Easy Metal cutting bandsaw

I have cut wood on both machines. I still keep my wood cutter, because it 3 or 5 times faster, when cutting a 4x4 or 6x6 block of wood. The metal cutter is slower, can't use that special jagged blades, that rip the wood apart...

xman

I recently aquired a portable (hand held) metal cutting band saw. I also have a HF 4x6 horizontal band saw and use it for more precision cuts and lengthy cuts. If you can get your bandsaw to cut metal efficiently, you might consider a portable. Depending on what you are cutting, there are situations where one would be a better choice over the other. Would give you a wider range of options.

-Mike

You will want both. A chop saw is much handier when you just need to wack 2" off a length of iron pipe or angle iron.

I'd keep the wood saw. While you can cut wood with the 4x6, it's far from ideal. The metal saw will end up with oil on it, which won't do the wood much good. I'd say if you need to cut some blocks of super-hard oak from a pallet, it might occasionally be good for that.

You will wonder how you ever got by without it.

I have one of those type of band saws. It ranks very close to the top of the list of most used tools. After trying some brands, number of teeth, etc., I settled on Morse bi-metal 14tpi blades. These have stood up well to everything from soft aluminum to car springs. I get mine from Princess Auto in Kelowna but they are also in Langley, Coquitlam and numerous other places across the country.

I agree completely. BTW, many grades of aluminum tend to gum up the blades. Some highly concentrated citrus based "cleaners" are the best cutting fluid for aluminum. The one I'm using came from London Drugs.

No. The speed requirements are so different as to make it impractical IMO. I converted an old meat cutting band saw for wood work. See

Nope. Wood blades need rubber tired wheels. I get mine made to order by a guy in Penticton for less than I can buy them elsewhere.

Ted