1. Home
  2. ⚙ Model Engineering in the UK
  3. Got a bandsaw, now to cut aluminium...

Got a bandsaw, now to cut aluminium...

Bought a 50 year old two wheeled bandsaw. I want to cut aluminium upto maybe 2" thick, that was the specific use i bought it for, but if it will cut steel I am sure that will be usefull.

The saw seems reasonably rigid and nice and simple.

I have no idea of suitable speeds. it's got 1425,3.25;6.375;12.125 , motor and pulleys. giving somewhere around 200 ftps.

It is only single speed and I would like the option of more speeds, seem the most easiest thing would be a cheap inverter and a three phase motor?

The blade guides are nicely made solid blocks, made by previous owner. Parts of the original bearing guides is still in place I need to pull it apart to see how it was. I don't spose someone could photgraph a good guide setup so I can see what they are like

how do the guides ride on the blade, I take it they are against the blade but not touching the raked part of the teeth?

What are best sort of blades to use on ali?

-------dittoooooo---------------------------------- steel?

Anyone made a blade welder, I have used one on a big old bandsaw about thirty years ago. wonder if an attachement for a spotwelder would work?

Is any lubricant coolant on the blade ever used?

I cleaned a load of wood shavings off the rubber on the wheel, I was wondering if a fan or brush to try and keep the blade clean would be wise?

Reply to
richard
Loading thread data ...

For thick aluminum, I use coarse wood saw blades, running fairly fast. At or beyond the speed for wood. Takes minimal pressure and cuts quickly. For that matter, I use the same 3 tpi or so blades for thin aluminum too. Use some sense when feeding the stock into the blade and you get good results, as there are a lot of teeth going by at any given moment. I have tried wax sticks but found that they just made the saw harder to get clean.

For steel or iron you want MUCH slower. 65 to 100 feet per minute of blade speed seems to work pretty well, and try to keep 3 teeth in the cut. You will need a blade built for cutting steel.

We have coolant on one of the vertical type saws at work. Only seen it used once. Messy. More common on the horizontal saws, pretty normal, actually.

Cheers Trevor Jones

Reply to
Trevor Jones

I tried it on inch thick ali and the wood blade on it goes throu the ali like a hot knife through butter.. The aluminium I cut through was a scrap of 2*1 and by the time I had gone through 2" it was too hot to hold. Reason I asked about coolant was I couldn't see how you could use it, well without it ending up all over the place.

Reply to
richard

Hey there Rich, To cut 2" aluminum I would use any of these blades:

formatting link
or if you wish to use a carbide blade (they are expensive but they are efficient):
formatting link
much any of those blades will work.

You can always call Gray and they will give you free technical support at 216-771-6296 (they are located in the US, M-F 8:15-5:00 EST) or email them at snipped-for-privacy@grayind.com even if you don't buy from them.

Reply to
marketing

PolyTech Forum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.