Help with choosing band saw

In the near future, we will have finished the Atlas 12 x 24 lathe and be able to sell it and some of the proceeds will go towards a metal cutting bandsaw. A floor mounted machine with wheels with between 4" and 5" capacity would be an ideal size for the museum. I would appreciate advise on saws between £400 and £650 their strengths and weaknesses.

Having tried a small bandsaw, with poor results (A voracious appetite for blades! ) I took delivery of a generic 4.5" machine.

This was not an idea performer, but after a succession of fine adjustments (And new bearings and oil seal after a failed spacer ) it eventually became a good machine.

One thing that was a great benefit was to make and use a Jacques Maurel blade tension meter.

Together with a better mechanical condition, and keeping to a moderate, not excessive feed pressure, produced results that I found to be almost unbelieveable.

Blade wear and breakages reduced to almost nothing.

The proverbial sows ear approached being a silk pursel

But, it took time, effort, and careful adjustments.

Howard

Edited By Howard Lewis on 17/04/2022 15:23:26

I am in favour of improving any machine if it is within my ability, so would not be put off by small defects. As for the tension meter, they are similar to spoke tension gauges, too expensive to buy, but not difficult to make, that would be a future project.

Edited By old mart on 17/04/2022 16:04:49

get a Femi so you don't have to waste your time fiddling with the saw, just get on and cut things.

I have bookmarked a Femi distributer, Welding Supplies Direct, the bench model ABS NGS 120 at £819 looks very nice, depends on available funds, though.

Edited By old mart on 17/04/2022 18:11:51

Edited By old mart on 17/04/2022 18:12:42

Edited By old mart on 17/04/2022 18:15:04

Stakesy's are the supplier that a lot of people use, got mine from them.

Thanks, Jason, Stakesy's has been bookmarked also.

I see Femi are an Italian make. There are some good machine makers in Italy. We used some Pedrazzoli equipment at work and it never caused any issues, which is always a good thing. They are probably priced out of home workshop price ranges though being aimed at industry.

Martin C

I would second JB's opinion of the Femi bandsaws. Stakesy's was the cheapest place when I was looking and service was also good.

Dave
The Emerald Isle

I recommend the Femi too. Got mine from Stakeseys about 3 or 4 years ago. Wasn't cheap but it does what it says on the tin.

Phil