Metal Cutting Power Saw

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Well funnily enough I did rough out a design for a powered hacksaw a while back but I think I have had enough of tool making for a while. Once the rear tool post is finished I need to get back to some modelling.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

I would really like a Femi but its beyond my budget, maybe one day.

I said I didnt fancy a chop saw but size wise it would be ideal and a 355mm wheel one has decent depth of cut. My only concern would be the abrasive wheel, I think I would be a bit nervous using it or am I over cautious.

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

Have you considered a Rage chop saw?

Mike

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Ron the abrasive saws are really only suited to ferrous, you do a lot with aluminium.

[Iain DownsParticipant @iaindowns78295]

That would explain why my Aldi chop saw grunted, sweated and smoked whilst going through a 2 inch square aluminium bar….

Iain

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks Mike, The Rage 2 saw looks very good but Jason is correct I do use a lot of aluminium, though the Rage is listed with a multi purpose blade.

Jason, thanks for pointing that out, I guess a bandsaw is the way to go but the only one I could afford at the moment is the ALDI one. I have some reservations but it does get very good reviews though the vice is useless but can be improved.

Decisions, decisions..?

Ron

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I'm in doncaster if anyone wants to have a go with the Aldi bandsaw.

There are a few minor things like the vice, but at £150 all in, it is an incredible amount of usefulness for the money – a good vice would cost £150 on its own?

Edited By Russ B on 08/03/2019 09:32:42

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Posted by Russ B on 08/03/2019 09:31:13:

I'm in doncaster if anyone wants to have a go with the Aldi bandsaw.

There are a few minor things like the vice, but at £150 all in, it is an incredible amount of usefulness for the money – a good vice would cost £150 on its own?

Edited By Russ B on 08/03/2019 09:32:42

Russ,

I read that when mounted to the base it doesnt have the depth of cut thats claimed, can you tell me what size it can cut.

Ron

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Well Russ,

I was somewhat tempted by that Aldi metal cutting bandsaw – it was small enough to be able to find some space for but I really wanted something that could be used in a vertical position (with a worktable). I was therefore managing to resist buying it quite well UNTIL I noticed one of the Aldi 'reviewers' said to look at this YouTube video by 'Maker Geek'….so I did…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0cLgifKe

Looks like a really good idea, does what I need and I might even get around to building it…..so an Aldi saw is on it's way here too.

Drat – that's the Sheds' Piggy Bank back in the red again…

Regards,

IanT

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/03/2019 09:25:38:

Thanks Mike, The Rage 2 saw looks very good but Jason is correct I do use a lot of aluminium, though the Rage is listed with a multi purpose blade.

Jason, thanks for pointing that out, I guess a bandsaw is the way to go but the only one I could afford at the moment is the ALDI one. I have some reservations but it does get very good reviews though the vice is useless but can be improved.

Decisions, decisions..?

Ron

You can cut soft ally with a B&D drill attachment circular saw on slow speed. The sawdust does tend to sting a bit though (you might call it shrapnel)

[Dennis RParticipant @dennisr]

Hi

Try this for the Aldi bandsaw mod

Dennis

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Thank you Dennis – my "cut & paste" skills obviously need sharpening (rather like one or two of my older drill bits)

Regards,

IanT

[Stuart Smith 5Participant @stuartsmith5]

Ron

The Evolution Rage saw has a TCT toothed multipurpose blade not an abrasive one. I have a Fury saw which also has a TCT toothed blade. I have used it mainly for wood but have cut 1" square section steel with it. I have had it for about 4 years and it still cuts ok with the original blade, although I have cut steel a few times. I bought it after a demo in my local B&Q where they cut steel and aluminium.

Stuart

[ZebethyalParticipant @zebethyal]

My 6×4 bandsaw does not seem to like like cutting these days – the motor stalls very easily even on aluminium.

I also have an Evolution Rage 10" cold chop saw that was £60.00 on ebay, I recently cut a piece off a 60mm round steel bar, took no more than 30 seconds, nice clean cut.

I have also used it to slice 2mm off the end of a length of 20x40mm aluminium extrusion that was slightly too long, perfect square cut and took less than 5 seconds.

The chop saw and the bandsaw are each sat on Ikea Helmer 6 drawer cabinets which makes them easy to move about, this is much more convenient than the rubbish stand that came with the bandsaw.

I am still contemplating one of the Aldi bandsaws to replace the 6×4.

Edited By Zebethyal on 12/03/2019 08:34:05

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

Posted by Ron Laden on 08/03/2019 09:56:26:

Russ,

I read that when mounted to the base it doesnt have the depth of cut thats claimed, can you tell me what size it can cut.

Ron

Ron,

Sorry for the delay. I was out in the garage today and can confirm when the saw is lowered to horizontal the blade is about 5 or 6mm above the vice, thus the pivot point is obviously a but high. This means the saw has to be lowered further than it should reducing the depth capacity by about that much. I few simple spacers under the vice will resolve this, a slightly longer bolt and nut between the vice and stand would probably be a very adequate quick solution, albeit a bit unrefined.

On the plus side, you can fit a larger vice!! I'll roughly measure the actual height of the pivot point next time im in there which will tell us how high of a vice we can make/mount.

[WindyParticipant @windy30762]

I got the Aldi portable band saw yesterday and gave it a try today on some ally bar the vice looks rubbish but it gripped ok.

Waiting to try it on some big lumps of ally soon but seems to work fine have ordered some spare blades and hope there are no problems cutting en24 wonder if should arrange a positive coolant system for that.

[Clive IndiaParticipant @cliveindia]

Posted by Philip Powell on 06/03/2019 20:44:20:

+1 for the Femi. I got mine from Stakseys last year, not cheap but works well with a good vice. I keep the saw under the bench a pull it out when needed and it has a surprisingly large capacity for such a small saw. Phil.

Me too Phil. I tried other tat around and came to the conclusion you get what you pay for – again!

[Michael BriggsParticipant @michaelbriggs82422]

I have an Evolution saw with tct blade, cuts ok but produces a shower of very hot metal. As you would expect will not cut stainless, blade lasts a few milliseconds. Bought a Femi, not cheap but not disappointed.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Still havnt got myself a saw but I think I am going to order a Femi SN105XL, its the basic model but has good capacity. I see from a video that it is manual i.e. the blade is pulled down through the cut, would anyone know if this type of bandsaw can be left to gravity feed..?

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

I have a similar bandsaw, just different make. It's not heavy enough so gravity feed will not work – what I do is hang a weight on the adjustment knob. I also but a small wedge on the trigger switch to keep the blade going (otherwise it defeats the purpose)

You do have to guesstimate the weight you hang tho, depending on what you're cutting (hollow vs solid stock)

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

Posted by Ron Laden on 07/03/2019 13:30:45:

Well funnily enough I did rough out a design for a powered hacksaw a while back but I think I have had enough of tool making for a while. Once the rear tool post is finished I need to get back to some modelling.

Just make it Ron! You can still call it modelling – model it after a bigger one!

Joe

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks Chris

[Philip PowellParticipant @philippowell34749]

Posted by Ron Laden on 15/08/2019 08:41:35:

Still havnt got myself a saw but I think I am going to order a Femi SN105XL, its the basic model but has good capacity. I see from a video that it is manual i.e. the blade is pulled down through the cut, would anyone know if this type of bandsaw can be left to gravity feed..?

Ron, not on my little Femi, you have to pull down to make the cut, expensive but worth it. My came with a free spare blade and delivery to soften the blow. Great little saw, I keep mine under the bench.

Phil.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Joe, your hacksaw looks brilliant, as always well engineered, I love seeing your machines and tools posted on here, it gives me inspiration to get working in the workshop.

Dave W

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Joseph, I am going to be lazy and order the Femi but I have to say that your saw is impressive for home made, I have not seen one that looks as well made as yours.

Phil, thanks for the confirmation, how does yours cope with larger pieces of steel, is it ok.? I guess it is. In the video I watched, the guy carried the Femi into the workshop with one hand which is ideal as I also will be keeping it under the bench so didnt want anything too heavy.

Ron

Edited By Ron Laden on 15/08/2019 11:15:16

Edited By Ron Laden on 15/08/2019 11:15:58

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