From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 5/21/2025 1:30 PM, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > I waste a couple inches over the course of chopping blanks from a 12ft   
   > (standard stock length) piece of bar stock.  A couple inches of waste is   
   > no big deal, but a couple inches added onto the remnant at the end of   
   > the bar can mean one more blank and one more completed part.   
      
      
   I bought a Fein carbide tooth metal cutting band saw from Zoro (Grainger   
   retail).  With a 20% off coupon it was fairly cheap as this type of saw   
   goes.  I used it for the first time today with the blade it came with.   
   Knowing a bit of issue can occur and having used carbide toothed blade   
   son faster saws to cut aluminum in the past I lubricated my cuts with   
   WD40.  I buy WD40 by the case from MSC after shopping around to find the   
   best price per ounce.   
      
   I can't speak to how it will cut steel (mild steel at hardest I would   
   assume), but it cuts aluminum okay.   
      
   Maybe its a free spin vs load thing, but it definitely slows down in the   
   cut.   I was cutting 2 pieces of 1/2 x 2 6061 at a time into sections   
   for mold blanks.  I was just working on the ground (concrete slab)   
   outdoors using scrap metal to support the stock.   
      
   Its fast.  Functionally it was cutting one inch wide by 2 inches high,   
   and it was very quick.  I am reminded why I hate working on the ground   
   however.  If this becomes part of my regular work flow I'll have to   
   build a cutting table for it that supports the sock and has a work step.   
     This has the disadvantage that I have to stand there to use this saw,   
   but its so quick compared to the horizontal bands aw that it might be   
   worth it for the stock that fits in it.   
      
   Its not perfectly square cutting, but its pretty close.  I haven't taken   
   any effort to square anything yet, and cut pieces long for now like I do   
   with the horizontal band saw.  I can see it saving a few work pieces   
   over time if I get it setup on a proper work table built for it and   
   spend a little time squaring everything up.  I do have some miter stands   
   that are not currently in use, but they don't have enough length of   
   support in my opinion.  Roller stands are definitely not the right   
   solution.  I've used them (and still use them) but they have their issues.   
      
   I can very much see somebody buying one of these and never buying a   
   horizontal band saw.   
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
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