Bandsaw Blades

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 11:02 am

I had been using the bandsaw at the slowest speed and 1/2" and 5/8" blades (came with a used bandsaws) to cut up to 1/2" aluminium and cast iron/steel for several years before buying a metal cutting HF bandsaw this year. You have to go real slow and use a cutting oil on the cast iron/steel pieces. It does make a mess. The many band saw blades I have collected are all very rusty and could not be used on wood so I had used them to cut metal until they stop cutting. I have not tried to clean any rusty bandsaw blade(s) so if anyone has a method, I would be very interested in what they did. Using the Speed Reducer should work really well for cutting metal.

paulmcohen wrote:This is the stuff Shopsmith should be highlighting. At this speed you might even be able to cut metal with the correct blade.

ldh · Post by **ldh** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:14 pm

billmayo wrote: The many band saw blades I have collected are all very rusty and could not be used on wood so I had used them to cut metal until they stop cutting. I have not tried to clean any rusty bandsaw blade(s) so if anyone has a method, I would be very interested in what they did. Using the Speed Reducer should work really well for cutting metal.

Bill,
I use a couple of small TEAK blocks (end grain) and pinch the rusty blade between them at slow speed. The silica in the TEAK removes the rust fairly well and shines up the blade.
ldh

greitz · Post by **greitz** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:00 pm

Nick- That picture of the speed reducer hooked up to the bandsaw would be a GREAT addition to the speed reducer manual, and the bandsaw manual as well. Might even result in additional sales. I don't know how often SS revises the manuals, and I hate to put anything else on your already overloaded plate, but would you pass the request to the relevent department? Thanks!

Gary

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:11 pm

greitz wrote:Nick- That picture of the speed reducer hooked up to the bandsaw would be a GREAT addition to the speed reducer manual, and the bandsaw manual as well. Might even result in additional sales. I don't know how often SS revises the manuals, and I hate to put anything else on your already overloaded plate, but would you pass the request to the relevent department? Thanks!

Gary

If not the manual the website or future catalog.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 7:54 pm

"I don't know how often SS revises the manuals..."

See the thread on geologic timekeeping.

With all good wishes,

bucksaw · Post by **bucksaw** » Mon Sep 28, 2009 10:15 pm

billmayo wrote:I had been using the bandsaw at the slowest speed and 1/2" and 5/8" blades (came with a used bandsaws) to cut up to 1/2" aluminium and cast iron/steel for several years before buying a metal cutting HF bandsaw this year. You have to go real slow and use a cutting oil on the cast iron/steel pieces. It does make a mess. The many band saw blades I have collected are all very rusty and could not be used on wood so I had used them to cut metal until they stop cutting. I have not tried to clean any rusty bandsaw blade(s) so if anyone has a method, I would be very interested in what they did. Using the Speed Reducer should work really well for cutting metal.

You can de-rust a bandsaw blade with evapo-rust. Doesn't hard the metal. Sold at Harbor Freight. Non-Toxic

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Bandsaw Blades

Bandsaw Blades

speed reducer-bandsaw picture added to manuals