Metal Cutting ?

[SKIVIE]

Need some advise on a bandsaw for cutting my bar stock. Im about to purchase some barstock for stock removal on some blades and Ive held off till last to purchase a metal cutting bandsaw. They obviously dont come cheap. Any suggestions on wich ones I should be looking at or wich ones to stay away from ?

Any help on this subject would be appreciated. Its one of the last things I need to purchase ( till I find something else ).

Thanks

Shane

[SKIVIE]

After more research I think im going with the Harbor Freight model. Seems likea great deal for the money.

Shane

[Bwitty]

Enco has one comparable to harbor freight, except this one has a motor made in the USA, on sale for 199.99 with free shipping. Might want to take a look

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INPDFF?P...&PARTPG=INLMPA

[Jeremy Krammes]

I have the 5x6 Horizontal/Vertical saw, but mine has a Grizzley sticker on it. There are a lot of makers that have this saw, and they all seem to like it. I like mine, I have cut wood, stainless and carbon steels, and Titanium with no problems. You MUST get a good BI Metal blade, I wrecked the one that came with the saw the first week I had it. What ever you get make sure it is variable speed, so you can run it slow.

Jeremy

[Ed Caffrey]

My advice is to go with the Enco version. Although the import motors often are very servicable, if anything ever goes wrong with it, you will have a tough time finding anyone who will work on it. I picked up a drill press a while back that had an import motor (motor was shot), and NOBODY would even attempt to fix it. I couldn't even locate a source to purchase another motor. I finally wound up rigging up another motor (US made) that sorta works.

[cactusforge]

I have a harbor freight band saw, did a good job for a few years then the motor burnt up, ordered a new motor, to make a long story short the replacement motor is a JOKE, sent it back and bought a made in american motor. Also there is some indication that they know that they have a problem. Gib

[Darren Ellis]

Here's another option you may not have considered:



This is a Milwaukee deep cut portaband set up with a work rest for use as a bandsaw. When I want to use it I just clamp it up in my vise. When not in use, it hangs on the wall out of the way. If I had to do it over again, I'd get the Porter Cable model, as the motor position on it has better clearance, but the Milwaukee works, and I've not run into a situation I couldn't use it for.

I've also got a HF bandsaw like everyone else...which I've since relegated to only using as a horizontal bandsaw...took the legs off and mounted it permanently on the edge of my welding table. I hated that thing, with a passion.

The thing I especially like about the portaband setup is that good bi-metal blades only cost about $6 each as opposed to $20+ for the HF bandsaw. I run this thing pretty much wide open (something like 300sfpm) and it cuts fast. Yes, the blades wear out a little more quickly, but they only cost $6...time is money too.

It has also come in handy for those occasions when I have needed a portaband. We're building 5 80 pound air hammers, and having the portaband came in handy for some various parts of that project!

-Darren

[hammerdownnow]

A chop saw comes in handy and can do some jobs much quicker.

[SKIVIE]

Geez, you guys know how to confuse a guy !

Great ideas, im going to look into the porta saws Darren, that seems like a great option.

Thanks again everyone.

Shane

[Darren Ellis]

Sorry, didn't mean to add to the confusion...just wanted to throw another option out there! I ran across this site for reconditioned Milwaukee portabands while doing a search...maybe there's another place that sells reconditioned Porter Cable portabands out there too...

http://www.powertoolservices.com/portabands.htm


I've never dealt with this company...so caveat emptor!



-Darren

[McAhron]

wichever you buy get the bi-metal blades,the plane ones are crap

[SteveS]

SKIVIE,

Want more confusion?

Go cheap: Get a high tension hacksaw and 18 tpi bi-metal blades. Cuts faster than you think it will!

FWIW, I also have the cheap HF bandsaw. Love the little guy. I cut everything on it. Including PVC for home plumbing projects.

Steve

[Drac]

Shane,

I have the HF band saw and it works well. I also have the HF 6" chop saw, about $35 w/o blades, $10 for the discs. It cuts the bar stock and rod stock a lot easier and safer than the band saw. Always have the rods twisting in my hand and had to stop that and use the dremel until I got the saw. Granted my band saw is setup for permanent table cutting.

Jim

Edit: If you get the chop saw, don't cut brass with it. It is a form of grinder and brass will gum up the blade.

[Gary Mulkey]

Shane,

When it comes to buying tools, always get the best one that you can afford from a company with a good guarantee. I have had very good luck with both Grizzly and MSC but would suggest that you avoid the cheapest models. If you plan on using it for years to come, then I would suggest getting something more than the least expensive models. In the long run it will pay you dividends.

Gary

[offbyone]

Did you modify the portaband at all to get it to work in your vise? Thats a really attractive looking idea to me.

Can you cut titanium effectively with it?