bandsaw - best for cutting out?

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morganp

bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#1 Post by morganp » Tue Jul 08, 2014 4:47 pm

For some of us this is a hobby we would like to expand or explore further but specialised tools can be expensive- for battlers, pensioners and those with really tough wives, Aldi have a cheapo bandsaw coming up this weekend.

It is the only way I can justify the expense of a saw just for cutting-out bows and I know you 'get what you pay for' but my experience with Aldi tools is pretty good. What do you think of it? Value OK?

https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-buys ... 7-07_16-49

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The Ranger
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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#2 Post by The Ranger » Tue Jul 08, 2014 5:05 pm

morganp, you're correct when you say you get what you pay for, however if you were only cutting small items and not putting too much load on the blade then you may get some good use out of it. It only has a very small motor (250 watts) which converts to 1/3 horsepower so if it was worked too hard you will burn the motor out quickly.

Just remember to keep a sharp blade on it when you're cutting things. You should be able to find a blade maker in the phone book. Bandsaw blades are around $20 new and if it does burn out within the 12 month warranty, take it back to Aldi.
Don't practise until you get it right. Practise until you don't get it wrong. Ranger Bows.

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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#3 Post by bigbob » Tue Jul 08, 2014 6:10 pm

As Ranger says you get what you pay for which is an old clique but none the less true. I have a Taiwanese 'knock off' of more known brands, but which I have fitted high end roller guides and fence. It is a 14'' model and does all i ask of it bearing in mind it has a 1hp motor and changeable belt speeds.If you limit your work to sawing milled lumber and the like then what you suggest might get you by ok.At the asking price you are not going to hurt too much anyhow if it proves to be inadequate.
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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#4 Post by greybeard » Wed Jul 09, 2014 3:29 pm

Leaving build quality out of the equation I believe this is a poor choice in bandsaws if you want to cut out selfbow staves.

Reasons are as follows;

The blade specification of 1400mm length would indicate that the bandsaw has 8” wheels. These wheels are usually made from aluminium and have little or no momentum when the saw is running.

Eight inch wheels limit blade choice both in thickness [gauge] and width, see link below.

http://www.toolcenter.com/056_125_Band_saw_Blades.html

When performing ripping cuts these flimsy blades will be at the mercy of the grain in the timber and it is almost impossible to cut a straight line, the problem being more acute when using a side fence.

Better machines will have cast iron/steel wheels that gather momentum as in a flywheel when running.

The 1/3 hp motor will probably be inadequate for the tasks you wish to carry out.

At one stage I had a 1/2 hp 10” bandsaw and after a couple of days I realised it was not up to the task of cutting bow staves in an efficient manner.

For what it is worth I would suggest saving up for a bigger machine, minimum 12” even if it means buying better quality second hand.

Daryl.
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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#5 Post by morganp » Wed Jul 09, 2014 4:03 pm

Thanks Daryl, that's what I needed to know. Will probably cut 6mm ply if used slowly with sharp blade and down from that, so OK for model-making and so-on but not for cutting out from rough staves and hardwood boards.

morganp

Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#6 Post by morganp » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:01 am

Darryl, your beautiful hickory/bamboo makes me want to make another bow!

I checked and you can get 1400 mm blades wider, same length as this saw, need to check the clearance on guides but probably up to 12mm. The guy I spoke to at a blade supplier said he was experienced with these tools and a good quality, sharp saw blade of correct TPI, taken nice and slowly, will cut out a couple of inches thick with no problems even in a low power saw. He said the thinner blades are meant for curves. So I will go look at it if they have one when I am next in town but won't drive up specially. Spent my pocket-money for the month on a second-hand range finder anyway!

Expensive hobby this, but I have some spoke-shaves already, getting there.

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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#7 Post by cmoore » Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:45 am

I got one of these bad boys in the shed, does the job if you're cutting say 1/4" thick material, I've ripped some 3/4" red oak with it and it's so so, you need to go REALLY slow and can't put to much pressure on the blade or else twang!
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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#8 Post by morganp » Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:21 am

Thanks, I will keep my eyes open for a better one another day then!

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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#9 Post by bigfella » Sun Jul 20, 2014 8:27 am

I bought one of these band saws and took it back , the blade was that thin and flexed that much it just wouldn't cut a straight line regardless of trying to adjust it

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Re: bandsaw - best for cutting out?

#10 Post by Nezwin » Thu Aug 21, 2014 9:19 am

I've been using a similar little Ryobi bandsaw for a while now and had real issues with it. I went out to a blade maker & got some 12mm width blades, which made an enormous difference, but for ripping lams, etc, it'll do it, but not very well. For the price it's not too bad and it opens up some opportunities for new things, but just don't expect too much - especially with the standard blade.

New 16" bandsaw arriving later in the month...

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