bandsaw / jigsaw

I built my own design 3 wheeler, it uses 64.5" blades and has a 12" throat x 4" height through. I wrote it up for EIM a good few years ago. It's still doing the biz and I wouldn't be without it.

Martin

The Femi has the blade the other way round to the saw Rod shows so as I said the throat is limited to the max crosscut depth but length can be as long as you like.

Yes I have a Cowells, and yes it's expensive, but also very good.
There's a whole variety of similar spec, but cheaper machines, but I've not come across a comparable sized bandsaw in the UK.
I have one of the smaller Burgess BK1 saws, and it works fine for sheet materials, but too fast really for sheet steel, even with the speed reduction kit.
My larger Emco 3 wheel saw is better built, but also too fast for steel, and well outside your preferred size.
Several folk have mentioned the Femi, or portable bandsaw route, but again maybe too large for you.

I have seen an advert for these, but no personal experience, of either the saw or UK availability, but they do look quite neat, and the closest I've seen to what you may be seeking.
https://www.micromark.com/mini-powertool/-saws

The photos look quite similar to the Proxxon, of which I again have no experience.
https://www.proxxon.com/en/micromot/27172.php

Note that the US one has a water cooling kit, which might be something to consider making if you compare the two saws.

Bill

Edited By peak4 on 15/11/2022 14:33:07

Going a little outside the box, if you already have a compressor with an air tank, the £80 Parkside plasma is very good at 6mm down thicknesses. Straight lines can be cut using a piece of thin wood as a guide as easily as a Stanley Knife cuts paper. No distortion either side of the cut even on 1/16" sheet.

The downside is it's a bit fumy, so you need the shed door open and a metal tin to catch the burnt metal exiting underneath the sheet

well chaps, many thanks for all your suggestions. The Femi appeals but the narrow throat in the vertical mode is something of a disadvantage. I might go down the plasma route for longer sheet cutting and maybe invest in the Femi when funds allow. We'll see. Thanks again.

I just bodged/fabricated a table for my Femi. Works well - self aligns (once set up).

jaCK Hobson:

Shouldn't the table embrace the blade?

I left the final platen off in the pic so you can see how simple the design is (I copied it)

Thanks for explaining. I made a false table for mine in SRBP (like Tufnol) for use with delicate materials.

BTW, it looks very sturdy

I bought the Femi 782xl a few years ago and its been an excellent bit of kit !. I think Jasonb recommended it to me if my memory is correct . Managed to saw a piece of narrow guage railway line on it recently on the original blade !.

I own a Femi but it wouldn't be my first choice for sheet metal work, I've just been making a shelf for inside a tool cabinet, using an 18v Makita shear it took me about 40 seconds to cut a 500mm x 700mm shelf out of 1mm sheet steel.

Hi John, I'm having terrible trouble getting mine to cut straight since replacing the blade. Not helped by the tensioner knob being broken - there isn't much 'feel' from a spanner on the nut. As you will know these can cut incredibly straight. Do you have any tips for setup after a blade change? TIA

I've only had one broken blade and the new one cut just the same as the old, so can't help I'm afraid.

Try an alternative blade?

If the new blade isn't the same thickness then you will need to adjust the guide rollers. These are especially critical because they twist the blade to get the cutting depth. They are set very tight on mine - so it is a little bit of a struggle to get the new blade in. (My brand new femi came with a patch of about 6 teeth that were set back from all the others - not near the weld, and no sign of wear or damage. I replaced with a Wikus blade which is much better welded and even.)

Thanks!