Metal Workers, Do I need a band saw?

or just make do with a chop saw and cutting blade on a 4.5” grinder?

 

Depends. What kind of work are you doing?

 

General welding for projects, racks, trailers, may shorten a truck frame but I’ll use a plasma cutter for that.

 

Really could go either way. The dry cut chop saws make cuts fast, but the clamps to hold the work piece aren’t great unless you spend a ton of money. The blades are expensive too. Cold saws are great but can be expensive. Bandsaws are slow to cut, but are pretty accurate.

Personally I like the dry cut chop saws despite some of the flaws.

 

I have a 4x6 import saw, . I think it was made in the late '80s. I wouldn't want to be without it. With a

$27 iGaging Digital Protractor with 7" and 4" Stainless Steel Bladed

digital protractor, I can make accurate cuts at a wide range of angles. They are available on craigslist occasionally. If you pick one up used, you can probably sell it for about what you paid for it if you change your mind.

 

Porta band is my go to cut off tool. I'll use the plasma if I'm cutting on the bench, never when cutting on the vehicle. Too much spark.

 

Not a lot of control with a portaband. End up filling a lot of gaps.

 

I'm not metal worker but I do use the HF metal bandsaw like KSJoe linked to, I never use the pipe cutting option (laid down) but I often use the vertical one. The floor standing frame on the HF saw is garbage, flexes and the wheel mounts bend as your trying to roll it around. I use it allot so I made it's standup configuration permanent. Now it takes up less room in the garage and rolls around like it should.



It paid for itself when I was building this.


There's also a kit to turn a portaband into a mounted vertical band saw, it's pretty slick but pricey.

 

Just thinking I might cruise CL to find one of the HF bandsaws then I remembered I only have a Miata to pick it up with. : (

 

I think that depends on just which saw and how many years of experience

it was about all I used if possible in the field.

I could say the same about torches and plasma having poor control .

My Horizontal saw in the shop saw lots of use over the years.

If you never had one you can`t really miss it.

 

No you don’t NEED one but as soon as you buy one, you’ll realize how much easier it makes even simple projects. Mine is one of the most used tools in the shop.

 

I got a portaband a couple years ago, Use it all the time. Faster and easier for a lot of things.

 

Sure. I still don't want to use it to consistently make mitered cuts.

 

If cost was no concern should I get a plasma cutter before considering a band saw?

 

No.

Bandsaw is going to be used the most. You don't need dedicated floor space to use the porta band.

I've used base model band saws. The portable bandsaw will be much more user friendly than a base model.

There are vids all over the internet on how to turn the portable bandsaw into a based model. Save some money and go that route.

 

With a plasma cutter you will still have to clean up most cut edges. After cutting with a band saw, you flap wheel it and start welding.

Cheapest route is HF bandsaw and chop saw. Can do 90% of everything you need. 4.5” grinder with flaps and cut off wheels for everything else.

 

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

Here is the kit I have used. Worked well. Can even use the HF portaband saw with it

 

I have 3 bandsaws... an Enco 4x6, (identical to the HF mentioned above), a Johnson horizontal 12x18, and a Startrite 18x10 vertical. I use at least one of the saws just about every day.

It will surprise you how many uses you will find for a bandsaw once you have it...

The 'Big Johnson'... as it was when I brought it home... it needed some minor repairs and a blade. This thing is 6 feet long and weighs around 700 pounds.


I don't have any pics of the other 2 on my phone.

-Bear

 

I suppose that is a option if your limited on space.

I used my deep Cut Porta band once since it came of the truck just thinking that was about 10 years or longer ago

There might be a long learning curve for someone that never used one

 

If you need to clean up after a plasma cut something is wrong .
unless the material is so rusty and dirty a clean cut is impossible