can i use a wood band saw to cut metal?

[forsakenfew]

i know i can't with a wood saw blade, but what if i use a blade for steel? or do wood band saws run at too fast a rate? i really want to get a saw, and thought this would be and easier cheaper way.

[12pack]

just change to a metal blade.watch the fingers cuts 16gauge metal real easy.we have one in the sheet metal shop at work used every day.

[36-3window]

yes, you can....but you have to put in a metal blade , and SLOW the speed down...your wood bandsaw probabilly has a speed of 3000 feet per minute...you would need to slow it to 150-300 feet per minute

you would have to adapt some sort jackshaft/pulleys/speed reducer gearbox, etc,.to get to the right speed

[jalopy43]

Just be carefull when you weld wood,its easy to burn

[BigJim394]

For some of the Sears Craftsman band saws they sell a gear reduction device to slow down the speed so that it is easier to use it to cut metal (with a metal blade abviously).

[bigfive]

this old man i know has a meat ban saw that he uses for metal. got from an old butcher or something. its bad ass. i need one of those.

[cabriolethiboy]

A long time ago I had a meat saw that I changed over to cut metal. I used a Crosley (I think) transmission to slow the speed down. Worked pretty good.

[Chaz]

For thin guage,(up to 20) just change the blade to metalcutting. After that, you better slow down the blade speed a lot.

[JOECOOL]

You can weld wood OK though, you need Hickory rod and use Peanut Butter for flux!

[whizzerick]

[ QUOTE ]
use Peanut Butter for flux!

[/ QUOTE ]
LOL!

[flt-blk]

And don't forget to clear ALL the wood dust and shavings
out of the housing otherwise they may ignite.

[forsakenfew]

thanks for the input guys. i know i'd have to change blades, and figured i'd have to figure out how to slow the sucker way down. i need to be able to cut some fairly thick plate.(3/16 - 1/4)

sounds like i should probably just track down a saw designed for metal.

where have you all found yours, and what did you pay for em?

[Flatdog]

I have tryed and did not work out well. Could not get blade speed slow enought. Best solution? Can you say Miwaukee porta-band,it kicks ass.

[Busted Knuckles]

Just make sure its really clean

[J Man]

Does anyone know of an actual metal band saw, if so who makes it. Or is slowing down a wood one the only option?

[Unkl Ian]

I think General still makes a metal cutting band saw.
Grizzly might have one.

Most are industrial machines,and priced accordingly.

[scoop]

Could you change one of the pulley sizes to slow it down enough?

[Digger_Dave]

Ian and Flatdog said it best; "If your going to cut steel, use the right tool."
If your going to do a lot of cutting (steel) consider a "metal bandsaw" type cut-off saw that allows the blade assembly to stand vertically and be used for cutting odd shapes.

Wood bandsaws run at too high a speed. Even just changing to a metal cutting blades will eat blades up fast if your cutting anything thicker than 20 ga. aluminum.

(but then again I sell bandsaw blades )

[Digger_Dave]

[ QUOTE ]
Could you change one of the pulley sizes to slow it down enough?

[/ QUOTE ]

You need to drop from 3600 RPM to 1800 RPM OR LESS (blade speed equates to thickness, hardness and feed speed)

Short of an industrial speed reducer you couldn't fit enough reducer pullies under the bandsaw. (the speed reducers are worth more than the bandsaw)

Sell a lot of metal bandsaws after people have played around trying to get a wood bandsaw to work!!

[Mart]

I might be out on my own on this, but angle grinders and discs are quite cheap these days, I have not used my metal band saw for quite a while. Just use the grinder. I spose I'd use it if fabricating a frame or something, but just for hacking out little brackets etc, the grinder is quicker and simpler.
Mart.