Gene,
What do you use to cut 416 stainless for bolsters, guards, etc. I'm looking at getting a bandsaw, but I don't want to spend a huge amount if I don't have to. As I understand it, a basic woodcutting bandsaw from Lowes can't be used for metal-cutting because the blade speed is too high, right? Is there somewhere where I could get a small metalcutting bandsaw?

Josh Blount

You can find them in the discount houses for 200.00 dollars or less.Harbor Freight,MSC, Enco, most all of them have the imports.
Mine is a Buffalo band saw.(shop tour) It has been modified to be a stand up model only.
Wood saws are too fast, unless you can slow them down.

You can check out my shop tour, too- I made a similar modification to mine, along with adding a pillow so I can sit on it while I am using it.

Another option is a chop saw, which takes up less space, and can be had for roughly the same money.