Thread: Portable band saw..?

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

I like that machine,been searching Craiglist for one,cutting oil recipe/ 50% kerosine, 50% Hydraulic jack oil,works for all metals except TI.

Thanks for the recipe...

Well the used porta band came in and the saw table. I tacked some legs on the table. She ain't the prettiest saw but runs great.

I use to borrow my fathers little table top band saw, it's really nice to work with and not so noisy.
As Mike Blue said; good blades is important, better to put good blades in an economy machine than the other way around.

Originally Posted by officerdread

Just don't have the room for a full sized saw. I've heard some knife makers use them with a table and are very happy with them with absolutely no problems.

I am sure it will cut what ever you put in front of it :<0) I just never seen one with an attachment like that. Good idea actually, extends the use of that tool.

Originally Posted by Lemur

I use to borrow my fathers little table top band saw, it's really nice to work with and not so noisy.
As Mike Blue said; good blades is important, better to put good blades in an economy machine than the other way around.

That's the only drawback... It IS loud..!

Originally Posted by officerdread

That's the only drawback... It IS loud..!

This one is actually ok, on idle it's a mere whisper and if you keep what ever your cutting from vibrating it's not at all bad.
Not like his bigger ones (I think he's got 5-6 band saws) they can really scream!

For the price and convenience they are a heck of a good deal for metal at slow speed and different blade and higher speed for wood. Mine is strictly for metal now. I have a regular band saw for wood.Mine was cheap and has been in use for about 10 years.
~Richard

For lubrication, I use the DoAll stick wax which has become unobtainium. There is another product:
Search Google for other sources of Castrol stick wax
It is not a coolant but a lubricant for short run metal sawing etc and friction reduction. I find it quite useful in a small shop.
I have also used the soft toilet bowl seal wax and bee's wax as lube for a short time sawing. They also melt into the teeth and prevent most welding of the metal cuttings to the blade.
~Richard

Thanks for the great tips...!

Originally Posted by Geezer

For lubrication, I use the DoAll stick wax which has become unobtainium. There is another product:
Search Google for other sources of Castrol stick wax
It is not a coolant but a lubricant for short run metal sawing etc and friction reduction. I find it quite useful in a small shop.
I have also used the soft toilet bowl seal wax and bee's wax as lube for a short time sawing. They also melt into the teeth and prevent most welding of the metal cuttings to the blade.
~Richard

That is some good information. I have a big ugly chunk of bees wax that gets moved between the drill press and the band saw.

Charlie