Do You Still Use Your Abrasive Saw(s) ?

I use mine occasionally. I used it a few weeks ago to break down some steel square tube for a couple projects. In that case I had the little band saw pretty busy breaking down solid bar stock, the mills were all running, and I didn't want to stand around. I used the abrasive saw to break down and cut all the pieces for a welded washing machine stand to raise and prelevel a machine in a location where it could not easily be leveled and the floor would catch and bend the feet if preleveled. The other project was a simple rack for firewood to get it off the ground and annoy the termites. I thought that was an exception. If that bandsaw hadn't been busy I'd have used it.

Last week my little 4x6 band saw went t*ts up. When I opened the gear box I found the brass worm gear (the steel screw was fine) had turned to chowder and the oil in the gear box looked like a gold metal flake paint that belonged on a 1980s low rider. Well after a lot of soul searching, personal cheapness, and a few wasted days I over nighted a gear from Grizzly that all the hobbyists said would fit my saw.

In the mean time mills were sitting idle and I had 4140 to cut for the current project, so I added some arms to my roller table and threw my old abrasive saw up there. It chopped several blanks and kept the machines going until the new gear arrived.

Next decent size job that pays I plan to order a little heavier 7x12 bandsaw and just keep the 4x6 as a backup. I've started to put the abrasive saw away and stopped about three times now. Not only did it keep me going (at the cost of several blades), but I also found myself using mini cutoff blades in one of the 4.5 inch angle grinders to do other work I ordinarily would have done with the bandsaw in the upright position.

Using the abrasive 14" saw and the 4.5 inch angle grinder is messy, gritty, smelly, nasty work. I felt like I had sand down my neck for days. Other than for sanding and grinding (with the grinder) is the abrasive saw ever the best solution for the job if you have other tools? Obviously if its all you have that's working then you have to run what you brung.

Reply to
Bob La Londe
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I use them on harden stuff, won't fit on band, can't get to band... and agreed, they're nasty to run...

Remember that HF has that new Baur Portable Deep Band for $99 with coupon. It was getting okay reviews the last I checked. And a lot of guys like the Evolution semi-cold cut saws too...

Reply to
Leon Fisk

A "cold-cut" saw is cleaner and less messy than an abrasive saw - but otherwize similar. More accurate. Faster than a band saw

Reply to
Clare Snyder

My chop saw is way more portable than the band saw, so it sees occasional field use. Also use if for hard material or mystery metal.

It is noisy, less precise than a bandsaw and has a bigger, messier kerf than the bandsaw, but it has it's uses.

BobH

Reply to
BobH

I thought somebody else would jump on this but guess not...

I don't know for how long it went on but that gearbox was noted to have casting sand in it as delivered from HF. Which may still be the case. It was recommended to open it up, drain the oil and flush it out. Several old posters here encountered this...

My Dad bought one many years ago. He took the original motor off and replaced it with an old washing machine motor. The original motor ran really HOT. I doubt he ever looked in the gearbox though. It cut a LOT of material for him and it still works okay. I'm guessing it was purchased in the mid 80's. An old poster here hmm... Grant, that was him had some nice tips for tweaking them. Looks like his info is still available via the wayback machine:

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I see the mention of sand in his tips. Might have been where I heard of it. There's a whole bunch of info out there nowadays. Found oodles looking for Grant's old stuff...

Reply to
Leon Fisk

I had that happen to my 4 x 6 as well but after about 7 years of regular use it didn't seem bad and the supplier had new parts in stock at a good price including delivery. The old worm had worn to a razor edge and chewed the wheel so the new worn got any shape edges taken off on a linisher. When I got the saw new the worm and wheel were badly meshed and most of the power was used in turning them. I replaced the worm bearings at the time and found the ball races to have bores about 0.005" over size so they got replaced with decent bearings. The oil was replaced and a magnet added to catch any steel debris. Now about 20 years on the blade guide bearings need replacing, I can't complain about that though after all the cutting it has done over the years.

Reply to
David Billington

I used an abrasive saw =once= inside the shop and won't do it again. I'll cut a stick to length in the yard with abrasives, then use more civilized cutters in the shop.

I now have a great fondness for my hacksaw frame since I found just how well =real= blades work. I bought a pair of Starretts a decade ago and put one in each hacksaw frame. Both are still sharp as ever. I buy boxes of 100 bolts in longer styles and cut them to size rather than stocking boxes of each by 1/16". 4 strokes with a hacksaw and a twirl on the 1" band sander makes them just right.

Most often, I use the HF portable bandsaw for cutting, and one of my top projects RSN will be to make a H+V stand for it. It's not a 4x6, but it will fake it pretty well. It, too, has a decent Milwaukee bimetal blade on it. What do you guys think about MMO for lube on a bandsaw? I do mostly steel tube or square stock cutting.

Great post, Bob. It's interesting to "see" how other shops are set up and run.

Reply to
Larry Jaques

including how to find and install a replacement for that stripped gear .

Reply to
Terry Coombs

any kind of lube . You just can't load these little saws enough - assuming blade speed and tooth pitch are correct for what you're cutting

- to really need it .

Reply to
Terry Coombs

I tend to use a drop or two when starting to cut with it. As to blade speed and tooth pitch, yeah, I'm sure that occasionally one or the other makes it within some tolerance for "correct". Maybe even both on rare occasion. The variable speed function does allow for that, though, so I at least try. 18tpi all.

Thanks, Terry.

Reply to
Larry Jaques

I just replaced my filter. I use a hydrollic oil filter to filter the chips out of the coolant. The metal filter screws into the holder that is in-line with the coolant. Hangs off the tray. Inside is the filter and it works. I used to go through blades and once I put on this filter and keep fluid flowing the blade won't die. It cuts nicely. I have some Nice blades I want to swap in but the old carbon blade keeps up with steel. Even Stainless. One day I'll have to change it but not soon. I might just for fun. Hang the other on the wall.

Wow - sorry about the gear. I'll have to check mine. Bunch of junk if dead for ever. Oh- I replaced it because the can rusted after 12 years. Filter was heavy with steel. Time to go anyway.

Mart> >> little band saw pretty busy breaking down solid bar stock, the mills

Reply to
Martin Eastburn

What was the device used in Asimov's "Foundation"? It would cut steel by separating the molecules. I always wanted one of those ...along with my flying car!

Reply to
Tom Gardner

Since I fixed my large power hacksaw, not much anymore. The noise and spray of metal powder are too unpleasant and the hacksaw blades last longer.

Chris

Reply to
Christopher Tidy

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