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  #1  
Old 10-03-2014, 09:26 AM
Devious Rhesus Devious Rhesus is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Houston
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Default Band saw + blades recommendations?

I don't really want to do any part fab with hand snips: Is it possible to do most of this with just the bandsaw?

Will a super-cheap Ryobi suffice?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Ryobi-2-5...S904/100593258

Any blade recommendations for cutting aluminum?

Thanks!
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  #2  
Old 10-03-2014, 09:50 AM
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rmartingt rmartingt is offline
 
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The Ryobi should work fine; you're not doing huge parts or lots of fine woodworking. I personally prefer a finer-toothed blade (~14tpi) than the coarse wood-cutting one that the saw probably comes with. Blue or pink Boelube seems to help the cutting process, particularly with the thicker flat stock and the extruded angles. Just don't try to rush things with a bandsaw, and be very deliberate with every movement.

Oh, and cut just wide of the line, and get a good vixen file to clean up to final size.
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  #3  
Old 10-03-2014, 09:58 AM
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Mike S Mike S is online now
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I use an old Sears 3 wheel like this.



I have found it to be fine for 95% of the cutting I needed-------once in a while the throat is just too small, so I rough cut with a sabre saw then finish with the band saw or belt sander.

I would recommend against a saw band like this.................



A table top belt/disc sander will come in really handy too.

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  #4  
Old 10-03-2014, 09:59 AM
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DaleB DaleB is offline
 
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That super-cheap Ryobi bears a striking resemblance to my super-cheap Harbor Freight band saw, which works just fine. I use the wood blade it came with... a little finer toothed blade would be good, but this one hasn't had a problem so I'll use it until it needs to be replaced.

Just remember ear plugs and eye protection, always.
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  #5  
Old 10-03-2014, 10:14 AM
jimbo jimbo is offline
 
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A tip that I learned the hard way.....when cutting larger thickness alum don't push the stock into the blade, feed it slowly otherwise you wont cut a straight line. Also don't expect the band saw to cut radius, make a lot of short straight cuts and cut off pieces as you go.

Just my experience.

Jim
RV9A
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  #6  
Old 10-03-2014, 10:42 AM
humptybump humptybump is offline
 
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When using a band saw for cutting metal, a couple things will affect how straight a line you can maintain. First is the tension on the blade. Use the proper tension (and not the minimum tension) for the blade you have installed. Second is the thickness and width of the blade. a wider blade (front to back) is harder to make curves but makes much better straight lines.

Here is what I ended up with in my workshop ...


click for short description
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  #7  
Old 10-03-2014, 11:38 AM
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dlloyd3 dlloyd3 is offline
 
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The Ryobi looks like a later version of the one I bought from Home Depot. They do have finer blades in stock. 14TPI or was it 18? It will require adjustment for all guide wheels to cut properly, even then it will not cut thicker material in a straight line. I made do but wished for a better saw anytime I cut thick angle. The fine tooth from HD will not cut steel and be usable for something else.
That big blade is typical for any lumber mill if you were wondering.
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Last edited by dlloyd3 : 10-03-2014 at 11:40 AM.
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  #8  
Old 10-03-2014, 01:40 PM
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Greg Arehart Greg Arehart is offline
 
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That Ryobi (older version) has worked fine for me for ~7 years. I use a finer blade for almost everything aluminum, including thick parts. Be sure to lube it well if you are cutting thick parts.

Greg
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  #9  
Old 10-03-2014, 11:53 PM
Aero_Octaveus Aero_Octaveus is offline
 
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Location: Edmonton, AB
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Default The Ryobi is so-so

I have the ryobi band saw with a 60" Magnate (18 tooth i think?) blade. It was really hard to find a fine tooth blade for the 60" ryobi band saw. Had to order it from Amazon.com.
In my opinion the band saw does ok to cut the major portions of aluminum. I find mine shakes a bit too much to be precise. I do a rough cut and then turn to my ryobi sanding station or my ever growing selection of files.
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  #10  
Old 10-04-2014, 11:21 AM
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wjb wjb is offline
 
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Default Get a band saw; worth the $

I picked up a 10" Craftsman for about $190 a bit back (wanted a step up from HF/Ryobi). I found that the stock wood blade worked pretty well on alumnium, but left a bit of a rough edge and was not suitable for steel. I replaced the blade with a Lenox 10/14 x 1/2 x 0.025 blade and *love* it. Cuts aluminum like butter. I finally got sick of using my scroll saw to chop up all those "make from" parts; it worked but was a PITA sometimes. I highly recommend a band saw.
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