Is there a difference besides blade between a wood cutting and metal cutting bandsaw?

D

Dago Red

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
987
Hey guys,

Is there a difference between bandsaws for the two materials other than the blade? would it be possible to take a "wood bandsaw" and change the blade and cut metal or is there more to it?

Thanks.

Red
 
Wood band saws run too fast. Best bet is to get a portaband and make a stand for it. Search and there are many threads about it.
 
I have a combination wood and metal cutting band saw. It has a gear box which allows changing the blade speed to cut various materials. Wood cutting involves less teeth per inch and higher running speeds. Metal cutting calls for slower speeds and finer tooth patterns.
 
Thanks guys. I do have a portaband. I'll look for the stand setups for them. I am just trying to decide what to use to profile. I would like to use the plasma cutter but am following a thread on that right now seems not highly recommended (which sucks since it'd be so easy).

Red
 
I was also wondering how you could convert your wood bandsaw to accept metel as well. I too have researched this abit and found just short of a three phase moter and a speed controller it would be hard to do. So I wondered about a step pulley on the motor shaft. I have a jet 14 inch 1hp bandsaw. I dont want to mess up my saw,but it would be nice to have that 14 inch throat....I believe the belts would last alot longer as well. I currently use a portaband with the swag offraod table mounted to a vice. its slick and I like it but the 14inch keeps calling me....Has anyone out there used a step pully?
 
I put a smaller pulley on the motor and a larger on on the saw shaft on my old Sears Craftsman 12" bandsaw. IIRC, it ran about 100 fpm. It worked well until the saw finally died. If the motor is directly mounted to the saw, and not a separate hanging unit, this isn't really an easy option. Today, many/most saws can't be modified like this.

Whatever you decide, the slowest wood saws run four to six times the speed we want to cut blade steel. Some run ten to twenty times as fast as metal saws.

carbon steel - 100-200 fpm
Wood - 600-2000 fpm.
 
Usually wood saws are not stiff enough to handle the type of blade tension you'll need to cut steel. That's why a good 14" vertical metal cutter runs 1000 lbs+ compared to 250 or so on a wood cutter.
 
sunny_2_75 said:
I was also wondering how you could convert your wood bandsaw to accept metel as well. I too have researched this abit and found just short of a three phase moter and a speed controller it would be hard to do. So I wondered about a step pulley on the motor shaft. I have a jet 14 inch 1hp bandsaw. I dont want to mess up my saw,but it would be nice to have that 14 inch throat....I believe the belts would last alot longer as well. I currently use a portaband with the swag offraod table mounted to a vice. its slick and I like it but the 14inch keeps calling me....Has anyone out there used a step pully?
Click to expand...

I agree having the extra room would be nice. Having to work around the six inches on my portable band saw can be a bit tricky sometimes. For the price of a metal cuttingnband saw, though, I'll stick with it.
 
I have noticed Grizzly has started making bandsaws with 3 phase motors and VFD's that are marketed for woodworking and metalworking
 
Well I was going to order one Friday but seems the portaband we have is the 6225 (milwaukee) and isn't a deep throat. I sent swag a message asking if they have anything that will work with it. guess I'll be using the plasma cutter. :(
 
Bladsmith is right. Its all about SFM. Various steels are recommended between 80-120 SFM (surface feet a minute). Most any blade type will cut steel and wood, you just need the right pitch blade for the piece you are cutting. Wood runs a lot faster (3000sfm +/- 1000 sfm). You can buy bandsaws that can cut both. Wilton and Jet I think both make the same model saw, it has like 5 speeds, from 80sfm to 2400 I think. Runs about $1400 through Enco and the like. It is on the list for me to get as well.
 
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