Can I cut brass pins on my bandsaw? Dumb question.

R

Randydb

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Sep 27, 2014
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So a dumb question. I just glued up a Zircote handle with 1/8" brass pins on a small camp knife. Wasn't really thinking but my scales are 1/2" on each side. Waaaaay thicker than I want. I don't want to spend forever grinding them down and I was thinking of running the handle through my bandsaw to take it down quicker. Will the brass pins dull my blade? It's just a regular 1/4" blade (don't remember the tooth count) I bought at a wood working shop.

I suppose I could cut to the pins, hacksaw through them, then continue with the bandsaw.

Randy
 
With the tooth spacing on a wood blade, you may risk jamming up the blade on the pins. I wouldn't risk it.
 
take it slow and a wood-cutting bandsaw blade will get through brass no problem at all. I use blades that are too dull to cut well in wood anymore to cut things out of plate brass and bronze, and it chews right through. It may slightly dull your blade, but it won't ruin it.
 
Didn't think of that...would need super fine spacing I suppose. Don't like the thought of it catching/jammin.

I didn't think you could have a "kickback" on a bandsaw until I was splitting a handle scale I had rough shaped. Saw grabbed it and shot it past the side of my head and off the wall behind me. Took my hoop earring off without touching me. I was standing there shocked, rubbing my ear feeling very fortunate when my daughter opens the door to the garage and says, "You better not be throwing stuff and leaving dents in the wall or mom is going to be mad!" Now I wear eye protection when I use the bandsaw!
 
I would think you could sand the scales down faster than trying to do a separate operation on the band saw, plus you risk cutting too deep with the band saw.
 
I'm with bdm. I routinely cut protruding pins with my metal cutting bandsaw. Even then, you run the risk of cutting deeply into the scales (don't ask how I know). A 36 grit belt would chew those scales and pins down pronto and give you a lot more control over the process.
 
I was going to use the fence on the bandsaw. I just have a 6" wide belt sander, and my rough belts are pretty done in. It's a half hour drive to the store and it will all be closed soon being new years eve. I suppose I should just go out in the garage and make it happen.
 
I got on the belt sander and you are right...took me about 10 minutes to get it down to a reasonable thickness. A lot of worry over nothing huh!
 
for future reference, an 8" mini bolt cutter cuts the pins very quickly and cleanly.
I realize this may not be an appropriate solution for your current situation but in general it works great.
 
hsc3_90293 said:
for future reference, an 8" mini bolt cutter cuts the pins very quickly and cleanly.
I realize this may not be an appropriate solution for your current situation but in general it works great.
Click to expand...

I used a pair of wire cutters to cut 1/8th" pins and it cut easily. I can see going up to bolt cutters for bigger diameter pins.
 
belt sander was probably the way to go anyway, but in the future the bandsaw will have no problem with brass pins. Tooth spacing doesn't matter, you just have to feed it into the blade nice and slow so each tooth isn't digging in too much. I doubt if you would even feel the difference cutting through the pins than the rest of the wood.
 
Now might be a good time to buy a Dremel tool either used or new and get some reinforced fiberglass cutting wheels made by Dremel to cut your pin stock or trim pins that are too long on your knife. I have three of these tools plugged in at all times on my bench. If you have the money then buy a Foredom tool which is higher quality and does many jobs. Larry
 
I have one no name dremel type rotary tool already and was just thinking that I should grab another so I don't have to always swap back and forth between bits that I use in it.
 
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