Need cutting tool recommendation

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I'm working on this project for the house and I want to make some cuts as precise as I can to save me time from grinding, sanding etc.Thus far I've tried my blade runner and it doesn't like cutting 14g mild steel, even with a piece of wood under it. Trying to make small sections and with all the vibrations it's hard to get close to what I want.Plasma cutter, leaves dross and I don't get really straight cuts. Jig saw with bimetal blade. Seems no matter how hard I clamp the metal down the jig saw makes it slide around. (18v ryobi jigsaw)Bandsaw slowed down as low as it goes with metal blade. Worked the first time I tried it, then it started to spit the blades off, so I have to figure out tracking, or tension or not use it.Chop saw - not even going to try it.I really want a oldschool metal bandsaw but they are more than I want to spend and I don't have the space. So I'm not sure what to try. Was thinking of a throatless shear that can go up to 14g. I think northern tool makes one. Also thought about a porta band saw and making a table for it. I had one last year and sold it because I didn't think I needed it anymore. Silly me. Or a set of 14g electric shears.http://www.harborfreight.com/14-gaug...ear-68199.htmlhttp://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...0435_200350435they also have a different looking one on ebayI know whatever I get I'll use it pretty often so it's not just a one time use, but trying to see what I will benefit from the most.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 dunno what kind of blades you are using (or the quality of that saw for that matter) but a bandsaw like that should cut through 14 gauge no problem at all. It looks in the picture like you're just feeding the steel into the bandsaw by hand. I imagine that is vibrating like hell. I would unmount the bandsaw form the stand, I would clamp the steel plates to the edge of a table or something very stable that wont move , and holding the saw to cut. Put the guard of the blade against the steel while youre cutting, and this will stop the vibrating.
Reply:I'd go with the band saw and upgrade to a much better blade.Lincoln SA200's... at least 15 - 20. They come and go. Growing partial to the "Short Hoods" in my old age. Last count on Short Hoods was 13 in possession.
Reply:14 gauge steel?  Plasma cutter with a straight edge.  A Jigsaw will do it too with a nice blade.  The bosch 18t would be a good one.  Lock out the orbital if you can.My name's not Jim....
Reply:Seconding the plasma.  A decent unit will cut 14 ga just fine.Draw your pieces, and bring me the material, and I'll cut it on my Plasmacam if you want.__David Hillman
Reply:14 gauge should be very easy to cut with a jigsaw.  Bosch blades are fantastic and their saws are noticeably better than a lot of the other consumer brands.You can make beautiful straight cuts all day in 14ga with an ordinary circular saw and a metal cutting blade.  This is a 14ga cabinet I was belt cutting a section out of to make the whole unit shorter.The cool thing about the metal cutting blade is that your total investment is something like $30.A Milwaukee deep throat portaband and a Swag Offroad base is useful for a lot of stuff.  But a band saw will always have some limitation in terms of how large a piece you can maneuver around it.This is a cheapo jig saw (I've gotten a Bosch since then, and it's night-and-day) cutting 12-gauge.  You might be using the wrong (or dull) blades?While I'm digging up pictures, here's a whole 12-gauge cabinet:Cut up with a circular saw and Freud Diablo Metal Devil blade:To turn into a much shorter version of the same cabinet:For a $20 blade (they're $30 now), the things are hard to beat.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I’ll be with the band saw. You won’t need another band saw or another machine. Just get the best blade in cutting 14g mild steel. I am a happy customer of this site: www.sawblade.com. And their type of blade that fits your cutting needs is this one: http://sawblade.com/order-601-series--haltbar-m42.cfm .