[TheForge] BANDSAWS?

[Steve Bloom]

At 11:23 AM 12/5/2002 -0600, Mike Graf wrote:

>Now that you open up that can of worms.
>
>What is the collective wisdom on looking
>for a metal cutting bandsaw?
>Brands? Manner of construction? Blade
>length?
>Whatever?

I've run a Harbor Fright -- er-- Freight unit ($130 on
special) since 1991. It's getting a bit worn but still cuts
well when using a good bi-metal blade (~$20/per). It is
not a precision system - maybe 1/8" off on a 3" vertical
cut.  I've used it to rough out power hammer dies (6" x 3"
x 3" blocks) down to chopping 1/4" rounds. Add some
cross shelving to stiffen the sorry excuse for a base,
make a decent table instead of using the thin sheet
metal piece that comes with it and make a wood seat
so that when you sit down, you don't turn off the saw,
and it will cut knife profiles at a reasonable speed.

It's in the category of 'I can't imagine not having one'.

Steve
Steve Bloom, IronFlower Forge. Archer, FL
     Webmaster for the FABA web site:
	www.blacksmithing.org