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Bandsaw question / Proxxon

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SamJo23/11/2009 18:12:00
9 forum posts
Hi everyone,
 
I'm looking for user experiences and comments on Proxxon's Micro Bandsaw MBS 240/E. My understanding is it's a light duty modeller's machine but the manufacturer says it even cuts steel. Can anyone tell me what its steel cutting capacity really is? Can it be used to cut eg. 25mm diameter steel bar or am I just plain out of my mind to even consider this?
 
Your comments will be appreciated.
keithmart23/11/2009 19:02:16
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165 forum posts

Hi


I believe it depends on the blade that you use. most of these small bandsaws run too fast for metal cutting, but there is a blade that will cut steel at that speed, which is a special bi-metal blade.


If you do a google search you should find a supplier.


These blades won't last very long, and I doubt it would successfully cut steel of that thickness, it will cut sheet metal.


I do not have experience of that particular model, but I do have a bandsaw that is similar.



SamJo25/11/2009 18:07:35
9 forum posts
Keithmart,
 
thank you for pointing out the cutting speed issue. My main concern with the Proxxon was the very low motor power (85 Watts if I remember correctly) but obviously I had overlooked another important parameter. So it's back to the good old Armstrong hacksaw. Pity, the Proxxon thing is just so darn cute.....
Billy Mills26/11/2009 13:32:08
377 forum posts
Hi,
Have had a Proxxon Bandsaw for around four years. Proxxon make a diamond coated blade that will go through steel HOWEVER it needs water cooling from a drip tank and is not quick.     The regular blades will cope with Ali and soft metals but the bandsaw comes into its own when sawing  thin plastic and wood on a small scale. It is NOT a heavy duty industrial tool but works for hobby and craft use.
 
Proxxon also make some very small chop saws which can be used on steel. They also make mini  table saws, the larger machine being very useful for miniature work. It really flies when fitted with the carbide tipped blade which can be used on Aluminium, but forget steel. As with other Proxxon tools the top end models are capable tools for miniature light duty work and are cute.
 
If you need to cut much steel the imported Horizontal/Vertical metal cutting bandsaws that are sold by   Machine Mart, Draper and many others  are very useful machines and much more suited for tougher materials. Like any other sawing machine results very much depend on the blade and the user. A  good bimetal blade used with cutting fluid will cut thick steel very nicely.
 
regards,
Alan
 
 
 
 
 
Ian S C27/11/2009 09:54:23
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7468 forum posts
230 photos
Hi SamJo,I'v got the Proxxon catalog (2000/2001),for steel no.,28 187 Swedish steel 1065 x 5 x .4 24tpi for steel and brass.In 2000 the price was £8.75.There is a cooling system which consists a plastic bottle with a tap on the bottom and a plastic hose to the top blade guide.The photo in the catalog shows a bolt (somewhere about 6/8mm x 40)being cut length wise.There is a blade guide with a connection for the cooling system.There is a diamond blade,its 3 x .3mm and must be used with the cooling system,and back in 2000 the price was £80.25!IAN S C
Billy Mills27/11/2009 14:50:52
377 forum posts
Hi All,
The 24tpi Swedish steel blade "for steel and  brass" is now about £11.30 but the diamond job is now £101, the cooling stuff is another £46. The pics still show the nut and bolt sectioned but also show the cooling gear in place so what blade was used and how hard the bolt was is unknown. Axminster now list a bimetal blade that was not in the old cat.
 
I mostly use 14tpi blades -mainly for 3-10mm hardwoods- but the little bandsaw struggles with thicker wood soft or hard.  The very important top guide has three races - like most other bandsaws- but the equally important lower guide is a slot in a cast post-no races. My top guide races need replacing  frequently . So I don't cut metal on this machine, it gets used for curved cuts in thin wood or plastic and some modest rough shaping.
 
Axminster rate this machine as a "Hobby" tool - would not disagree, used gently on thinner softer materials the bandsaw is a useful miniature tool for light use but I would use other tools to cut any metal parts. ( the motor is very small, the steel blades 3-5 mm wide and 0.5-0.4 mm thick)
 
The H/V metal cutting bandsaw is  a much more capable metalworking tool and about  80%  of the price of the Proxxon bandsaw. It is a great help in chopping up mild steel, have used two from Draper over ten years to cut up large quantities of M/S and ally tube with bimetal blades.
 
You can fit a bimetal blade to many regular vertical bandsaws and cut  a little M/S at a gentle rate - the most important bit is to listen to the machine, don't use a worn out blade or force the cut AND keep fingers and other bits away from the blade. Be prepared for a not perfectly straight  cut- but that's another thread.
 
Chronos have a downloadable current Proxxon catalogue on their website.
 I should add that we use several  Proxxon tools in our hobby business and find them very  suitable for some miniature jobs, the FKS/E table saw, DH40 thickneser and
the table router get a lot of use for working with around 0.1mm tol in hardwood.
 
regards to all,
Alan.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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