Metal band saw

[megafix4]

Hi all, here I am again with another dumb question.

I see in a couple of places, small metal band saws for sale at various prices. Now, considering that all I really want in inexpensive band saw for is to use it upright, as a 'motorized hack saw', I wonder. I also see at a local store, Lowes, a band saw for $150.00 that has a deeper width for stock and a wider opening in height by a few inches, since a metal cutting blade can be purchased for it for about $10.00, what would be the reason for paying nearly double that for a 'real' metal band saw? What am I missing here?

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Bruce J.

[Ron LaDow]

Bruce,
One problem with a normal, upright band saw is that the throat is too small to cut off long stock.
A couple of years ago, I got one of the import, cheapo, metal cutoff band saws (Enco, KBC, etc). I have no gripes. It can be used upright to saw sheet or plate.

[bdarin]

I got one of those "el-cheapos" a while back. Does everything I need and sure beats cutting 3" dia. stock by hand. For the price ($170 for saw, $10 for blades) I can beat the thing to death. I consider it a good investment and expendable as well.

[Thrud]

Ridgid makes a small bandsaw for cutting pipe. It is built to last and works very well.

[halfnut]

mega,

Important difference betweem saws, blade speed. If you are looking at a wood cutting saw and think you can just buy a metal cutting blade for it you are going to be in trouble. You need to slowwwww it down for steel, aluminum ok.

One can build a speed reduction unit of some sort, but is the saw frame and guides up to it.

Those cheap horz. vert. saws do work, they are cheap, but do work amazingly well.

[SGW]

Note also that those horizontal/vertical metal cutting bandsaws are self-feeding, so you don't need to stand there for 15 minutes slicing through a bar. Clamp the bar, lower the blade, and walk away until it's done.

I've got one; it works quite well. The vise needed a little help when I got it. If you view those cheap saws as a semi-finished kit of parts that needs a final tuneup, your expectations will be about right. They sure beat the "armstrong" hacksaw method of dealing with long stock.

[Ozarks Hermit]

I have used one of HF's bandsaws for several years - no complaints. Like most of their stuff it needs some refinements, but I feel it was well worth the money.
There is a FAQ on the saw located at
http://www.halcyon.com/meretrix/4x6bsFAQ.html

Ken