VansAirForceForums  
Home > VansAirForceForums

- POSTING RULES
- Donate yearly (please).
- Advertise in here!

- Today's Posts | Insert Pics

  #1  
Old 10-01-2012, 08:29 PM
BigD BigD is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MS
Posts: 310
Default Saws and Stiffeners

A few weeks back I brought home a Craftsman 10" bandsaw after reading relatively good reviews of price vs performance. I've got to say that other than separating parts or doing light trimming the saw is not that good - not the cleanest cuts and it bogs down easily. I put a 14tpi blade on for metal, and used the included blade trying to cut 3/4 inch oak for the trim tab blocks and that took a very long time.

On the other hand, I put a 96 tooth non-ferrous capable blade on the 12" sliding compound miter and that thing cuts great, it's just that it's only good for bigger or longer stuff - too hard to try to come up with a method to hold down smaller pieces near the blade. I'm pretty sure i read that recommendation here, so thanks for that. As part of my continuing education I also learned that a hinge pin should not be considered non-ferrous metal...and will probably replace the blade with one that still has all of its teeth.

Lastly, I was getting ready to put the top skins on the tail cone when I realized I had cut my last j-channel too short - I read 60 instead of 68 inches. Being conscientious, I ordered a replacement and waited to continue til it arrived. After measuring twice and marking once, I managed to destroy that channel (or at least make it not usable for a 68" reach). So now I think I'm going to do what I could have done last week, overlap two pieces of j-channel to reach the distance with enough overlap to get 6-8 rivets in both. I'm thinking it's just a stiffener, so why not?

==dave==
41373
Wing Kit ordered
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10-02-2012, 04:01 AM
rv9aviator rv9aviator is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 1,505
Default

I bought a table top band saw from Grizzly that was terrible and then bought a Ryobi from Home Depot that is a great little saw for an inexpensive table top saw.
__________________
Jim Wright
RV-9A N9JW 90919 SoldArkansas
http://www.jimsairplanes.com
_______________________
"It's a brutal struggle for the biscuit."
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-02-2012, 04:35 AM
ppilotmike's Avatar
ppilotmike ppilotmike is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 1,967
Default Bandsaw

I too was worried that I'd have to spend a lot on a good bandsaw. However, I bought a cheapy (Skil Brand) and it has done pretty well for most everything. There were a few pieces of thick aluminum that I had to go slow and stop periodically due to heat buildup. Also, the blade choice (and keeping it clean) are important. If I had it to do over again, I would have looked a little harder for a used "good" one on Craigslist, in an attempt to find a saw that someone owned "just to own." However, a good saw will take up valuable space. I have been trudging along with my cheapy, which has no problems with stiffeners, angles or separating bits. I can always use a friend's big saw for any thick stock that needs cutting, or for that matter, use a hand hacksaw and then finish it with a wheel of belt sander.
__________________
Mike Rettig
EAA Chapter 301 www.eaa301.org
VAF Dues Current
RV-10 Working on the "Dreaded Doors"
http://www.mykitlog.com/users/index....ig&project=803
F-14 (Pedal Plane - Daughter's Project) "Flying"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKCyX2FXrlw
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-02-2012, 01:29 PM
paul330 paul330 is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Mpumalanga, South Africa
Posts: 1,065
Default

The wing box stiffeners are overlapped 3 rivets IIRC so I see no reason not to join the stiffeners in the tailcone to save you doing it all again.

I found that a band saw on very thin aluminium did not work well - the J-stiffenes are easy to cut with a hacksaw.
__________________
Paul
Mercy Air, White River FAWV
RV-10 ZU-IIZ - "Zeus"
Building Bearhawk Bravo - RV-18 not available
2019 Donation Made
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-02-2012, 02:11 PM
rapid_ascent rapid_ascent is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Dublin, CA
Posts: 1,261
Default

I have a Delta 14" bandsaw with a 14 TPI blade. I works great for certain things. I use my chopsaw to cut angle and that works pretty well too. The cut isn't perfectly smooth so I have to sand the ends, but its pretty good. It would be very difficult to make those types of cuts on the bandsaw.

I just used my snips to separate the stiffeners. That was quick with a little follow up on the sander to get rid of any of the remainder of the tabs.

I bought both a 1" belt sander and a 10" disc sander from Harbor Freight. The $30-40 that I spent on the 1" sander was the best $ that I have spent so far. The disc sander is OK, but it was more expensive and maybe a little to big for most of the jobs that I have had thus far.
__________________
Ray Tonks
2020 Donation Paid
Titan IOX-370, Dual PMAGs, 9.6:1 Pistons, FM-150
RV-7 Fuselage in progress
* Cabin Interior - In progress
RV-7 SB Wings
* Both Wings fully skinned
* Fuel Tanks Complete - No leaks finally
* Ailerons Complete
* Flaps Complete
RV-7 Empennage - Complete (a little fiberglass work left)
Vans Training Kit # 2 - Complete
RV-7 Preview Plans
Vans Training Kit #1 - Complete
EAA Sheet Metal Class - Complete
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 10-02-2012, 04:31 PM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
Default

My bandsaw uses a 6.5 tpi blade. While the bandsaw probably has more than enough power, with this blade it slices through aluminum much faster than I've ever seen before with other blades.

The blade is a wood blade from Granger.

Dave
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 10-02-2012, 04:55 PM
az_gila's Avatar
az_gila az_gila is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: 57AZ - NW Tucson area
Posts: 10,011
Exclamation

Use a wood blade for aluminum. The metal blade is best for cutting steel.
__________________
Gil Alexander
EAA Technical Counselor, Airframe Mechanic
Half completed RV-10 QB purchased
RV-6A N61GX - finally flying
Grumman Tiger N12GA - flying
La Cholla Airpark (57AZ) Tucson AZ
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 10-02-2012, 05:53 PM
BigD BigD is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: MS
Posts: 310
Default

I tried the included 6 tpi blade and it didn't perform any better on aluminum or wood. Also, tried cutting some 3/4 x 1/8 steel for arms for a flange straightening tool using the 14 tpi blade and the saw bogged down even at the slowest feed rate I could manage. Maybe there are better blades out there than the ones Craftsman makes - that should be the next thing I try, but so far this saw seems like a pretty limited tool.

==dave==
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 10-02-2012, 06:10 PM
MidLifeCrisis MidLifeCrisis is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 1
Default Boe lube push up stick.....

You may try a little boe lube on the bandsaw blade when cutting metal. It works great on the whiz wheel on your die grinder too. http://www.skygeek.com/70200-13.html
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-02-2012, 06:20 PM
localizer localizer is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 50
Default

I'm about to buy a band saw. I'm looking at Ryobi at Home Depot. Any blade recommendations?
thanks!
__________________
Yuri
DA40
RV-10 - build in progress
Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 07:36 AM.


The VAFForums come to you courtesy Delta Romeo, LLC. By viewing and participating in them you agree to build your plane using standardized methods and practices and to fly it safely and in accordance with the laws governing the country you are located in.