Why do both power hacksaws and bandsaws exist?

[Joseph Noci 1Participant @josephnoci1]

But it's much more fun to build and use one of these:….

Joe

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Very nice Joseph – and btw – I very much enjoyed your CNC Shaper article too.

My Aldi bandsaw has arrived but it's not been used as yet. I have some potentially useful (but awkwardly shaped) scrap angle it's going to be tested on [freehand] outside – then there is also the camper trailer that's not been moved for over 20 years that may also finally get the 'chop'. However, the clincher was really seeing the vertical 'mod' – fills a 'need' (want?) somewhere between what I can do with slitting saws in the lathe/mill (and 'shaper' sawing) – and the heavier stuff my McMaster currently handles.

However the McMaster will probably stay. It can work untended, so speed isn't a problem, it's pretty accurate and although a bit noisy – it isn't intimidating. The current blade seems to be lasting well enough and I was very lucky to get some new/old-stock Starrett blades for a very good price on eBay a year or so ago – so no problem there either. So at the moment – I've no plans to get rid of her.

However, if starting from scratch and having only limited space, then the Aldi saw might be all I'd need.

Time will tell – & we will see!

Regards,

IanT

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by thaiguzzi on 18/03/2019 04:38:10:

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 17/03/2019 16:03:36:

Extended blade life is an important advantage of bandsaws compared with hacksaws:

1. Bandsaw blades have more teeth than a hacksaw and all teeth work equally. In contrast, hacksaw teeth wear tend to badly in the middle of the blade and very little at the ends. Quite wasteful.
2. Bandsaw teeth have far more opportunity to cool down after they've taken a cut. In consequence they resist wear for longer.
3. Hacksaw teeth are pulled backwards over the work after each cutting stroke, which tends to blunt the teeth, and keeps them unnecessarily warm. Bandsaw teeth only move in the one cutting direction.

A power hacksaw has some advantages. Apart from the machines slightly smaller footprint, hacksaw blades are standard workshop items and rather cheaper than bandsaw blades. Hacksaw blades are also much easier to change, which is handy when a larger or small tooth per inch would suit a particular job. Blades can be swapped quickly to match different metals (brass vs steel) or profiles (pipe vs solid.)

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 17/03/2019 16:05:35

1. Most power hacksaws LIFT the blade on the return stroke.

In fact all the ones i've come across do.

2. Have you seen the price of current power hacksaw blades? Cheap they are not. And certainly not to be confused with a std hand held hacksaw blades.

I believe you! I've been caught out by my limited experience of power hacksaws – three! All small, and I'm confident they were fitted with ordinary blades, perhaps basic hobby machines. Two were seen at exhibitions: possibly the same saw being demonstrated on two different occasions. The third was in a friend of a friend's workshop and was home-made…

Thinking about it, not an ideal sample for making points about power hacksaws in general to a knowledgable audience! I am in sack-cloth and ashes.

Dave

[martin perman 1Participant @martinperman1]

As stated in previous posts I have a bandsaw type power saw, it was given to me by a friend ten years ago and needed a lot of work as it had stood outside and was rusty and seized. Recently I fitted a new motor when I realised it was capable of being used as a vertical bandsaw, it was not possible to reverse the old non original motor, I have obtained a piece of 10mm aluminium plate to make a table and when done I will have a small vertical bandsaw looking for a new home giving me some space.

Near me is a saw company who are very helpful with advice and their blades are not badly priced for my saw.

Martin P

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