Portable bandsaws – any good?

[RJKflyerParticipant @rjkflyer]

Hi All,

 

Just in the process of making some bits and pieces in steel and aluminium.

 

I’ve been cutting 1″ square steel (and ali) bar by hand using what i have to say is an amazingly good 12″ hacksaw. The problem is that aside being a bit knackering in this weather, it is hard to keep the cuts nice and straight. Which means oversize, and thus wasted time and material milling it square.

 

Now faced with cutting some 2″ bar in both materials, I’m thinking that i ought to look at powered options.

 

Has anyone any experience with this sort of portable bandsaw?

 

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/pb06-portable-variable-speed-bandsaw/path/power-hacksaws-bandsaws-metal-cutting-saws

(In case the link fails, it’s a Woodstar PB06 Portable)

 

I don’t have space to buy a proper power hacksaw, and i’m not keen on using any circular variety of cut-off.

 

Thanks guys! 

 

 

[RJKflyerParticipant @rjkflyer]

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

I had one that appears to be identical to this a few years ago.

 

It works but I personally found it awkward to use. It’s relatively heavy and hard to hold and maintain the cutting position. If you are large and/or muscular you may have better results.

 

However …. I came up with a way of mounting mine to a base in similar fashion to a regular horizontal bandsaw. That completely transformed it for me. Within reasonable material size limitations it was a very useful machine and served me until I bought a used 4×6 bandsaw.

[John CParticipant @johnc47954]

Hi,

I have an Axminster small bandsaw which is bigger than the one you are showing.  It is very efficient, cut cleanly and accurately .  However, it is more expensive than the one you are looking at..

 

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-axminster-mcb100a-compact-bandsaw-prod781243/ 

 

John 

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi RJKflyer,

 

I say stick with the hand hacksaw.  At the age of 63, using a straight grip, (not pistol grip), hacksaw I can quite easily cut through 2″ dia bar in a relatively short time.  I’m no muscle man, I have angina, a bad back after a double laminectomy and require a knee replacement, but I recently cut out a 6″ x 4″ slab of 1″ thick plate steel in about 15 mins and managed to keep within about 20 thou of my line.  Followed by a touch up with a 12″ bastard file and a quick once over in the Mill it was perfect. 

 

It’s not magic, I’m certainly not special, just practice, technique and concentration, not to mention a good, properly tensioned sawblade.  The real secret is not to try to cut too fast, about one stroke per second is just about right.  Most people just try to cut too quickly and rush the job, that’s usually the reason for inaccuracy (plus an under tensioned blade).

 

I think that the practice and exercise is good for me, and I don’t have to waste time going to the gym to keep fit.  I’m saving money in tw0 ways, no gym fees and no expensive bandsaw!

 

Best regards

 

Terry

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Well done Terry!

Perhaps we should start a new movement  for UNpowered tools!  As another near OAP male we do need to keep going to keep going. It is interesting that we now all seem to think of  which power tool we will use rather than consider the whole range of tools.

 

But then if we banned electricity we would not be able to discuss these issues, perhaps an exercise bike with a generator……

 

regards,

Alan

 

PS love the hand held bandsaw, what a great idea! ( for use by others….)

 

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I have a 6×4 bandsaw, but I sill use a hacksaw often, also I tend to use the Armstrong milling machine(file) instead of the vertical mill, and a hand drill where others would use a battery or mains pistol type machine, the battery does’t go flat, or if it does I go get a cuppa.Ian S C

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

The  6×4 Bandsaw is a very handy tool for slicing up loads of metal- even better when fitted with a decent bimetal blade. I use an L shaped holder for small but accurate sawing. The angle is held in the vice then you run the saw to cut through the vertical face of the angle down to the horizontal face. ( vertical face to the right side)

 

The job is then placed inside the angle against the vertical face and supported on the horizontal lined up so the desired cut is against the vertical cut. The sawing blade then holds the job against the vertical face as it cuts the job. If you were cutting rounds then a clamp should hold the job to prevent it spinning- might be a good habit to clamp the job regardless.

 

The reasoning behind the words is to get the saw to define exactly where the cut plane is by the cut in the vertical face so you can line the job up  very easily.  The ‘angle’ can be no more than two bits of  MDF scrap pinned together. Leave the angle in the vice if you want to repeat saw or replace it with the blade as a guide before closing the vice.

 

I do agree with Ian and Terry that Hacksaws are quick, easy and very reliable. The sheet metal saw is also very useful at times. Power tools do let us work faster but it is good to feel the job being shaped by a blade or file.

 

Regards,

Alan.

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Alan,

 

Power tools are not always even faster, just noisier.  By the time you’ve got the damn thing out of the cupboard (meanwhile disentangling the self tangling cord they are all damn well  fitted with), found the correct chuck, Allen or torque key, adjusted the guide rolls etc (as long as the correct screwdriver has not migrated to the kitchen workshop) when finding that the cut is not as accurate as it should be and the blade etc has wandered, you’ve broken several small bones in the wrist due to the backlash or unexpected torque reaction, it has given you carpal tunnel syndrome due to vibration. Your partner with the handsaw has by now finished the cut and is cheerfully machining away or even assembling the final product.

 

But I do like the electric lathe

Terry

[SpurryParticipant @spurry]

I’ve had a Femi bandsaw for some years now. Bought from one of the Model Engineer shows at Ally Pally.

http://www.femi.it/en/femi-machine-professional-processing-wood-metal.aspx?l=51&f=43&p=183

It looks like a toy, but it’s a superb machine. The guy selling them was cuttings disks about 1mm thick from a 50mm round bar.

I have lots of tools I could do without, but not this one!

 

Pete

[RJKflyerParticipant @rjkflyer]

I think I’m going to stay manual on this one: TerryD aside inspiring me not to waste the money and simply put in the effort and care, also reminds me of the space and time consumed with borderline-necessary ‘gadgets’. 

 

I’ve got a diamond tile saw bench – use it infrequently, but by contrast it’s a gadget which has no peer when you actually need it.

 

So, my 50mm bar has been cut accurately by hand…

 

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Well done RJKflyer,  I bet it wasn’t such a chore as you imagined.  You’ve had good cardio vascular exercise and toned up your muscles as well as feeling the pride of a job (no matter how menial) done well.  As well as saving some money for a better application. 

 

I agree about the tile cutter though

Best regards

 

Terry

[Geoff TheasbyParticipant @geofftheasby]

RJKflyer,

 

you say you haven’t space for a powered hacksaw or bandsaw.   I am thinking of buying a small mill, which would replace my power hacksaw on the workbench.   I am therefore thinking of mounting the power hacksaw on a fold-out table, so as to use space in the workshop which would be needed for moving about in normal circumstances.

I wouldn’t go back to handraulic or armstrong methods now I have tasted the fruits of electric power!

 

Regards

Geoff

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by Geoff Theasby on 22/07/2010 14:45:05:

I wouldn’t go back to handraulic or armstrong methods now I have tasted the fruits of electric power!

Hi, my name is Sid and I am a power hacksaw user ….

 

I used to nibble things out with my teeth which is very character-building, and good and healthy for the digestion. Then I got lazy and started using one of those despicable new-fangled hand-push hacksaws. How are the mighty fallen!

 

I finally reached rock bottom and bought a used 6×4 horizontal bandsaw. Now I’m addicted and can’t go back. Whatever will become of me?

 

Edited By Sid Herbage on 22/07/2010 22:34:13

[StovepipeParticipant @stovepipe]

The advantage of power tools is that you can make mistakes much faster ! On the other hand, power tools preserve your pint-lifting capacity hand and arm.

On a note of slightly less levity, i agree that while power tools do have many advantages, it is uplifting sometimes to have a hand tool shaping the material you are using., and to feel at one with that material. Horses for courses I suppose. I tend to reach for the hand tool because it is “at hand”, and i don’t have to spend time unknotting the b******g flex every time I use the power tool.

 

Dennis

[Billy MillsParticipant @billymills]

Sid

At least you have made a small step to a cure by admitting that you are addicted. Go see your Saw Doctor. Regular applications of cutting fluid will delay the day when the band breaks however you can brass it back together until the teeth go blunt or drop out. Don’t know if you can get cutting fluid on prescription as part of  rehab.

 

These 4×6’s are too cheap and too easily available for the Police to do anything about their increasing power over people’s lives. Indeed they have compleatly given up trying to stop the spread of this invasive problem from the Far East. You don’t even need a licence!

 

Oh Mercy! I am addicted too….   I have a natty little  Proxxon that I can conceal in the car boot when I am away from home… I guess it all started in childhood when my Father gave me a fretsaw – they were not recognised as leading to heavier problems all those years ago.

 

Terryd holds out a cure in the shape of a hacksaw, I have tried them, they are quite nice but just don’t  smell the same and don’t pile the swarf as fast. But they are easy to conceal. If you ever get busted for having, supplying or using a 4×6 in a public place, a concealed hacksaw blade might be just the thing for the cell bars or that hand held bandsaw, they must have power in cells don’t they?

 

Good Luck Sid…

 

Alan.

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

rotfl !

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hey Sid

 

What I really like about this forum is that there is always something new to be learned.

ROTFL ????? – Well I just had to ask Wikipedia and now I know — and then I did!

 

There  is much to be admired in the honest sweat and toil approach to metal work – I well remember ( well not all that well – it was quite a few years ago ) that my introduction at school was to saw and file a 1″ square hole from a piece of 1/8″ BMS then file another 1″ square to fit in it in all configurations  – it took blooming WEEKS !  But for a lucky chance, after this experience,  I nearly abandoned metalwork in favour of  embroidery.

I believe those lucky ones enjoying National Service had to do similar but with a 1″ cube.

 

Terry – you may knock the gym but you do meet many nice people there with whom friendships could be formed – if only one had the breath to speak to them!

You can come and do my filing and sawing any time if you would enjoy the exercise!

 

Cheers

 Norman

Edited By NJH on 23/07/2010 01:39:36

Edited By NJH on 23/07/2010 01:41:47

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Posted by NJH on 23/07/2010 01:35:53:-

 

I well remember ( well not all that well – it was quite a few years ago ) that my introduction at school was to saw and file a 1″ square hole from a piece of 1/8″ BMS then file another 1″ square to fit in it in all configurations  – it took blooming WEEKS !  But for a lucky chance, after this experience,  I nearly abandoned metalwork in favour of  embroidery.

I believe those lucky ones enjoying National Service had to do similar but with a 1″ cube.

 

 That just brought something back to me actually. Long ago in a galaxy very, very close, I was a student apprentice at Ford Motor Company in Dagenham. Our exercise was to file a 1″ diameter disc from a piece of sheet. I worked real hard at it and when I finished I was accused (unjustly !) of having turned it on the lathe and parted it off.

 

I treasured that moment. 

 

I believe we had the 1″ square pair to do as well but luckily, as a student-apprentice I spent a limited time in each trade-school section and iirc I was moved before I had to show-and-tell.

 

 

 

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I have been known to convert a broken bandsaw blade into 12″ hacksaw blades. The band had broken a number of timesand was a bit short for rejoining, but not yet blunt- waist not ect ect.

Remember filing blocks of metal (hot rolled steel) in the RNZAF Boy Entrant school, and being told by the sargent that he was sorry but they could’nt afford the brass that they used to use. Ian S C

[old-bikerParticipant @old-biker]

I bought one and despite what anyone else says I am very pleasd with it.

It cut through 3/4 steel bar in about 20 seconds.

At the moment I am in the process of mounting it on a base board (hinged like the 4 x 6 bandsaw) with a small vice for the material.

 

Edited By JasonB on 31/05/2013 17:00:48

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

Hi O-B, welcome to the forums!

Chose 'latest posts' to see the most recent discussions.

Neil

[SK3737 Super 7Participant @sk3737super7]

BTW, these are £40 inc delivery from FFX.CO.UK at the moment!

[Author]

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