Cutting wood with a metal band saw?

minhster · Apr 15, 2012

Tried doing a search but it looks like everyone wants to convert a wood band saw to cut metal. I'm in the other boat, I have a metal band saw that I'm wondering if I can cut wood with. I'm aware of the speed differences, but does cutting slower have any negative effect? I can cut wood on slow speed with a jig saw just fine so I would think using a metal band saw on wood would be ok with the proper blade. Am I right or am I missing something?

RVDan · Apr 15, 2012

You're right.

I don't even use the proper blade, I cut wood with whatever saw is closest at work. Sure a wood blade would cut faster, but the metal blade cuts clean, so who cares.

Stephenw · Apr 15, 2012

I've cut lots of wood on my Harbor Freight 4 x 6 bandsaw with a metal cutting blade. The cut is not real smooth and only gentle curves can be achieved.

srmofo · Apr 15, 2012

The biggest issue with cutting wood on metal equipment is the saw dust....that combines with the oils/lubricants usually used in metal work to make a mess that can gum up the machines. Most of these discussions have usually been on whether or not its ok to mill wood a bridgeport

Falcon67 · Apr 15, 2012

I've done it with my 4x6 - not much because it does make a mess and it's slow. I'm considering one of the HF 9" band saws just to have a little one around for misc stuff. I have done wood on the mill - makes a mess but if you need some kind of special slot or accuracy, it's killer. Sometime less setup than the router. But dang those mills throw chips.

Ign · Apr 15, 2012

I rough cut dimensional on my bandsaw for firewood. No problems. Just vacuum the machine as soon as you're finished.

In school every student would mill a wood base for their model engine in the final semester.

Not sure it's gonna be a whole lot different than acetal or UHMW, which puts off chips like wood combined w static cling.

And if you wanna lock up any machine do a search on Garolite - the majority of machine shops won't touch it, and it's far better to breathe sawdust than G dust.

Kevin54 · Apr 15, 2012

You can cut wood on a metal bandsaw with no problem. You may want to get something like a 6TPI blade though. And if you cut treated wood on it, make sure you clean and wipe everything down and give it a coat of WD or something similar to prevent rusting.

darkzero · Apr 15, 2012

I've cut 2x4s & 6x8s on my Enco 4x6 bandsaw using my old worn 10-14 bi metal blades (when I say worn, I mean it won't cut Ti anymore but with soft metals & mild steel it's still fine). Even with the speed set to the highest it's slow but the cuts come out very fine & smooth. I now have a 6-10 blade that's "worn" that I've only tried on wood once & it cuts much faster.

I hate cutting wood on it & rarely do it. As others have said, too messy. I clean the entire saw everytime I cut wood on it.

Cutting wood with a metal band saw?

minhster

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RVDan

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Stephenw

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srmofo

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Falcon67

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Ign

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Kevin54

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darkzero

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