band saw, then square it up with my Makita Carbide tipped metal cutting chop-saw. The Makita sells for like $400 still, if I was going to buy just one, it would be the Makita. I absolutely love my Makita, I've had it for probably 10 years and 3 blades. I would buy another one tomorrow if it ever dies.


Makita LC123 12 in. Metal Cutting Saw

 

[vidio1]

If your band saw isn't cutting as well as a dry saw you need to make adjustments to your band saw. I have a band saw and a dry saw.....

 

[weldingisfun]

I have been using one of these for about five years. It is a PITA to adjust, but once it is it works great. Metal Band Saw - Horizontal/Vertical Metal Band Saw There are lots of You Tube videos on ways of tweaking it.

 

[Gem99ultra]

When I used to use an abrasive chop saw I hated seeing the wide kerf turned to powder. The bandsaw kerf looks to be narrower than that of the cold saw and dry saw too. Another advantave of the bandsaw is that it can rip up to the width of the throat when in the vertical position and some people say they'll cut off a railroad track. I've never tried this. Those people recommend starting on the softer bottom of the track.

I have a bandsaw pretty much identical to the OP's question. Bought it back in the '70s and cut literally thousands of cuts with it, and it still purrs along. Being Twain made, one much be sure to fill the grease/oil supply every few years. Blades are available everywhere. And yes, I can vouch that it will indeed cut railroad track. ...made a lot of anvils from track.

Accuracy is no better than the care given to setup. In my opinion also, I think it's lightyears ahead of chopsaws. Perhaps not a fast, but much cleaner cut.

Bottom line, buy it. You'll use it more than you think.

 

[gsganzer]

For me, if I had the room in my shop to permanently set up a bandsaw, that's the way I'd go. If I was short on space, and I'd have to drag the thing out into place and set up feed tables and fill it with coolant each time, I'd go with one of the cold/dry saws

 

[Code54]

I been using a harbor freight metal cutting circular saw. Cant find them listed on the sit anymore but here is something similar:
Evolution EVOSAW18HD 7-1/4-Inch Steel Cutting Circular Saw - Metal Cutting Saw - Amazon.com
I been cutting 1/4" C channel, a 1/2" I beam (the top web), and tons of plate and angle iron and it works great and is SUPER quick!

 

[rodnok]

It was mentioned above that a lot of these products are pretty much the same unit just rebadged. I'm seeing that as true. I also noticed that when looking at bench grinders and belt/disc sanders. Seems like a lot of companies contract with what must be a limited number of Chinese manufacturers to buy their product and offer it under their own brand. This 'Klutch' saw actually looks very close to Grizzly's entry level metal bandsaw. My dad has a wood workshop full of Grizzly tools that have treated him well so I may check into getting the Grizzly version as long as it isn't too much more expensive.

I fully understand that the better quality you buy and the higher-end versions you get the better your results will be. But at the point I'm at I think a band saw like this one will be worlds ahead of me trying to cut things freehand with a angle grinder or a sawzall/jigsaw. I hate, hate, hate it when I can't get nice straight cuts in metal. Though an entry level band saw like this won't be perfection it will be an order of magnitude more consistent and accurate.

Thanks,
Rob

A porta band saw is a very versatile tool. Milwaukee tools are the best, period. I have two 1/2 inch drills and a sawzall since the mid 70,s that still run like new. Used milwaukee porta bands on jobsites and never burnt one out. The rubber tires need to be replaced sometimes but that is about it. The brushes are replaceable which is a great feature. Buy quality once. Buy junk often.