Band Saw

jms2021

jms2021

Joined
Jan 18, 2009
Messages
708
I am starting to make stock removal knives, and although I have a band saw I can use at work (a big honkin' Do-All) I was looking for something affordable to use at home. So I was wondering if anyone has some good suggestions? Thanks in advance! :)

Oh, I will be using it mostly for cutting metal (1/8" O-1 at the moment) but will also use it for rough cutting handles.
 
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Yep. The HF metal cutting bandsaw is kind of the "brass standard" for knifemakers. When I bought mine it was $150 and I think you can find them on sale for that or less now. I think HF will pay shipping too, but might be wrong about that. If you have a local store you're home free.

Do not expect to be able to use the blades that come with the saw or that you can buy from HF. Get good bi-metal saw blades and you'll be a happy camper.
 
Thanks for the advice, I'll check em out! I have a local store, so I can (hopefully) get one there. :D
-Jason
 
Refer to post #39 of THIS THREAD. The DeWalt portaband is awesome for most knifework. It takes up little space and can easily mounted vertically to a wall. Blades are cheap and readily available. If you read through the entire thread you'll see some photos of various mounting configurations. There are quite a few guys on this forum who swear by the DeWalt. I really like mine.

Erin
(aka Hypocrite - from post #2)
 
You might also look at the threads about using DeWalt portable bandsaws. There's one going on right now. A lot of very experienced maker like them better than the HF saws. As I understand it; they're smaller but they cut better for most of what knifemakers do.

Makes me wish I'd known about this option before I bought my HF. It works, and works much better now that I've replaced the really lousy table that came with it but I rather drool at the portable saw setups.
 
Not trying to steal this thread but I do I have a question that has popped in my mind about portable bandsaws. For those of you who have mounted them and placed a table on them.

How is the table attached to the saw? :confused:

Anyone want to share some pics on the mounting of the table?

What deminsions are you making the table?
 
Dang this thread just cost me $199.99 :eek: for a DeWalt D28770K Heavy-Duty 4-3/4-Inch Deep-Cut Variable Speed Band Saw Kit, 82-280 SFPM, 6.0 Amps. Free shipping like they said when you use the code SUMMER. :p :D :D :D

Dose anyone have an answer for my question on mounting a table on the saw??????????????

Here is what it sells for at Lowes $299.99, gotta love it!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Got it, thanks. My HF 4X6 is about done. I can't get the blade to track on the lower pulley any longer.

SDS
 
Dixieblade57 said:
Dose anyone have an answer for my question on mounting a table on the saw??????????????
Dixie,

I have to apologize... I was planning of taking a close-up of my table last night when I got home, but it totally slipped my mind. The DeWalt saw comes with a mini-guide/table. If you plan to mount the saw vertically like most folks do, you will definitely want to replace the table. If I remember correctly, it is held on by (2) small countersunk allen screws. These same screws can be used to attach the new table. I built my table out of 3/16" mild steel plate that I picked up from the local steel yard for a few bucks. I am not positive, but seem to remember that the diminsions that I cut the steel to was approx. 9"x9" (could have been 9"x10"). I think that Nick Wheeler built his table out of 1/4" stainless plate... a bit more expensive for most of us, but makes for a cleaner table over time. You will need to countersink the screw heads. It doesn't hurt to round all the corners and edges a bit either... it'll save you some scrapes and scratches.

Good luck. You'll like the saw.:thumbup:

Erin

BTW... my saw is shown in post #2 of the thread that Philadelph linked above (under the name Hypocrite).
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
The vertical/horizontal function of a 4X8 HF or grizzly is a great feature. When I get a bar of blade stock in that is 8' long I chuck it up in my band saw, turn the motor on and do something else while its cutting. It takes me less than a minute to put the table on that I made.
 

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