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can i use a wood band saw to cut metal?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by forsakenfew, Dec 23, 2004.

  1. forsakenfew
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 1,063

    forsakenfew
    Member
    from seattle

    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.
     
  2. 12pack
    Joined: Jun 10, 2002
    Posts: 89

    12pack
    Member

    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.
     
  3. 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
     
  4. jalopy43
    Joined: Jan 12, 2002
    Posts: 3,085

    jalopy43
    Member Emeritus

    Just be carefull when you weld wood,its easy to burn
     
  5. BigJim394
    Joined: Jan 21, 2002
    Posts: 767

    BigJim394
    Member

    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).
     
  6. bigfive
    Joined: Oct 3, 2003
    Posts: 648

    bigfive
    Member
    from south L.A.

    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.
     
    LilBlue82 likes this.
  7. cabriolethiboy
    Joined: Jun 16, 2002
    Posts: 892

    cabriolethiboy
    Member

    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.
     
  8. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    For thin guage,(up to 20) just change the blade to metalcutting. After that, you better slow down the blade speed a lot.
     
    LilBlue82 likes this.
  9. JOECOOL
    Joined: Jan 13, 2004
    Posts: 2,769

    JOECOOL
    Member

    You can weld wood OK though, you need Hickory rod and use Peanut Butter for flux! [​IMG]
     
  10. whizzerick
    Joined: Nov 13, 2002
    Posts: 1,109

    whizzerick
    Member

    [ QUOTE ]
    use Peanut Butter for flux!

    [/ QUOTE ]
    LOL! [​IMG]
     
    lawman likes this.
  11. And don't forget to clear ALL the wood dust and shavings
    out of the housing otherwise they may ignite. [​IMG]
     
    clem and lawman like this.
  12. forsakenfew
    Joined: May 30, 2003
    Posts: 1,063

    forsakenfew
    Member
    from seattle

    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?
     
  13. Flatdog
    Joined: Jan 31, 2003
    Posts: 1,285

    Flatdog
    Member Emeritus

    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.
     
  14. Busted Knuckles
    Joined: Dec 1, 2004
    Posts: 1,800

    Busted Knuckles
    Member

    Just make sure its really clean
     
  15. J Man
    Joined: Dec 11, 2003
    Posts: 4,131

    J Man
    Member
    from Angola, IN

    Does anyone know of an actual metal band saw, if so who makes it. Or is slowing down a wood one the only option?
     
  16. Unkl Ian
    Joined: Mar 29, 2001
    Posts: 13,509

    Unkl Ian

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

    Most are industrial machines,and priced accordingly.
     
  17. scoop
    Joined: Jul 4, 2001
    Posts: 1,502

    scoop
    Member

    Could you change one of the pulley sizes to slow it down enough?
     
  18. Digger_Dave
    Joined: Apr 10, 2001
    Posts: 2,516

    Digger_Dave
    Member Emeritus

    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 [​IMG] )
     
  19. Digger_Dave
    Joined: Apr 10, 2001
    Posts: 2,516

    Digger_Dave
    Member Emeritus

    [ 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!!
     
  20. Mart
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 4,954

    Mart
    Member

    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.
     
  21. Automotive Stud
    Joined: Sep 26, 2004
    Posts: 4,372

    Automotive Stud
    Member

    It would also depend on how much power you have. I bought a wood bandsaw a couple years ago, a 14 incher. I got the biggest motor available, I think it's 1 1/2 HP, so I could use it for metal. You need the power to back it up too.

    Before I had this I made an aluminum 3" thick master cylinder spacer. I bought a metal blade and used my uncle's wood bandsaw. I needed to go really slow and stop alot to let it cool, and kept a bucket of water handy. It took a while but it came out good.
     
  22. river1
    Joined: May 12, 2001
    Posts: 855

    river1
    Member

    i save this pic from somewhere of a wood saw conversion.
    later jim
     

    Attached Files:

  23. Droptank
    Joined: Jan 15, 2004
    Posts: 122

    Droptank
    Member

    My shopsmith tool has a variable speed pully on it and is slow enough, but I haven't been able to find a metal cutting blade for it yet. Anybody know a source?
     
    42merc likes this.
  24. banzaitoyota
    Joined: May 2, 2004
    Posts: 547

    banzaitoyota
    Member

  25. Ragtop
    Joined: Nov 17, 2001
    Posts: 1,259

    Ragtop
    Member Emeritus

    Try to find a "BI-METAL" blade. They're worth the extra cost.
     
  26. Brad54
    Joined: Apr 15, 2004
    Posts: 6,021

    Brad54
    Member
    from Atl Ga

    I've wondered about this, too--I think I remember the guys at Sears (their tool buyers, not the chimps behind the counter) telling me the metal saws go 23 or 33 percent slower...I don't exactly remember the numbers. Sears does sell a two-speed bandsaw for wood and metal.

    However, I agree with changing the pulleys--I'm tired, so I don't remember which way it would have to go, but if you change the pulley on both the motor shaft and the saw wheel, it'd slow it down. A smaller wheel on the motor, and a much larger wheel on the saw?
    I know the math is out there. Again, I'm tired, but I think if you took the RPM of the motor and figured the diameter of the drive pulley off the motor shaft, and then figured the diameter of the pulley on the bandsaw wheel, that'd get you started. Knowing the FPS of the saw currently would also be a good number to know.
    Or, look in a Sears catalog and see what pulleys are on that two-speed saw.
    -Brad
     
  27. J Man
    Joined: Dec 11, 2003
    Posts: 4,131

    J Man
    Member
    from Angola, IN

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

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Who sells these two brands? I don't remember seeing them at Lowes or the Depot.
     
  28. zman
    Joined: Apr 2, 2001
    Posts: 16,783

    zman
    Member
    from Garner, NC

  29. banzaitoyota
    Joined: May 2, 2004
    Posts: 547

    banzaitoyota
    Member

  30. mule
    Joined: May 24, 2004
    Posts: 300

    mule
    Member

    get a metal blade, no probs, don't go to thick with the metal
     

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