Found a variable speed bandsaw

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Just messing around and found this. Seems like a better idea to buy this vs a bandsaw and converting it. http://www.micromark.com/Variable-Sp...ign=GoogleBaseVariable Speed Band Saw Cuts Intricate Shapes in Metal, Plastic, Wood, Stone, Tile, Glass and More!Band saws designed for cutting wood run too fast to cut metal, and plastic comes away as a gooey mess. The electronic speed control on our professional quality band saw lets you dial-in the exact speed you need to cut these materials. Make designs you never dreamed possible. Cutting metal is so smooth and fast you'll complete your work in just 1/10th the time of other methods. You can even stack workpieces to make exact duplicates in one pass. And, with the optional diamond blade and cooling system sold separately, you can easily cut intricate designs in glass, tile and other hard materials. Overall size (band saw only): 15 inches wide x 20 inches high x 11 inches deep; weighs 13 lbs. Includes one .180 inch wide x .031 inch kerf x 41-7/8 inches long x 14 tpi blade, adjustable ball bearing blade guide and instructions. Made in Japan.Features:Sturdy cast-aluminum frameTwin 6-3/8 inch dia. drive wheels mounted in ball-bearings7-3/4 inch square aluminum table tilts between 0 degrees to 45 degrees for bevel cuts6 inch throat depth, 3 inch throat heightCutting capacities: softwood 3 inches, hardwood 2 inches, steel 3/8 inch, aluminum 3/4 inch, brass/copper 5/8 inch, plastic 1-1/4 inches425 to 650 ft/min. variable blade speed120v AC, 100w motorAdjustable miter gaugeMoisture-sealed electronics
Reply:3/8" Steel? not badHobart EZ-Tig newbie.
Reply:"425 to 650 ft/min. variable blade speed" strikes me as a little fast for steel but maybe the blades are something special. By comparison a variable speed portaband is something like 100-245 fpm.
Reply:Originally Posted by forhire"425 to 650 ft/min. variable blade speed" strikes me as a little fast for steel but maybe the blades are something special. By comparison a variable speed portaband is something like 100-245 fpm.
Reply:That saw is a joke.Very compatable to the Skil version sold at Lowes for about $200.The Skil version is also "variable speed" but not worth a hoot for cutting steel.  Does OK on thin aluminum.Look at the "rated" power of the saw.  100w motor.  Drop that saw down to the minimum speed, and you'll find yourself opening the top compartment and spinning the wheel to get the blade moving.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:So it's probably just a little stronger than a jig saw? Seems to be the most common tool a lot of people use around here, no?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo it's probably just a little stronger than a jig saw? Seems to be the most common tool a lot of people use around here, no?
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo it's probably just a little stronger than a jig saw? Seems to be the most common tool a lot of people use around here, no?
Reply:Really? Wow, I didn't think a jig saw was that strong...or maybe mine is just weak! lolTorchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo it's probably just a little stronger than a jig saw? Seems to be the most common tool a lot of people use around here, no?
Reply:If you look very closley at the picture he posted in the lower right hand side I can make out shown actual size.       I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Well damn I thought I found something useful for someone, guess not.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I got stuck in the situation of needing a saw... the hand hacksaw thing gets old fast.  I really want a hight quality horizontal band saw, but I'm moving across country this year.  That's a difficult thing to move (along with the rest of the stuff in the garage) on a DIY move.  Instead I ended up with a nice Milwaukee Portaband off of ebay (pick up, pay cash...) and I added a nice portable table stand from swagoffroad. http://swagoffroad.com/  I got the version 3.0, and it works okay.  It does what I need to do, at least right now.. I like that I can carefully notch out (miter) angle iron for making rectangular frames, something that would be difficult to do on a larger horizontal saw.  And the total $$ output was reasonable.  (from my calculations with 10.5 amp current draw this equates to a 1250 watt machine...)and hey.. the portaband has variable speed settings on the handle...  so I'm not too far off topic, no?& yeah.. with the ebay purchase of a used machine in good condition, I spent less for both the portaband and saw stand than the retail price for the band saw shown above..Last edited by zipzit; 04-11-2012 at 06:44 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleWell damn I thought I found something useful for someone, guess not.
Reply:If your looking for a cheap metal bandsaw, here is what you want:http://www.harborfreight.com/horizon...saw-93762.htmlIt's one of the only harbor freight tools that is actually good. I just bought it last week with a 25% off coupon and paid $191. I haven't tried it vertical mode yet, but it rocks in horizontal mode.kidtigger24  They think I’m crazy, but I know better. It is not I who am crazy. It is I who am MAD!
Reply:Yep I have that one. Just didn't know if this was a good find and the blade isn't on an angle so you aren't restricted to 4" cuts like you are with the harbor freight one.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:You are still restricted on your cuts.  A band saw by definition will always have some sort of throat or cut depth, either diameter-wise or length-wise.