Cutting out blade blanks

Burchtree

Burchtree

KnifeMaker & Moderator
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How do you guys cut out your blade blanks? Plasma cutter, bandsaw, hacksaw, other?
 
Hi:
I use a Harbor Freight metal cutting band saw that cost around $139 when I bought it. With a good bi-metal blade it works great.

Marcel
 
I've got an older Shop Smith, could I put a bi-metal blade on it and use it, or does it have to be a metal bandsaw? I'm getting tired of drilling out my blade blanks. :D
 
any help on specific models and tips would be greatly appreciated.

Like Burch, I'm REALLY sick of drilling/cutting out my blanks, or worse, trying to grind them to shape. hoping by end of year that among other things, will invest in drill doctor(would help this, but prefer next item) band saw, and a mini mill of some kind.

But I would do a LOT more knives if I could speed up blank production. That's one reason I put it off, love grinding a knife, but hate getting the blank together in first place.
 
Well, I have a 14" Dewalt chopsaw, a 3" air powered cut off tool, and 2 different sawzalls all at my disposal an I always end up using a hacksaw :D
The big chop saw is good for if I just need to cut a bar to length, but I've found that any of the above leave stuff pretty work hardened and tough to work with if you use them too much.
I buy stock oversized, and generally split it lengthwise in different proportions. Anything but a hacksaw has too wide of a kerf for that, makes a lot of waste.
The local tractor supply company has a vertical/horizontal bandsaw for a little under $200, but I don't have a good place to put it right now. An I keep telling myself that using the hack saw will keep me from growing an "organic work rest" ;)
Starret blades are the best I've found.
 
I've had a Harbor Freight bandsaw for about eight years. I think I paid $145, on sale. After the first couple of times I used it, I made a new table for it. Throw away the blade that comes with it and spring for a Lenox bi-metal blade, I have a couple of them with a different number of teeth per inch. I change them out for different thickness stock. There's very little to profile if you let the blade do the work, instead of forcing the stock through. The blade will last a good while if it's used with a lighter touch. Just my opinion.
 
Coincidentally, I was doing just that today, for the first time in a looooooooooong time.
I profiled one of them with just the belt grinder, as I can do it faster that way. Looking at the black dust everywhere, I decided to cut the large excess off the other two with the horz/vert bandsaw first, and finish with the grinder.
:eek:
 
You can put a bi metal blade on your existing bandsaw and use it to cut metal however it may not have the power to cut thick blanks like 1/4 inch
 
It's a Mark V, 1 1/8 HP 115 Volt motor on the shop smith. I'm guessing that's enough power isn't it?
 
How fast does it run? Thats the biggest issue, and how well the blade tracks. My wood cutting bandsaw doesn't have heavy enough guides to cut anything as hard as metal, or even thick peices of exotic wood really. The blade goes every which way.
 
It's variable speed, it can go as fast or slow as I want. Don't know about the tracking. I guess I'll have to set it up and see what it's got. Damn thing is like an adult Transformer. ;)
 
Metal cutting bandsaws run at speeds of 75-200 FPM. Woodcutting bandsaws are usually much higher, anywhere between 1000-5000 FPM.

If you have one of those three wheel bandsaws, I would just get the Harbor Freight.
 
Michael. I too have a shop smith with the band saw on it. Even on the lowest speed it is still to fast for metal. I bought a Jet 4x6 vertical/horizontal and good lennox bi-metal blades. It cuts anything even wood. I never use the wood bandsaw anymore.
 
Buying a HF metal cutting bandsaw was probably one of the best investments I've made to date. It's amazing how much time and effort you save by using one as opposed to grinding out the stock or using the multiple drill hole method. It's well worth the $139.00. Enjoy!:D
 
thanks much, will have to keep myeye out for a sale.

Hopefully I'll get this new job, then i can use some of this graduation money to pick that up plus a few blades
 
I have one as well. Get a good bi-metal blade or six, and start cutting. The vertical position table is crap, you'll want to make a new one.

Mine can cut 3" steel chunks. Just takes time, that's all. On the yahoo 4x6bandsaw group, a guy just posted a simple coolant system idea using a rubbermaid tool tray and a fish tank pump.
 
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