Band saw blades question

[Wongster]

Does bimetal blade cuts everything? Mine seemed blunt after a short while. I cut brass, aluminum & steel with it. So far changed a few blades with each little mileage. I'm using a Proxxon bandsaw.

Regards,
Wong

[DaveH]

(04-18-2012, 01:39 AM)Wongster Wrote: Does bimetal blade cuts everything? Mine seemed blunt after a short while. I cut brass, aluminum & steel with it. So far changed a few blades with each little mileage. I'm using a Proxxon bandsaw.

Regards,
Wong

Brass, Aluminum, Steel, shouldn't be a problem for a bimetal blade, however if it gets too hot it will blunt it. The heat problem normally only occurs whilst cutting steel at too fast a speed. Can the blade speed be lowered ?


DaveH

[EdK]

A wax lubrication also helps a lot when cutting steel. I still have my first bi-metal blade on my bandsaw and its been on there for over two years now and is still plenty sharp. I cut mostly steel with mine. Try a different brand of blade.

Ed

[Wongster]

Likely the cutting speed. I test and adjust as I go. It seems that I do not have options beside buying from Proxxon. Did some searching on the web but didn't find the same measurements shown on the box of the new blade from Proxxon.

I bought the stick wax from ptreeusa.com. It helps to keep the noise down. Maybe I'm pushing it a little too hard. I'll experiment somemore.

Regards,
Wong

[starlight_tools]

(04-18-2012, 01:39 AM)Wongster Wrote: Does bimetal blade cuts everything? Mine seemed blunt after a short while. I cut brass, aluminum & steel with it. So far changed a few blades with each little mileage. I'm using a Proxxon bandsaw.

Regards,
Wong

Yes Bimetal cuts most materials, you do have to watch the hardness of the metal though as hardened steel will dull them quickly.

One problem with cutting aluminium is the BUE "Built up edge" that happens as the heat from cutting welds small bits onto the blade tip.

Best for cutting Aluminium is to spray with cutting fluid or wipe cutting wax on the blade before starting each cut, this helps to prevent the BUE and cools the blade. There are cutting fluids designed specifically for Aluminium like Relton A-9, Walter Alucut Lub Stick, Kerosene and even WD-40 if you want to put up with its negatives.

One of the mist sprayers would do well on a bandsaw as well.

Walter

[EdK]

(04-18-2012, 07:35 AM)Wongster Wrote: Likely the cutting speed. I test and adjust as I go.
Regards,
Wong

I cut everything at the slowest speed, even aluminum. I do increase the down force a bit when I cut aluminum and I cut it dry. But, I don't cut a lot of aluminum so YMMV.

Ed

[stevec]

Wongster, I hesitate to ask but I've had a few beers for courage, so here goes. Could you have the blade on backwards?
I know, I know, I know what I would answer if someone asked me the same question, but someone has to get it out in the open.
Please don't hate me for the possible insult.

[Bogstandard]

Wong,

I have my blades specially made for length on my small hobby Black & Decker vertical bandsaw, you just have to find someone that will make them up for you.

What you do have to make sure of is the width of the blade, I am supposed to use only 1/4" or 3/8" maximum, but I have fitted roller guides to my machine and I fit 1/2" bimetal blades, they are nowhere near as flexible as carbon blades, but my machine runs on them just fine.

I used to run on the cheaper blades, but NEVER used them for ferrous metals as they would go dull almost straight away.

I am also at an advantage in that my old bandsaw has variable speed, so I can get it slow enough to use with metal, normally, on a single speed machine, it is really only useful for cutting wood or plastics, not metal.


John

[Wongster]

Hi Steve, no worries, These things do happen. I doubt very much I've that wrong. The teeth are facing downwards, pointing towards the stock to be cut.

Hi John, not easy over here to find someone to make one for me. I'm using Proxxon blades. Can't find alternative to the same size & specs. Mine is a small vertical one from with variable speed. I'll work on the speed and also the force I push the stock (feed?).

Regards,
Wong

[Bogstandard]

Supposedly Wong, bi-metal blades for your machine should be available from Proxxon, if you can believe what they say in this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCDCTeJ5mjc


John