Metal Cutting Power Saw

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Ron, here is a photo of my Femi with the table attachment, I bought mine but you can easily fabricate one. Plus one for the wedge and weight if its a long cut and more so if you have several cuts !

[Philip PowellParticipant @philippowell34749]

Ron, I've not cut huge bars in my Femi, 40mm dia is about the biggest so far. I did cut some 125 X 16 ali plate the other day, too wide to fit in the the normal way so I stood it up vertically and put it in the vice holding on the 15mm thickness if that makes sense, cut perfectly. Nice vice too.

When I get a round tuit I'm going to make a table like above in JohnF's picture, should be quite easy and useful.

Phil.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

John,

The table looks handy I may consider one of those, I can think of a few jobs which are coming up where it would be useful.

Phil, the SN105XL I have ordered is listed as having a 4 inch max cut for round in a straight cut, I was really impressed with that especially for a small saw. That will do me I think, any bigger than 4 inch and someone else will be cutting it…lol

Ron

[FullaFlavaParticipant @fullaflava]

I have recently inherited (along with the rest of the woodworking workshop) a 2 roller wood bandsaw ( I cant confirm the make or size as I’m not currently at home).

Does any body know if metalworking blades come in the correct size for the usual suspect bandsaw manufacturers of this type? I will update the question with specific make and size in due course, unless in the meantime it becomes apparent that this is not a viable alternative.

Al

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

My 4 1/2 saw, from Warco, but looks like the Machine Mart one, uses 14 tpi or 24 tpi blades.

You can buy blades with different tooth pitches. Screwfix offer next day delivery on Starrett brabded blades; and rhey are cheaper than Warco!

You can also find companies that will make up a blade to your spec. length, thickness, depth, tooth pitch.

Cromwell Tools offer such a service, I think, but at a price!

Howard..

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

FullaFlava:

Finding metalworking blades of the right length may be possible but note that if your band-saw was made for wood-working it will probably be far too fast for sawing metal, especially steel.

[FullaFlavaParticipant @fullaflava]

Sounds as though I will have a financial juggling act of finding a metal blade for the wood saw I have and a solution of slowing it down to be usable for less than the cost of the ready made options already presented on the thread.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

I should have the Femi on Mon/Tuesday and out of interest I read that it is important to break in new bandsaw blades by running at half speed/half feed for the first 50-75 inches. Also what has surprised me is a good number of videos of various bandsaws where they are used dry with no cutting lubrication at all, what do you guys do..?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Dry

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

If I'm not mistaken the pulleys on the femi are covered with some type of rubber which may get damaged if the blade slips etc. That's the main reason they are used dry I think.

That was a concern I had when I purchased mine, so I got one with cast iron pulleys so I can use oil without problems.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Mine (not a Femi) says cut dry. No half speed either – just a single speed unit. Does the job very well.

Is that 50-75 square inches? I tend not to change blades unless really ought to. Probably a bit naughty at times!

[Philip PowellParticipant @philippowell34749]

I run my Femi dry as per instructions, only two speeds so I just run on the slowest speed all the time.

Phil.

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

YouTube hacksaw videoThank You those with nice words re my little power hacksaw…Two reasons I made that machine, one being that it has been a project on the wish list for many years, and two, I have a bandsaw – see below, so there was always a reason to not get started on the hacksaw..

This is a pic from the front cover of the user handbook – my saw differs slightly – switch gear in a different place, etc.

This saw works very well, but although it delayed the start of the hacksaw, it also prompted it..I dislike changing blades on the bandsaw, and the saw never seems to have the correct blade in it! I often cut thin wall (2mm maybe) tubing and then there is a 10TPI blade in the machine for the last 100mm aluminium billet that was cut, etc.

I always find that the different TPI blades track differently, and so to get a square cut involves faffing about after changing a blade. The blade guides are very firmly set up ( I did machine the mating surfaces to get a better fit than the sloppy delivered article). The blade guide bearings are firm and snug against the blade, but when the blade opening is more than 180mm to 200mm, the blade flexes between the guides and tracks as it will.

My blades are 22mm wide and I guess about 0.7mm thick? not sure..

I allways cut wet ( with coolant) for material of a few square inches and more.

So, the hacksaw was pushed up the list. Now the hacksaw has a 24tpi blade in it all the time and is used for all the thin stuff – for which it is better suited anyway, as the thin stuff does not take so long in the hacksaw.

Here is a video of the hacksaw while being made and tested…

Joe

Hacksaw Video

 

 

Edited By Joseph Noci 1 on 17/08/2019 21:16:57

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Having the wrong blade or tool in place is governed by Newton's Fourth Law, sometimes attributed to Sod

As my Physics master said, "The Law of the Eternal Cussedness of Things.

(NO, not Silly old Duffer! )

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 17/08/2019 21:24:03

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

I found the 8/12 vari-tooth blades a good allrounder. Thinnest I cut is 2mm square section and at the same time makes short work of 60mm round bar. Much better than the 14tpi blade the bandsaw came with. Coolant of course helps.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

The spec on the Femi 105 has a 8/12 vari blade as the blade type recommended so I am assuming/hoping thats what it will come with if its a good allrounder.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The 8/12 works fine for me on all sorts.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

The Femi arrived and I am very impressed, nice quality and well put together. I thought you probably have to do a bit of assy but there is none of that it comes complete and set up, take it out of the box, plug it in and its ready to use. I gave it a go with 50mm alu and 25mm steel bar and it cut very well with nice square cuts. The only thing I have found is when cutting the blade has a slight bump once every full revolution of the blade, dont know why but apart from that it cuts fine.

The real bonus for me is despite having a 4 inch capacity how compact and portable it is, I have cleared a space under a bench and it can live there when not in use.

Really pleased with it, thanks to the people who recommended a Femi.

Edited By Ron Laden on 21/08/2019 09:43:20

[ChrisBParticipant @chrisb35596]

Posted by Ron Laden on 21/08/2019 09:15:55:

The only thing I have found is when cutting the blade has a slight bump once every full revolution of the blade, dont know why but apart from that it cuts fine.

That's normal, it's the weld to join the ends of the blade. Have a look at the blade and see if there's any extra material which maybe was not fully ground off.

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Thanks Chris,

Thats good to know at least there isnt a fault, will check the blade later.

Ron

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