Question about metal cutting band saw

nosaj750

nosaj750

Larevo Knives
Joined
Aug 28, 2010
Messages
207
I've had the cheap harbor freight matal cutting saw for a few months now and keep breaking blades on it. I've followed break in procedures I've found on the internet, I've tried adding more preasure on the cutting surface, I've tried less preasure as well. It cuts straight and clean and the blade is adjusted properly i think... i use it to cut carbon fiber, blade steel, titanium etc... i break or crack a blade or 2 monthly. I've read a bimetal blade should last for months but i can't seem to get them to last more than a few weeks. Any suggestions other than buy a better saw? For $250 its a decent saw and I've seen knife making suppliers using the same setup in the verticle position and say they have no problems using the original blade that comes with the saw, and it's not a bimetal blade. When cutting should you apply as little preasure to the piece being cut as possible to prolong blade life? Makes sense but as the blade dulls cutting a .150 piece of ti takes all day.

Thanks for suggestions
 
Which harbor freight saw do you use?
I have the portable one and have broken saws, but only one blade so far.
I haven't cut titanium yet, just steel as thick as .250 thick with no problems.
There are some threads on here about cutting titanium you should read on. I think a few recommended friction cutting and even an upside down blade on high speeds.
They also recommended using different blades for each metal.
I've never used the stock blade either. I picked up the Lennox blades from Lowes. 18-24 tpi.
If you search for cutting titanium in the custom search engine you may find your answer.
Hope this helps.
 
Out on a limb, but it sounds like you're treating Ti the same as steel. Ti will dull it quicker than stainless and requires a lot more pressure than you can probably use with that saw. I cut all my Ti on the smaller portaband.

Good luck
 
Thanks guys. The saw is the horizontal or you can setup vertical red one from hf. Its not the hydralic 900 saw I put a new bimetal blade on last, its the less expensive with a spring adjustment for preasure on the material. I put a new blade on last night and started cutting some 6x12 ti sheet .075 thick running on the middle speed, don't remember what that is exactly. Increased the speed a bit from the lowest speed on the pulleys to the middle pulley. lightened the preasure so the blade is just making contact with the material and its cutting this stuff great. I've got some .160 i need to cut next so will see how that goes. I read something aks posted a while back about blade breakin but it didn't seem to help when i tried it. It was from lennox if i recall. Its all a learning experience and wip i suppose.
 
I usually mount up thicker stuff on my mini mill and cut it real slow using a cutoff wheel. That seems the best way to cut thick ti or timascus. As much as i hate using the cutoff wheel it works. I had a carbide slitting saw blade that worked great, kept temp lowest so far. Broke that trying to cut to thin of material going straight into it and snagged and broke a couple teeth on the blade. Have another one on the way but it does no good when the marerial is too big to fit on the mill.
 
I use the similar saw from Grizzly. I'm sure they are all made in the same factory in China so I feel it may be the blades you are using. I also cut carbon steel, Damascus and titanium. I have never broken a blade.

Try a different blade maker and a different tooth count from what you are using.
 
nosaj750 said:
I usually mount up thicker stuff on my mini mill and cut it real slow using a cutoff wheel. That seems the best way to cut thick ti or timascus. As much as i hate using the cutoff wheel it works. I had a carbide slitting saw blade that worked great, kept temp lowest so far. Broke that trying to cut to thin of material going straight into it and snagged and broke a couple teeth on the blade. Have another one on the way but it does no good when the marerial is too big to fit on the mill.
Click to expand...

Do you use the cutoff wheels made for a dremel or do you buy a different wheel? I haven't tried it yet but i thought people were using dremel cutoff wheels.
Where do you get your carbide wheel?
 
I use a larger cutoff wheel for just cutting thicker ti. I use the little dremel wheels for cutting my lockbars. The carbide blade i have on the way i picked up on ebay. Just do a search and there is a ton of them. I wanted a specific thickness of .032 and the only place that had it affordable was hongkong. Prices range from 15 to 150 for them
 
nosaj750 said:
I use a larger cutoff wheel for just cutting thicker ti. I use the little dremel wheels for cutting my lockbars. The carbide blade i have on the way i picked up on ebay. Just do a search and there is a ton of them. I wanted a specific thickness of .032 and the only place that had it affordable was hongkong. Prices range from 15 to 150 for them
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
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