Metal Cutting Vertical Band Saw

Couple questions:

What do you have to pay for a decent used or new unit? Why are they so much more expensive than wood saws? What brands are good for a home shop? Anything else you want to add...

I don't have much info for you, other than I noticed the same thing looking at used equipment on the CL.

FWIW, I've read that most of the less expensive horizontal models can be used upright with the addition of a simple bracket.

I done did this.

Jet, Grainger, Delta all sell a 14" vertical w/ enough speed range to go 1500-3000 FPM for wood and 50-250 FPM for metal. They're about a grand+ new, and all are made in China anymore.

I got one of the Jet units w/ the shop I bought out last year. I tried it briefly before selling it and it worked fine.

All of this said - After researching this matter and trawling craigslist for months, I stumbled across a hulking, cast iron, 1940s Walker-Turner in NJ for about $400. It's got a planetary gear box plus 4-step pulleys - very wide range. I installed a set of Carter ball bearing guides, new urethane tires on the wheels, and went through everything. It's a wonderful machine and I use it very often.

It looks like this, and weighs about 450-500#

But for 85% of the metal I cut I use a horizontal. I started w/ a 4x6 Chinese Jet, which with a good blade works fine. I detailed it to the garage when I scored a 7x12" Taiwanese Enco w/ coolant. It'll chew through 4" steel bar like it was plastic.

Also - the used home shop sized machines often command a premium - if you have room, a 14 or 16" Do-All is an amazing saw and will outlive us all. It's just freakin' huge. There's a lot of 'em out there.

Craigslist, practical machinist, the home shop machinist, the chaski home machinist board, dovebid, government auctions, HGR surplus are all good places to look.

I picked up a HF saw that will stand up to use as a vertical saw. I've been pretty happy with it so far.

I mostly use it as a horizontal saw, but it will do a pretty fair job as vertical as well.

Okay, next question. I have an old wood cutting band saw. Obviously, I can get a metal blade for it. If I can slow it down to under 200 FPM, will it work for metal, or is there more to it? Toyman, thanks for the tip, but I have a strong preference to not send my money to China, so that one's out.

A good used do-all or grob vertical saw (probably a few others)is going to be the best but pricey. Otherwise it's going to be Chinese.

I have an enco 7x12 horizontal and while the horizontals have a "table" that can be attached, it's a sheet metal pos and not worth the time, IMO.

Converted wood saws are generally less beefy and harder to do right.

Another option depending on what you're doing:

http://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V30-Portaband-Table_p_55.html

Switching back and forth (wood to metal) doesn't work real well. Once you tackle the speed differences, you still have to deal with the fact that a lot of metal cutting needs oil, which makes it a filthy surface to cut wood. Wood makes sawdust, which is a potential fire hazard with hot metal filings.

Also, a combination horiz/vert unit is not the best for wood cutting. The "table" is too small, and too low to stand at comfortably. Plus, you either have to straddle the base or work from the side, neither of which is optimal for wood cutting.

Band saws are used for different purposes for wood and metal. For wood, they are primarily for cutting curves, or re-sawing. For metal, they are primarily used for cutting stock to length without throwing the sparks that a chopsaw throws (and the head acts as an automatic feed). Additionally, a horizontal bandsaw has unlimited length of cut on both sides of the blade, a vertical is limited on one side to the depth of the throat. Though it seems they are similar, they serve different purposes.

The first time you try to cut 24" off the end of a 20' long piece of 1/4" x 4" angle iron in a 14" vertical bandsaw you will really wish you had a horizontal unit.

It can be done, but it's challenging.

I have an old horizontal unit I'll sell at a decent price if you are interested.

Is your primary need wood or metal?

Have you considered a PortaBand?

I too have a tuned-up Jet 4x6" w/ a few extra Lennox Diemaster blades if you're anywhere near DC...

Okay, a couple clarifications. One, I don't do wood, only metal. Two, I don't want a horizontal/vertical unit because of the space it takes up. I use a band saw at work to cut up to 1/2" plate and don't use any cooling. It doesn't seem to matter, at least for what I do, so I don't think it would matter at home either, considering most of what I'll do is 1/4" or less. I have a chop saw to do long items, so that's not a consideration either.

Ok, so it should work fine for your needs. As long as the piece you are trying to maneuver into the blade is not so long that it interferes with stuff halfway across the room.

SLOW it down. WAAY down.