What cuts metal better than a bandsaw with a 5 foot blade?

L6steel

L6steel

Joined
Sep 23, 1999
Messages
5,855
A bandsaw with a 10 foot blade, ha!!!!!!!!

bandsaw.jpg


You old timers probably remember me posting a pic a while back of the bandsaw I made using the moving parts of a Harbor Freight horizontal vertical bandsaw. Well, that one used 60" blades and I got to thinking, wouldn't a longer blade cut more efficiently and last longer? So I looked at the saw and it was simple enough to make it bigger. Just put a longer section of 2" by 2" thick walled tubing between the business ends and there ya have it. Sucker just misses the rafters by 4",lol. Now I can't spin my table all the way around in one direction. It's worth it though.
If anyone is interested in converting thier saw to an upright I'd be happy to take some close up pix and post em or send em to you via email. Just need some plate and angle iron and a bunch of nuts and bolts.
 
Looks great :) I might have to try something like that myself one of these days. The hacksaw is getting old and I think there's a rule somewhere that your not supposed to wear out more than one in your lifetime ;)
 
What Dan said.

With that much air between the wheels, how do you propose to control the direction of, and support of the blade?

Kind of seems like a V-8 Vega. What's the point?

I guess if you have to saw engine blocks in half, this might be an elegant solution but I'm not sure how it would benefit me.

John
 
L6, I have the HF horizontal/vertcal bandsaw that uses the 64 1/2 inch blades. Is that the one??

RL
 
You been sniffing ivory dust again? Good job, but like was said, where's the blade suport?

I would love to see someone's expression when they walked through the door and saw that monster though. :eek:
 
Yup Rl, that's the saw I started out with. Just didn't have the floor space for it plus it was awkward trying to cut blades and liners and such on it and it just made sense to switch to an upright.
As far as the blade support, I bolted the blade guide pulleys under the table plate. Been using it this way for 2 or 3 years now and never had a problem with it. I use it just like a wood cutting bandsaw and it works fine.
John, the length wasn't added to increase cutting capabilities, it was done to make the saw more efficient. I thought about taking a piece of 1/4" plate and a third pulley and making the saw more normal looking but figured why when this way is easier, cheaper, and just as effective. The thing works fine and it's kinda like me, crazy and loon, muhahahahahahaaaaaaaaa!
 
I like it. A few years ago when I was building AR15 Receivers, I wanted a dedicated drill press to drill the ring. It was just easier than doing it in the lathe.
I used a tabletop HF drill press and swapped the stand pipe for a piece 5 feet long. I still use it!

John, it's hust like going to a 2X72" grinder. It doesn't grind any better, the belts just last longer and don't heat as much.
 
I did some bandsawing today and I just had to let you guys know how slick this thing works!
I used to hate cutting out blades and such but this thing cuts so smooth and easy it's not that much different from using a wood cutting bandsaw. Since you don't feel the need to push on the stock real hard to get the blade to cut it you have great control and can cut right on the scribed line. Means a lot less grinding to get a finished blade or liner.
Don't mean to toot my own horn here. Just wanting to let you guys know how much better a 10' blade cuts than a 5' in case you were considering converting your saw like this.
 
W :eek: W !!

You are a crazy man.....

But like p.moore said....I like the way you think.

What's the width of the blade you use? What radius can you cut with it? How much play is there in it? Work ok on wood?
 
the blades my HF uses are .5" wide...............
 
I use 1/2" blades too and if I make kerf cuts I don't have any problems making the curves in my folder frames and such.
Daniel, you can tighten up the blade as much or as little as you want to. There's a tensioner on the top pulley. I like the blade nice and snug. I cut everything on this saw, wood, micarta, aluminum, ti, steel, g10, plastic, you name it.
I use Ellis Manufacturing bi metal blades and swear by em!
 
Keep talkin', Bro....you've almost got me persuaded...:eek:
 
get the HF vert/horiz saw.....you wonder why you never had one ;) :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top