Very Simple Portable Bandsaw Question

[philbar715]

So lets say I have a portaband setup on a table, like the swag tables. Is it possible to cut curves/shapes out of small pieces of steel or is the blade too thick/flexible. Or is a bandsaw not even for that thin of material?

Another example is I have a 1/4in steel plate, I would like to cut a half circle approx 2in in diameter, is that possible on a portaband with a table?

 

[Attackcammel]

It’s possible you just have to make relief cuts think slices in bread because the blade won’t conform to the curve it might also need a little cleanup with a file or grinder to clean it up


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[gearhead1]

The curve radius cut is a function of the blade width.

http://ravenview.com/blog/2008/01/23/bandsaw-blade-radius-chart/

 

[dr_clyde]

The curve radius cut is a function of the blade width.

http://ravenview.com/blog/2008/01/23/bandsaw-blade-radius-chart/

Yes, this.

You probably can buy narrower blades if you order a few.

Get the most TPI you can for thin metal.

 

[philbar715]

Ah this is great info! Thanks everyone!

My next question is where can I find narrower 1/4" blades for a portaband, 44 7/8in length like for the harbor freight bauer saw.

 

[dr_clyde]

Ah this is great info! Thanks everyone!

My next question is where can I find narrower 1/4" blades for a portaband, 44 7/8in length like for the harbor freight bauer saw.

And good industrial supply should be able to order you band saw blades of any size and configuration.

 

[b7labelle]

Wow relevant thread..anyone have any photos of their homemade stand for these parta bands? Thinking ordering a saw and making a stand

 

[zkling]

I think you are going to have a tough time with a 1/4" blade on a portaband. The guides were designed for use with a 1/2" blade and lack the adjustability for smaller blades.

Additionally the lack of height adjustment or distance between the guides is going to make cutting tight curves more difficult.

 

[dr_clyde]

I think you are going to have a tough time with a 1/4" blade on a portaband. The guides were designed for use with a 1/2" blade and lack the adjustability for smaller blades.

I forgot about the guides. Good call.

 

[DGersic]

So lets say I have a portaband setup on a table, like the swag tables. Is it possible to cut curves/shapes out of small pieces of steel or is the blade too thick/flexible. Or is a bandsaw not even for that thin of material?



Another example is I have a 1/4in steel plate, I would like to cut a half circle approx 2in in diameter, is that possible on a portaband with a table?

Yes, you can cut curves. You’ll have to make relief cuts, just like you would with a wood bandsaw using a wide blade. Tight curves you may just cut “close”, then finish with a grinder, hand files, etc..




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[DGersic]

Wow relevant thread..anyone have any photos of their homemade stand for these parta bands? Thinking ordering a saw and making a stand

There are dozens of designs out there. Here’s mine.





The power switch is from Amazon. I mounted it and an outlet in a pair or metal boxes joined back to back. The power cord to the switch came off of something else. The saw and lamp (also from Amazon) plug in to the outlets, so the saw can be converted back to regular use.

Working out the table mounting bracket took a few tries with cardboard before cutting and filing some angle steel to fit. The table surface is a piece of stainless my dad picked up somewhere about 30 years ago, that has been hanging around my basement ever since.

Also work out how you’re going to attach the saw and support it. A few wood 2x2 scraps were sacrificed to figuring that out before committing the design to steel.

I had just bought a MIG welder, and I’m still learning to use it, so the welds aren’t pretty, but they penetrated, and some grinding and paint makes that a non issue for a tool.



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[readhead]

Find a hole saw that will yield the right size slug. Cut it in half and weld up the little half hole left by the pilot bit if necessary.

 

[driftpin]

dGersic, a good job, that. How-about pics of the bracket for the table mount, please? Also how the saw is fastened, how-long to release it or to fasten it in the cradle? Looks like a Porter-Cable. I have one, very handy for when you need it. Just used it last night to mod a sissy bar for a motorcycle.

 

[burlybrute]

Swag off-road makes a really nice table kit for porta bands. I bought on years ago and havn't regretted it once.

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[theoldwizard1]

Swag off-road makes a really nice table kit for porta bands. I bought on years ago and havn't regretted it once.

SWAG now has several models.

 

[b7labelle]

There are dozens of designs out there. Here’s mine.





The power switch is from Amazon. I mounted it and an outlet in a pair or metal boxes joined back to back. The power cord to the switch came off of something else. The saw and lamp (also from Amazon) plug in to the outlets, so the saw can be converted back to regular use.

Working out the table mounting bracket took a few tries with cardboard before cutting and filing some angle steel to fit. The table surface is a piece of stainless my dad picked up somewhere about 30 years ago, that has been hanging around my basement ever since.

Also work out how you’re going to attach the saw and support it. A few wood 2x2 scraps were sacrificed to figuring that out before committing the design to steel.

I had just bought a MIG welder, and I’m still learning to use it, so the welds aren’t pretty, but they penetrated, and some grinding and paint makes that a non issue for a tool.



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Awesome, thanks for the input and pictures. Gave me some ideas.

 

[Kenstone1]

5 minute hack of bandsaw table for cutting angle iron/etc.:




Clamp the trigger ON, plugged into power strip, use power strip switch for on/off.

 

[b7labelle]

Nice, I plan on using mine to cut knife blanks to I need the table to be horizontal

 

[DGersic]

dGersic, a good job, that. How-about pics of the bracket for the table mount, please? Also how the saw is fastened, how-long to release it or to fasten it in the cradle? Looks like a Porter-Cable. I have one, very handy for when you need it. Just used it last night to mod a sissy bar for a motorcycle.

I had to take some pics of the table bracket.






Here, it’s mounted on the saw body, with the table removed.



Piece of angle iron, two holes drilled to match the mounting bolts for the blade guide. The left end is cut away to fit where the body of the saw is.

Three table mounting holes. Countersunk on the table top side. Used coupler nuts to provide as long a threaded hole as I could for the table mounting bolts.

The saw support, vertical arm up the back, has one bolt to hold the saw, where the hand knob use to be. At the bottom, the saw fits in a channel I made by welding 1” strips to the top of the square tubing of the frame.

This is an old Porter Cable saw. It uses a slightly longer band than all of the ones available now on the market. Other than that, I don’t see much real difference between it and the current ones.

If you’re building one, you’ll need to customize it to your saw.




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[philbar715]

Just wanted to chime in and show off the stand/table/whatever you want to call it for my new saw. I got the harbor freight bauer bandsaw on sale for $95 with coupon. Used some angle iron and a 1/4" steel plate and made a mount for my welding table. This setup works great.

Only thing I have left to do now is figure out a way to easily secure it to the angle iron that its sitting on. Right now I just use a cheap C clamp on one side.