Benchtop Band Saw

[JMSP]

Anyone here use a benchtop bandsaw to cut metal with appropriate blade? How good does it work?

Example of Saw:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mastercraft-120v-9-in-bandsaw-0556748p.html#srp

 

[Cruzan80]

Re: B:enchtop Band Saw

You also need to be concerned about metal chips tearing up the tires.

That said, I do have an 18" that is set up to run both. IIRC, the metal part is run thru a 40:1 gear reduction box.

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[Cruzan80]

Re: B:enchtop Band Saw

Not sure. The one I have came stock with both options. Is an old Craftsman (rebadged Parks). Never used it to cut metal myself, but manual mentions checking tires afterwards and making sure brushes are installed correctly.

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[NUTTSGT]

I'm not sure what your plans are to cut or what to cut but have you considered a porta-bandsaw ? SWAG Off-Road make a table to mount it in and becomes a small bandsaw, possibly like you intend to use.

 

[John in OH]

Re: B:enchtop Band Saw

My guess is blade speed is the determining factor for success here. If the same thing applies as in drilling, blade speed needs to come down to cut steel along with correct blade material and teeth count.

......................

I've never tried using a benchtop for metal, but, as motoretro observes, blade speed will be way too fast as the benchtop saw you reference does not appear to be variable speed.

I guess with the proper blade you could probably get by cutting a few small items but the blade probably wouldn't survive for long.

IIRC, Delta used to make a smaller (10"-12") vertical band saw for home shop use that had a built-in dual speed gearbox thus making it usable for both wood and metal via a blade swap. AFAIK, they have been out of production for many years, but if you could find a used one on CL, ebay, or a yard sale grab it!!! I let one slip through my fingers about 10 years ago and have kicked myself ever since.

I've also seen where guys have retrofitted a gear reducer to a wood bandsaw to slow the blade speed. That would be another approach provided you can also address the wheel material and brush issues.

 

[markw365]

Go for the porta band and a swag offroad table.

 

[PugetDude]

I'm not sure what your plans are to cut or what to cut but have you considered a porta-bandsaw ? SWAG Off-Road make a table to mount it in and becomes a small bandsaw, possibly like you intend to use.

Go for the porta band and a swag offroad table.

Here's what I use for cutting metal...

Bought a Dewalt Porta Band on eBay for $60.

Dug into the scrap bin and made a table for it with a 10" long piece of 2x2x 1/8" aluminum angle, a 6" x 8" piece of 1/4" aluminum plate, four 1/4" x 3/4" flat head machine screws with nuts and washers. It replaces the steel backing shoe, uses the same mounting screws. Takes less than a minute to switch back to hand-held mode.

I've cut 3/8" steel plate, 2" pipe, 1" round, etc with this set up.

 

[WWheeler]

Here's what I use for cutting metal...

Bought a Dewalt Porta Band on eBay for $60.

Dug into the scrap bin and made a table for it with a 10" long piece of 2x2x 1/8" aluminum angle, a 6" x 8" piece of 1/4" aluminum plate, four 1/4" x 3/4" flat head machine screws with nuts and washers. It replaces the steel backing shoe, uses the same mounting screws. Takes less than a minute to switch back to hand-held mode.

I've cut 3/8" steel plate, 2" pipe, 1" round, etc with this set up.

Nicely done!

 

[gorilla]

By metal do you mean steel or aluminum? You can cut aluminum all day long on a wood cutting bandsaw. Steel no way. Steel likes about 150-200 sfm.

 

[astroracer]

Like everyone has said, those small table top WOOD saws will not do well on steel. Aluminum may be okay but you will need a smaller throat blade that doesn't grab while cutting. The fast blade speeds also causes the aluminum to gall and stick to the blade and this is probably the biggest problem you will have with a saw of this type.
A variable speed WOOD saw is of no use either as the slower it goes the less torque it has and all it will do is stall out.
A Porta-Band is designed to cut steel so, to do this on a budget, that is your best bet.
I lucked out and found a 14" wood saw with a gearbox on the side to convert it to metal cutting. I took it a bit further and reduced the blade surface speed to 170 with a pulley swap.
Wood saws also have the block style blade guides. These wear out quickly when cutting metal and need to be converted to roller guides. Not a big deal but it is an added cost.
Mark