Porta Band Saw one tool enough for blades and scales?

[Matisw]

Looking for one tool to cut up to about 1/4 inch steel and wood/micarta scales. Is a good portable band saw with a swag table be sufficient for these two tasks?

Thanks

 

[zhyla]

Usually you don’t mix metal and non-metal on the same bandsaw even if they’re set up appropriately for the materials. I think the main reason is so metal dust doesn’t get into your wood grain.

The blades for portabands have a lot of “set” so they make a wide kerf. Not what I want when cutting small pieces of wood.

Why not use a small handsaw for the scale material? Small pull saws are cheap and easy to come by.

 

[Horsewright]

I use mine on 5/32" steel stock all the time I've never used 1/4" stock. I cut all matter of handle materials. Just change to different blade I use 10tpi for handle materials and 14-18 tpi for steel. Cross contamination of steel and handle material has never been a problem for me. I use mine A LOT on everything.

 

[genewiseman]

I don't have a port a band but plan to get one. I am currently using a harbor freight metal bandsaw for everything. I use different blades for different materials but I might cut micarta with the fine tooth blade that I use for blade stock if I am in a hurry. Cross contamination of materials has never been a problem for me as the saw cut is never the final finish anyway.

 

[Uncle Timbo]

I use mine on 5/32" steel stock all the time I've never used 1/4" stock. I cut all matter of handle materials. Just change to different blade I use 10tpi for handle materials and 14-18 tpi for steel. Cross contamination of steel and handle material has never been a problem for me. I use mine A LOT on everything.

 

[Rival1314]

Swag tables are very nice, I have one and LOVE IT!!! A portaband will have limitations on the size of materials you can use...they have limited clearance if you are trying to trim down a 12x12 sheet of micarta you will have to get creative with your cuts.....but it will work. Eventually though you will want to get the right tools for each job. A proper bandsaw will make shaping and cutting your scale material much easier

 

[Horsewright]

Ya know I have a full size bandsaw and it's been some months since I've used it, seriously like seven or eight months. My Dewalt deep cut portaband on a SWAG table really does everything. Like Rival1314 mentioned ya to have to plan ahead your layout sometimes.

This one wasn't planning ahead:

Worked out though.

Sometimes ya just drill holes in between what ya can cut with the saw.