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Tonymech
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Purchasing Bandsaw

10/02/2015 1:16 AM

Hi all

I am looking at purchasing this band-saw BS-5V http://www.machineryhouse.com.au/B004 and wondered if any members owned one.

  1. Does it cut reasonably square?
  2. Can it be raised to vertical, perhaps by modifying the stops)?
  3. Can the switch be locked on?
  4. Any other comments thought relevant.

Thanks Tony

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SolarEagle
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#1

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 2:38 AM

What's the advantage of this over a chopsaw? I have a regular bandsaw and a number of different chopsaw's...I have seen larger versions of these in commercial metal shops, they just use the weight of the upper part to rest on the piece of metal they are cutting, seems a bit slow...but automatic...I don't see any advantage of this way of cutting over a circular blade machine...the one I have has the advantage of being able to cut large pieces, still hard to get a straight cut, requires jigs and careful feeding etc....I still usually have to plane the piece...

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phoenix911
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#5
In reply to #1

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 7:23 AM

I Chopsaw, is dirty and loud and depending on the size and quality and it goes through the blades quite fast.

But it meets my needs.

oh I have two more 'and'(s) to use up..... 'and'..... there.

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spades
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#2

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 2:51 AM

Are you after a cut off saw or a band saw?

Even if you could modify it to go vertical, it has no table, so is unable to be used as a vertical band saw without even further modification - there does not appear to be an optional table available for it.

It is manual pull down against a spring return, you could remove the spring to allow unattended horizontal cutting if there is sufficient weight in the arm to force a cut, but then you would need to secure it when raised, and it doesn't have a finish cut-out switch.

The switch is a trigger and I am not sure whether it can be locked on - probably not.

Blade tension can be adjusted, so it will cut reasonably squarely, it does have sliding guides, so that will assist in accuracy, these smaller machines can tend to do a bit of vertical wandering if you force the cut.

If it's a cut off saw you want, with more of the features you want, maybe consider the BS-4A and save a few dollars as well.

Whilst the BS-4A doesn't have a variable speed, it does have 3 speeds within much the same speed parameters, and from my experience you will set it to one speed and leave it there , the switch is an on-off type, and it has a cut-out for end of cut, and sliding guides. (my own home made band saw has 8 speeds - via a BSA motor bike gear box and 2 motors running through a trapped roller clutch on the slow speed unit - I never adjust the gear box but use either the high speed motor for timber and light metal, and the slow speed motor for heavier jobs)

If you want a band saw (much more versatile), then consider one of their cheap verticals and fit a bimetal blade which will cut both timber and thinner/soft metal with ease (they run way too fast for heavy steel and will ruin the blade very rapidly).
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Tonymech
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#4
In reply to #2

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 4:06 AM

Thanks Spades

Both. Occasionally I need a band saw to cut thin comments, I don't currently use a table on vertical, it's not a problem. I also partially cut material, bend it and weld the joint. I need to cut up to 100 diameter free cutting steel.

Looking at the pictures, it looks like the BS-5V could go vertical, hence looking for someone who owns one.

I currently have a an old BS-4A (for 15 years) which no longer cuts straight and the blade keeps coming off, it's knackered! The advantage of the BS-5V is the head swivels instead of the vice allowing it to be set up on a square tube to slide with a 2 other saws with swiveling heads. Stops and supports can be positioned on the square tube also and the unwanted saws slid to one end.

Tony

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Del the cat
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#3

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 3:04 AM

Depends on what you want to use it for...

GA to the previous answer

Del

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JavaHead
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#6

Re: Purchasing Band-saw

10/02/2015 10:17 AM

Not familiar with that model... I use:

https://www.milwaukeetool.com/accessories/cutting/48-08-0260

It's a table adaptor for my hand-held portable unit and it cuts square enough for what I use it for. I keep it mounted to my work bench but it also accepts 3/4" pipe for legs if you want to take it remote.

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aurizon
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#7

Re: Purchasing Bandsaw

10/02/2015 4:03 PM

see if you can find it in here. There might be some comments or a forum

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StandardsGuy
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#8

Re: Purchasing Bandsaw

10/03/2015 11:50 AM

I don't have one, but I use a circular hand saw mounted on a table. I use a c-clamp to keep the trigger pulled on, and just unplug it when done sawing. That may work here.

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