Band saws

Lord's Paladin · Dec 28, 2000

I seem to have got in too much of a hurry and I went out and bought a wood cutting band saw assuming that I could somehow modify it to cut metal.

Does anyone haved any experience with making such a conversion ?

How about a rheostat ?

It's one of those cheap Delta table-top models. I wanted to keep the $ down until I got a feel for the art, and most of the equipment i've bought so far is workable.

Any suggestions ?

NickWheeler · Dec 28, 2000

You can get a speed reducer which is basically a series of gears in a box that will allow you to slow the saw down to cut metal...OR...you can try friction cutting.

Go to the search here and look for "friction cutting" and you will find the past posts on it.

Basically it's a matter or zipping through the metal with a fast saw and an old wood blade. I'm not sure that your bench-top will run fast enough, but it's something to look into.

Nick

Guy Thomas · Dec 29, 2000

Instead of trying to modify your bench top model to cut metal (which I don't think you'd be able to do in a satisfactory manner) I'd save it for handle materials and get one of the cheap horizontal/vertical metal cutting band saws from Grizzly or Harbor Freight. They are usually cheaper than the shelf price of the Delta bench top you bought.-Guy Thomas

Matt Shade · Dec 29, 2000

I hate to say this but I don't think you can modify that saw in that manner. I have one too. Its a great little saw for cuting wood. I can zip out patterns in 3 and 4 inch thick basswood for carvings in no time. You start to get into trouble when you get into really hard stuff though.I've had succes in all kinds of hard woods but you have to have your guides and everythign set up just right.
The trouble with slowing it down is you probabyl will lose some power if you do it electronically, and it doesn't have much to spare at only 1/3 HP. Doing it mechanically is a bear because its a direct drive setup. The motor shaft bolts directly to the bottom wheel that the blade rides on.
I don't kniow if you can get Bi metal blades in the right size either.
It really isn't a bad saw at all. I like mine alot now that I've got it all figured out. But I don't think it would work for cutting steel. It may work for friction cuting Ti though. I can't rememebr what the blade speed is but it pretty fast.

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I may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer... but I've got the sharpest knife in the room.

ddavelarsen · Dec 29, 2000

Ha! You guys with bandsaws make me jealous! Here I am burning my fingers stubby and using up belts grinding down to the profile... Eventually that tends to lead toward square knives.

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Dave Larsen
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Love is said to be blind, but I know lots of fellows who can see twice as much in their sweethearts as I can.
-Josh Billings

Tom Anderson · Dec 30, 2000

Using BiMetal blades is a great point. Another consideration when choosing bandsaw blades is pitch, especially when cutting thin, hard materials. From what I've read, you want at least 2 saw teeth in contact with the material at all times. Otherwise, the material gets jammed between the teeth and shears them off.

I found this out the first time I started to cut thin 6-4 titanium. I could actually feel the teeth snapping off the bandsaw blade and hitting me in the face!

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Tom Anderson
Hand Crafted Knives

rfrink · Dec 30, 2000

No! don't use a rheostate. The motor is a syncronous ac motor that is designed to run at a fixed speed based on the frequency of the ac current. The power companies here in the states supply us with 60hz ac and that determines the speed for that type of ac motor. The rheostate will simply reduce the voltage and generate heat. The rheostate will work fine on a universal motor which has brushes and where the speed is controlled by voltage rather than frequency (i.e. dremel, hand drills, kitchen mixer..etc).

I've slowed down a Sears 12" bandsaw to cut metal. I have photos of it on my web site in the gallery of "shop made " machinery.

http://www.geocities.com/beaumontmetal/gallery.html

I don't think this is the answer that you are looking for, but I hope it helps.

Sincerely,

Rob Frink
Beaumont Metal Works

peter nap · Dec 30, 2000

Just like you I tried. I never got a good cut. If it's any help I do 90% of my cutting using an old rockwell circular saw and a metal cutting blade.