Band saw for cutting aluminum

[Bruce Newendorp]

We want to buy a band saw for our team to use this year. I would like to learn about other team's experiences and recommendations about using various types for cutting aluminum stock such as:
1. Horizontal/Vertical Band Saw like the Jet 414458. http://www.amazon.com/414458-HVBS-56...0946661&sr=8-3
or Grizzly G0622
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0622

2. Portable Band Saw with base like the Grizzly G8692
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8692
or Milwaukee has one like this also for a lot more money.

3. Vertical band saw like the Delta BS-100
http://www.amazon.com/Delta-BS100-Sh...947095&sr=8-31
or various other larger ones.


It's obvious all of these have pros and cons. If you were to pick one type, which one? Or are there other better alternatives?

[ChuckDickerson]

We make extensive use of a 12" Hitachi bandsaw. If you slow the blade down to the lower speed setting and use the right blade then it cuts aluminum wonderfully. The trick is in the blade. Read through this tread for more info.

[Cory]

This one would be pretty sweet

Unfortunately those are out of most of our price ranges... awesome saws if you ever get to use one though.

For cutting long tubing into shorter pieces, or for cutting solid stock, or for anything you want a straight cut for, go with the horizontal bandsaw. I've heard that if you use horizontal bandsaws in the vertical position very often, it can become very hard to get a straight cut when switching back to using it horizontally, however.

If you're looking at cutting lots of thin stuff and cutting angles or contours, go with the vertical bandsaw.

P.S. We have that Delta vertical bandsaw, and considering it's small size, it's not bad at all.

Also, that JET and Grizzly saw are exactly the same saw, just branded differently. KBC Tools also sells the same saw for $225. Don't pay more for the JET. Buy the cheapest one you find.

[eugenebrooks]

If you are buying your first band saw, the best choice is the
horizontal saw (with the possible conversion to vertical).
It will be useful for makeing nice square cuts on a variety
of stock, both aluminum and steel. If you can afford
a saw with a coolant/lube drip it is a good idea because
it will extend the life of the blade and keep the work a lot
cooler, although it can be messy.

Eugene

[Gdeaver]

Look in the yellow pages and B2B book. There are probably a couple of industrial power tool companies in your area that sell band saws. They quite often take trade ins when companies upgrade. You might get lucky and find a real nice used high end band saw.

[Tytus Gerrish]

This should do the trick

[EricVanWyk]

Do not attempt to use a wood band saw for cutting aluminum.

After a while the wheels inside will melt and spray your hands with molten plastic.

[Mike Harrison]

you say this like you have had personal experience... molten plastic doesn't sound like a whole lot of fun

[lbarger]

I bought the small Jet horizontal/vertical metal cutting band saw for my own uses as well as helping my team. I have been happy with it. Two minor problems to report: 1) The table for use in the vertical orientation was bent in shipping and had to be hammered out, 2) Does not always make perfectly square cuts*.

If possible, lay eyes/hands on each model before choosing. Pay attention to the bearings that hold the blade straight and how the material is clamped. You want roller bearings, not bushings or pads for most accurate cutting. See how close to the blade you can clamp a piece as this will limit the size of some cuts.

Also, check on price and availability of replacement metal blades. They only break when you are using the saw so ALWAYS have spares on hand.

*I've been told a trick, but have yet to test it regarding straight cuts on a band saw. Many blades are stamped and as such have a lip on the trailing edge of the blade. Holding a wet stone to the trailing edges (before cutting) in theory will break this edge and provide straighter cuts.

Regards,
Lee

[DonRotolo]

As already stated, for heavy cuts (like a hacksaw) use a horizontal, for cutting patterns or intricately on thin stock use a vertical. The blade is the critical point, not the saw. Learn how to properly adjust a band saw - it is not intuitive - and it will serve you well.

As for getting a band saw, if budget isn't a huge issue, go for a name-brand tool in the 12-14 inch range. If budget is an issue, then a used tool can be had for a fraction of the new price, either saving several hundred dollars, or getting you a far superior machine for the same price.

A band saw made for wood CAN be used, but it's kind of like using a screwdriver as a chisel - it'll do, but it's really not the right way.

Don

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

A band saw made for wood CAN be used, but it's kind of like using a screwdriver as a chisel - it'll do, but it's really not the right way.

Don

As I said before, PLEASE do not do this. You WILL destroy the band saw. I have done it before.

[artdutra04]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

As I said before, PLEASE do not do this. You WILL destroy the band saw. I have done it before.

At my house, I have a Ryobi vertical band saw, which is about as much of a "wood band saw" as you can get. Home Depot didn't even sell any blades for it to cut aluminum, but after searching around other local stores (and eventually finding some at Lowe's), I switched out the wood blade for a metal-cutting blade. Since then, I've never had any problems with cutting aluminum or steel.

As long as you lave a blade with enough teeth per inch to sufficiently cut aluminum (or steel), you can use any band saw.

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Don Rotolo

As for getting a band saw, if budget isn't a huge issue, go for a name-brand tool in the 12-14 inch range. If budget is an issue, then a used tool can be had for a fraction of the new price, either saving several hundred dollars, or getting you a far superior machine for the same price.

It really doesn't sound like he's in the price range to be buying anything name brand.

It'll set you back over $2000-4000 for anything by Kalamazoo, Wells, Dake, HydMech, etc.

I think Dake is the only one that even sells a 7x12 model, and it's identical to the one that JET, Grizzly, KBC Tools, MSC, etc all sell under different brand names.

To put it this way, in the price range he's looking at, he can't afford American iron. It's all going to come out of some Taiwanese or Chinese factory, so which nameplate gets stuck on it from that point on is pretty irrelevant.

If they do happen to find a bigger, name brand used bandsaw, then there are awesome deals to be had and you would notice a world of difference in performance compared to the JET or Grizzly.

For light duty stuff, it really shouldnt make a difference though.

[ChuckDickerson]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

As I said before, PLEASE do not do this. You WILL destroy the band saw. I have done it before.

This is very curious to me. Of course it is possible to destroy anything if you work hard enough at it but I am really wondering what bandsaw you managed to melt and under what conditions. Could you please post more specific information on the brand/model of saw you destroyed, what type of blade you were using, what type of material you were cutting, and more specifics about what you feel lead to the tool failure? We would all like to learn from your mistakes so as to avoid duplicating your experiance.

Thanks!

[sanddrag]

I have used a wood blade to cut aluminum before. While it is not recommended, it does work alright if you go slow and are careful. The cut will come out a bit rough and the blade will not last as long, but it does work. Just do not cut something thin with a wood blade. The general rule is you want to try to have at least 3 teeth of the blade in contact with the workpiece. If you don't go to a finer tooth blade for the thin material.