Inexpensive, utility cutting

admin

I am a new welder.  I bought a Lincoln Mig (WeldPak 3200~basically Sp135)about a month ago and made a cart for it.  While making the cart I realized I needed a way to cut metal for future projects.I also like to do woodworking, so I was thinking about a vert bandsaw.  I know alot of the guys here use H/V bandsaws, but like I said, I want to do sheetmetal, wood, and round cuts too.Any suggestions on what type of tool to buy to do basic hobby (<1/4") stuff and still use the saw for other things?
Reply:i personally  like my milwakee portaband  CHRIS
Reply:i have an old black and decker circular saw, 1 1/4 HP with a carbide diamond cut disk it does the job very good although on some it takes a while but anyway it finishes doing the job  i dont think that it costs more than 50 bucks
Reply:^what brand blade is that?, i got a steel cutting blade from home depot that is made from steel (non-abrasive), so far i have only used it on 16ga sheetStangnetShop Full Of Stuff. Joey
Reply:actually i dont remember very well if this one was the carbide, but here i have it, model no: 73-197 Its kinda erased everything else, i can read "steel metal cutt..." Precision ground steel saw blade" its a 7 1/4 disk and its from black and decker
Reply:I like woodworking too and got the Tiawan special 14" bandsaw some years back.  Problem is, the guides system sucks and the pot metal broke.  I ended up fabricating my own and also the 4' backbone extender they sell for $100.  Then, the speed was too fast for metal, so I changed the pulley as far as I could pysically go to slow it down.  Then, the moter burnt out so I replaced the 1HP w/ a 2HP.  Wish I would have invested a little more money and bought the Delta 14".  Still may run too fast for metal, but the guides and motor were sure to be better!I have a selection of blades now and can cut anything.  2" block aluminm to a friging 12" log.For sheet metal or thin materials, they have a tendancy to catch and jump.  For cutting steel pieces to weld, much better off for speed with a cut-off saw (chop) or plasma.  A 4" angle grinder (taiwan's good enough for about $10 on sale) with a 4" cut off wheel, works pretty good and is really cheap.Good LuckRackmaster
Reply:the metal bandsaws blades do run incredibly slow, and as a heads up, if you get the "grizzly brand"  or "foremost brand" or other NON harbor freight taiwan brands of the same basic saw, then it should come with cast bearing guides, and have 2 or 4 screw holes in the plate/bearing holder unit that is closest to the motor side.  Now you tip the saw so it's upright 90 degrees to the table, and place a 12"X12" 1/4" thick plate or so with holes drilled to match the otriginal 1"X1 1-1/2" plate, and presto.  Upright metal cutting bandsaw.  I know Jset and Wilson sell their bandsaws with this item in the box along with the saw.  It's an idea you might want to throw around.  I would tend to suggest against trying to convert a wood saw for metal work.  The feed pressures require different guide styles, and band tension is way higher on metal saws I believe.  Anyway!  Happy cutting welding and such!  Brian Lee Sparkeee24
Reply:If you're wanting a do all saw then there's only one dawg to hunt with.  It's called a good reciprocating saw.  You get your variable speeds for different materials and you can buy a blade to cut anything.  I prefer a Milwaukee Sawsall because I've had two last me for fifteen years or so.  They've really never gave me a chance to use any other brand.I personally have fifteen or so portable saws.  But then I make a living making things.  So I have a saw for every function.life is good
Reply:I used to work for a company that manufactured large steel cable.  I ended up in the dept. that fabricated the ends on the ropes (eyes, sockets, hooks, etc.).  We used circular saws with abrasive cutting blades to trim the tails on the larger stuff.  We cut individual strands over an inch and half across with them.  It was actually pretty delicate work.  A nick in one of the wrong strands ruined a cable worth more than a month of my wages.  The only problem was we went through a lot of those blades.  If a person could find a good price on a large lot of these blades, I think that would be a real handy setup to have in the shop.  You could make long straight cuts in thin stuff or chew through some pretty heavy stuff with the same saw.We used Milwaukee brand also.  They took a heck of beating and kept going.
Reply:OA Torch! Cuts plate, burns wood, warps sheet metal! It's multi-purpose.
Reply:I've found the more you do, the more you need. Started with o/a torch,  then jig saw, then air cut off tool,reciprocating saw, then a chop saw, then plasma cutter, then portable band saw, then dry cut circular saw. It never ends. My 2 favorite tools of the bunch now are the dry cut saw and the band saw.... but it all depends on what you'll be doing.
Reply:I can't wait for the heavy duty DeWalt light sabre to come out at home depot.  I'll be first in line.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:In the movie when they melted the super thick blast door with the light sabres...........What fun I could have with one of those!!!
Reply:They have those now, it's called an oxygen lance.  Alternatively, you could use a broco torch.-Heath
Reply:*** Follow-UP ***After reading all the comments, I have decided to try to use a Power Miter Saw (Black and Decker - free) with a carbide cutting blade.  Hopefully this will give me accurate, smooth cuts on tubing and angle.  I will continue to use my Makita Recip saw; and the two of them should meet my basic needs.
Reply:I had good luck cutting some aluminum angle with a power miter saw, i don't know about cutting steel with it , though . would seem harsh on the blade, i am afraid it might be dangerous .
Reply:SnowMan,If you get the wrong blade for the rpms of the saw you better stand around the corner when that thing is running.Take a look at the MK Morse site.  They sell a blade called the Metal Devil that will work in circular saws.  You can email them and see if they have a version for the saw that you intend to use.  You just have to know the arbor size and the rpms.Neil