Power Hacksaw or Bandsaw?

In the combined wisdom of the group, which would be the best choice from a power hacksaw or bandsaw? I'm going to need to look for one soon and quite honestly would like some opinions in order to direct my search a bit better.

I know cutting size is also an issue, but does either one have a benefit over the other here? Thanks for your help.

Peter

Reply to
Peter
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Bandsaws are much quicker as they cut all the time, wheras a mechanical hacksaw only cuts in one direction. Regards

Kev>In the combined wisdom of the group, which would be the best choice

Reply to
Kevin Steele

Would second that.

Less of a requirement to fettle the castings on a bandsaw too ;-)

Regards, Tony

Reply to
Tony Jeffree

Good point. Hadn't thought of that. I might have the chance of a cheap hacksaw, but there is a bandsaw coming up in a local auction and I wasn't sure which one to go for. Thanks

Peter

Reply to
Peter

If you have any choice, check the distance betwwen the shorter vice jaw and the blade. The cheap bansaws are designed for cross-cutting long pieces to length and wont cut narrow(ish) pieces lengthwise.

For example, I have a Chester saw which is a delight in saving huge amounts of work, but if you have a piece of say 2" wide material and want to cut it down the length to get 1" wide stuff there is no way of holding it in the vice, because the shorter jaw is a couple of inches away from the blade.

Reply to
Norman Billingham

If you want to see a solution to the problem of holding small items in a band saw vice have a look at my web site page here:

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I do not claim originality for the idea. I bought the castings off the designer at a model show some years back. It works a treat and I can recommend the solution.

Alan

Reply to
Alan Marshall

The problem I have with my band saw is that I need to cut a wide variety of materials, Bands are not easy to change and quite expensive.

The band I need for thin wall tube will clog up trying to cut a 2" solid bar, and the band I need for solid bar tears sheet apart and can get it's teeth knocked of If I use it on thin stuff

For choice I think I want a circular cut off saw.

Reply to
Jonathan Barnes

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