Buying First Metal Bandsaw

Hi all,

Just sold my Axminster 12" wood bandsaw and now wish to buy a metal cutting bandsaw for my shop.

Looking at this one:

**LINK**

There is a next model up with a stand which does not seem to be so favoured.

I would value opinions on my choice please. Maybe I should go second hand?

I will predominantly be cutting smaller pieces of material so would like to know if this can be modified to deall with smaller items; also any ideas on how to contain the swarf, filings or dust etc so it does not go eberywhere.

Recently tried cutting a 2" bar of bronze by hand and thought I would have a heart attack!

Regards,

Martin

I've been using a similar one but much older for a long time without any problem. It is on a stand which saves having to find something to mount it on.

One thing I wish it had is a table attachment so that it could be used as per a normal bandsaw, blade vertical for cutting odd things out of plate etc. Some people in the past have modified them so that they could do this but I think that it is possible to buy ones that come with the attachment.

Mine was probably made in Taiwan. The downside between it and the far more expensive pro models is usually finish. They are far more rigid. Having said that though they are excellent in other ways as they can cut rather sizeable pieces of metal. Ideally with the correct blade they can also chop up wood.

Some people go for the other type but this generally means making your own. Myfordboy has an excellent design available.

Oh - the downside with power saws is that some spare metal is needed to hold in the vice. I've sometimes wondered if the vice jaws could be longer and have a slot in them to clear the blade.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 12/05/2016 10:01:28

I have a similar bandsaw and would recommend it. Although not as rigid as some other models is great value for little money. I have cut 100mm MS bar with it.

I could not find standard blades for it as they are slightly smaller than stocked by local machinery suppliers but found a company that makes blades to any length. Bought a bi-metal blade for about A$30 which did heaps of cutting before it had to be replaced.

Still have to build a proper stand for it and a table so I can use it as a vertical band saw.

Paul

I bought a similar version to the one that you are looking at (UE-125DV) which can be seen at HERE at Amazon. It was discontinued by Axminster and I bought it for a very silly price. It works well and happily cuts accurately through quite chunky metal.

The NVR switch failed shortly after I bought it and Axminster sent one out immediately.

Axminster don't pretend to be cheap but they offer good value for money and an excellent after sales service.

Nick

Mine is very much like this one only no table attachment

**LINK**

Actually I don't think they have changed the design at all. Mine must be nearly 20 years old. The add on table may be a bit of a flimsy joke but even then it can prove useful.

The only catch with it is the stop for cutting repeat lengths. They cut off length tends to jam. A well know fact on this design. I've never found it to be a problem as I don't use it. Just measure from the blade to the end. It can be set up to cut pretty square which is the main thing. Also at an angle.

I don't own the Draper or any others that are sold that look like this but weight etc seems to be similar to mine.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 12/05/2016 11:29:34

I have an old 3 wheeler bs that has a very slow speed and have fitted a M42 Bi-Metal Blade. It cuts anything and everything. Okay not ideal for large sections but it copes. I use it mainly for thick sheet brass which it slices through with ease and, of course, I can cut complicated shapes not just limited to straight cuts.

Roger

Hello Martin,

Mine is an old friend from Axminster, the one in your link seems to have a decent spec. Bearing guides for the blades are essential in my view, both side to side and a bearing behind the blade to support it. You live near enough to take a look at one in the flesh, try it out if they give you the opportunity.

I have found over many years experience that 10 tpi blades give the best overall results on everything except thin wall tubing. For that you need finer blades, 14 tpi or even less depending on the section, but swap back to the coarser blade as it will clog and probably break on heavy section cutting. Don't try cutting hardened materials and look out for hard spots on welded parts, they will polish the teeth on one side of the blade which then starts to cut in a curve until it breaks

Best wishes Brian

Made my own out of scrap material and a 12 volt motor cost me nothing and does all I need, also made a 3 wheel wood cutting bandsaw that would probably make H&S turn grey but has helped make all my own fiurniture

Mick

Edited By JasonB on 12/05/2016 13:00:44

I found out why I bought my 4" x 6" horizontal/vertical band saw a few weeks back, 1/2" into a bit of 5" bar that was needed for a job, and the blade broke (been having trouble with unannealed welds), so I cut it with the hacksaw in three sessions.

Ian S C

Got a similar 'clark' one secondhand maybe 15 years ago for well under 100 quid. Badly aligned and with numerous missing bolts that had vibrated loose it was a near basket case hence why the previous owner was getting rid. It's proved to be an extremely useful bit of kit and saved many hours at the bench vice over the years.

The stand is very flimsy so mine is bench mounted. Blades made by Lenox in the right length are off the shelf at MSC in a wide range of tpi.

There is a yahoo group with a really useful FAQ with lots of tips on getting this generic type of bandsaw working to its best.

Edited By Martin 100 on 12/05/2016 19:59:43

Hi Ian

Where do you get your blades from?

I have been using variable pitch Bi metal ones from United Products in Auckland.

Bruce

I'm another happy 4x6 bandsaw owner. Got mine (used) for $100CAD (£50 in old money) and it was a very good purchase. You can set it to work and get on with something else - and you can cut stuff you simply wouldn't attempt by hand like stock up to 4-5" diameter.

As well as the Yahoo Groups linked above, there are loads of sites and videos out there if you Google "4x6 bandsaw"

I haven't tried to put much lipstick on my particular pig beyond making a more robust stand and a proper table for use in vertical mode ie for jig saw mode.

There seems to be a wide range of prices, despite being made in factories across China. They are £300-400 in UK and £150-200 in US / Canada. I wish I'd bought a new one before I came back now...

I bought my Clarke bandsaw from Machine Mart about 3 years ago. It is the model that can be in a vertical or horizontal plane and I have lost count of the number of times I have said how useful and time saving it has been.

Bill D.

Have a look at Femi, had one for years, very good machine made in Italy, they also do a table that fits in the vice that works reasonably well but it could be better. Price is now similar to the Far East products.

**LINK**

I think there has been a general increase in prices of the sort of things we buy in the UK over the last few years. Well over inflation in many cases and this item is one of those in particular.

The cheapest one I can see is by Sealy £319 from ebay or amazon. However switch to machine mart and the price drops to £286.80 which is a bit more like it. That one looks to be exactly the same as mine. The stand has been adequate for me. I suppose people could change it for something to do. I might have to at some point as it's kept in a damp garage so gets rusty. I use a motor cycle chain oil spray on the blade. As I mentioned it's been in there for a very long time.

Prices from people like Sealy and Draper are rather high on several things they do. In Drapers case they sometimes tumble eventually. So I know where I would spend my money at the moment. Machine Mart even supply spares. Invites to their VAT free evenings can be useful.

It's never been a cheap hobby really but I smell more people being priced out of it which will lead to yet fewer customers.

Maybe Ketan will buy some in and sell at more reasonable prices. Most people who buy lathes and miller decide they need one at some point.

John

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Edited By Ajohnw on 12/05/2016 23:26:25

About ten years ago I bought a Chinese horizontal/vertical bandsaw from a well-known UK company. It is quite horrible, it has never worked well. There were too many switches in the electrical circuit, the motor runs hot and the pulley and belt guard is attached by only one screw. It went though a period when it would not run for more than a minute. This was cured by removing all the safety switches. The stand it came with somehow supports it, I don't know how. If left long enough it will cut through steel bar so I still use it.

Really it should have been returned to the retailer as unfit for purpose but I did not want the hassle. After all, it was cheap and cheerful. Perhaps an old Picador type hacksaw would have been better for want I wanted but I doubt if one would ever find a good one. They were always the most unloved of machine tools.

I do have a Hemingway hacksaw kit of the shelf, waiting as a future project.

JA

Some people are buying chop saws instead for some years now. They can be bought with steel cutting carbide tipped blades now. Capacity circ 120x120mm ~ Machine Mart and I think a 3 year guarantee.

John

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I've got one of these **LINK**

Bought it about 7 years ago.

Only problem I've had was the guide bearings falling apart, other than that its been excellent.

I only buy bimetal/M42 blades, well worth the extra money.

Like most folk, I really wouldn't to be without one now....

I also have a 6x4 bandsaw, bought the SIP version from G&M tools about 15 years ago for about £100.00, hardly used it for many years as it would not cut straight - blade used to come off the top bearing and refuse to go back on.

Recently changed the blade and adjusted the bearings properly and it cuts much better now, I can't believe the price increase in this item now at 3x the price of what I paid!

I also picked up an Evoultion Rage 2 - 355mm cold chop saw on 'the bay' for £40.00 a few years back, this cuts through just about anything in seconds and does not leave nasty hot burrs. I have used it to trim 1-2mm from the end of a 20x40mm aluminium extrusion that was slightly too long as supplied - perfectly smooth square cut with no heat.

Edited By Timothy Moores on 13/05/2016 08:11:15

Edited By Timothy Moores on 13/05/2016 08:13:10

Edited By Timothy Moores on 13/05/2016 08:13:22

Yes Timothy the tensions and guides etc do have to be set correctly. It's not rocket science, even hacksaws don't do well with too slack a blade. My bearings have survived so far but I'd guess that the ones fitted are as cheap as chips and just like some lathes best replaced. No point until needed.

If I was buying currently I suspect I would try a chop saw. I get the impression that the metal suppliers are often using them now.

John

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