Garden Railway Forum

I have been given this bandsaw to use or sell so I was wondering if it was be any use cutting metal (speed is not adjustable so that is my main concern):

Provided it has the correct metal cutting blade it should be fine. However, I have one and I only use it for brass as anything else does blunt the blade quite quickly.

Thanks Tony, appreciate the honest response.

I don't think it's going to be able to cope with anything I would need to produce or modify in 5" gauge.

The recommended bandsaw cutting speed for most metals is less than 100 meters per minute.
Your bandsaw appears to be rated at (typically for wood) 1450 meters per minute.
I think cutting metal at wood speeds is a big ask for any blade.
That said I have cut aluminium and brass in thin section on my wood bandsaw. It does work but generates a lot of heat and reduces blade life.
Tim

tom_tom_go wrote: ↑Sat Jul 13, 2019 5:54 pm I don't think it's going to be able to cope with anything I would need to produce or modify in 5" gauge.

Only if you were working in wood. It would be OK for pattern making for instance.

The usual rule of thumb for cutting metals is that at least two teeth should be in contact with the metal in the cut at all times. I've never seen a metal cutting blade for these little woodworking bandsaws and as Tim said they run way too fast for cutting metals in any case.

I cut some light aluminium extrusion once on my 6" wood bandsaw, even though the OH person in my head said it wasn't a good idea. He was right, as the blade jammed on the third cut, shattered and frightened the hell out of me. I haven't tried it since.....

Regards,
Graeme

This is what I use for cutting all my metal, works very well and there are loads of help and info on the 6 x 4 bandsaws. As mentioned it runs very slowly but is the perfect speed for metal and it still gets hot after a while.

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/cbs45md ... gK0sfD_BwE

Ian, that is on the metal cutting bandsaws. The one pictured is a direct drive or single stage belt drive so will be running way too fast for cutting metal.