Got a bandsaw!

[lak2004]

Got this for free from work:

http://www.toolswood.com/findproduct.asp?item=34

Mine is green though and built in 1991. Anyone know if I can put a metal cutting blade in it?

 

[rdn2blazer]

That is a wood cutting saw. Band speeds are too high for steels. You will burn the teeth up cutting steel. Sorry to be the barrer of bad news but thats a fact. You could try it ofcourse, but based on what it says the band speeds are thats WAY WAY too fast. It would cut aluminum fine for the most.

 

[lak2004]

Dont mind hearing that. I think I am going to just turn around and sell it, I dont have much use for a band saw. I was trying to get the floor standing drill press they have at work for free, but one of the other guys wants it and ive only been there a month

 

[rdn2blazer]

Could try changing the motor with a speed to it. That would bring your band speed down. You would have to calculate mathmatically what it changes it to to know what it is.

 

[79chevyk10]

What is the best/correct speed for cutting metal in a band saw?

I just purchased an old school band saw about the same size (craftsman circa 1960) with an external motor that drives the saw by belt via pullies, so I can change the speed by changing the pullies or motor speed. I had a saw shop cust. make me 2 metal (fine tooth 1/2 wide). Installed the blade and it cuts 1/4 like butter......and fast. But just got it and haven't really used it beyond test cutting (probably only cut about 12" of metal).

 

[79BRUISER]

I use my wood bandsaw to cut aluminum all the time. Works great. You want between 300 and 500 rpm for steel.

 

[rdn2blazer]

I use my wood bandsaw to cut aluminum all the time. Works great. You want between 300 and 500 rpm for steel.

You don't use RPM for band sawing material, you use FPM, Feet Per Minute. How many feet of blade pass thru the material in a given amount of time, which in FPM's case is 60 seconds. Look in a machinest's hand book.

 

[rdn2blazer]

http://www.toolcenter.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=LENOXTSC


http://www.toolco.com.au/BandSaw_101.html


Machinisthand book shows GENERAL band saw speeds are for "metal cutting band saws" are:

Aluminum sheet 1000-3000 fpm
carbon tool steel 100-150 fpm
cast iron 100-150 fpm
cold rolled steel 150-200 fpm
recomemded teeth per inch for listed material is 8 to 14 teeth per inch.

Buy a machinist handbook. It has every possible speed & feed you could ever want to know. Ofcourse it's a general starting point, it'd NOT a exact FPM speed or RPM for rotating cutting tools.

 

[79BRUISER]

You don't use RPM for band sawing material, you use FPM, Feet Per Minute. How many feet of blade pass thru the material in a given amount of time, which in FPM's case is 60 seconds. Look in a machinest's hand book.

Your absolutly right, sorry about that.

 

[rdn2blazer]

Your absolutly right, sorry about that.

No need to say sorry, just pointing it out for those who didn't know. It's all good. Anyone who has any machinist questions, there are several guys on here who are machinist's, including me as most of ya know. If ya got a question and I can answer it or help, just ask, I'm happy to help out.