To save some money, sometimes people want to make their old wood bandsaw into a metal bandsaw. They often try to find the solution to the question Can a wood bandsaw be used for metal?. Though people are not much interested in doing that, it’s still possible to make metal bandsaws into wood bandsaws.
The primary mechanism of a bandsaw machine is very similar, but the only problem is spin speed. Usually, the wood bandsaw machine’s spin speed is very quick. Because the wood is thinner and weaker than metal. Fast bleed spin can cut the wood very quickly.
On the other hand, the metal cutter or metal bandsaw spin speed is not much faster compared to the wood bandsaw. If we can control the speed of the spin and change the blade, then surely it’s possible to turn the wood bandsaw into a metal bandsaw.
Anyways, in order to cut metal with a wood bandsaw, there are certain processes and precautions you should opt for. Let’s look at them below.
Change the blade
You can not cut metal with a wood bandsaw until you change the blade of the metal cutter. The in-built wood bandsaw blades are not strong enough to cut metal. Wood bandsaw blades are way too thin, and the width is not more than 1/8″ to 2″, and that’s not good enough to hit metal.
So you need to buy a good quality bandsaw blade for a metal cutter. Go for ‘Timber wolf’ or ‘Delwat’ blades. Those are famous in terms of quality and price. The blade teeth should be more; 20/24 would be great. However, it depends on your bandsaw machine. Chch which type of blade can easily install in there. Apart from that, the wheel diameter should be 11-19 or 19 to 24 inches, and the recommended thickness should be .032” or something like that. If you do it properly, cutting metal with a wood bandsaw will be a lot easier.
Know the blade power and speed
The speed is another major factor in the question of whether a wood bandsaw cut metal or not? Apparently, the wood bandsaw has great speed per minute of the blade, which is 3000 or 4000 feet per minute (FPM). This speed is way too high to cut metal with a normal wood bandsaw. If you install the metal cutter blade here but do not change the speed, then the metal won’t cut smoothly. The blade will be totally destroyed.
Then how did the bandsaw cut wood with that high speed? Well, wood is comparatively a very weaker material than metal. Besides the wood, cutter metal is fragile. When we speed up the bandsaw to cut wood, it’s easily worked without any trouble.
Why do we need to change speed while cutting metal? Here, the metal is a very strong material, and it needs a high force of the blade. The blade we use here is quite thick and high in width. We simply decrease the FPM speed that a blade can smoothly cut the metal. If you speed up, then the friction will be higher, and the blade will start melting. In addition, the metal will be demolished. To avoid those, we set speed less, which is 150 to 300 FPM.
Follow safety instruction
Following safety commands is really needed here because the blade or metal can cause serious damage to your body. Even the wood or metal dust can enter your body and create breathing issues.
So what safety instruction is to be followed here?
- Warning signal – Warning signal is an essential part of any sawmill or metal cutter pace. It’s very vital where so many workers work together, so if there is no warning signal in your place, get one.
- Use the blade guard – To avoid unwanted accidents or death, a blade guard is most important here. The sharp blade or metal, or woodcutter can easily cause serious damage. Your less attentiveness at work can even destroy your body parts. So do not forget to use a blade guard after work.
- Machine hydraulic – Any machine is dangerous in a sawmill place. So do not forget to turn off the machine after work. Keep an eye on machine hydraulic after work is done. Most importantly, be serious while cutting wood or metals.
Metal vs Wood bandsaw
The metal and wood bandsaw are completely different from each other. While the wood bandsaw is designed for cutting wood, the metal bandsaw is only for cutting metal and hard stuff.
Price – The metal bandsaw is surprisingly lower than the wood saw. In contrast, wood saws are a little expensive than others.
Blade plate – There is a particular place where we set the blade change in a bandsaw machine. That place is quite different from all other bandsaws. In a metal bandsaw, the blade place is bigger, while the wood bandsaw place is smaller.
Speed – In terms of speed, a wood bandsaw is very quick and fast. On the other hand, the metal bandsaw is less power full.
Apart from that, there is also some other difference between wood and metal bandsaw in terms of size, color, and brand. Before buying any bandsaw, be careful about all important aspects. If possible, bring a bandsaw expert while buying from the shop.
Can a bandsaw cut metal
You have no idea how powerful a wood saw cutter is! It can easily cut metal, let alone silver, steel, or aluminum. All you need is to use the appropriate blades. In this case, you can’t work with the sharp edge blade or cutting disk. You need something with carbide teeth. Again, it’ll wear more than the wood cutting.
In order to cut metal grab, the perfect miter saw is for convenience. However, if you are planning to cut a few pieces, it’ll do the task. Position the piece first, and fasten it properly.
Then start slowly. Don’t rush to go deeper. It’ll ruin (twist or bend) the aluminum. Perhaps, you should maintain a speed of 5000 rpm. This way, you can cut aluminum effortlessly.
Can I use a bandsaw to cut meat?
Yes, that is possible. You can buy a special type of bandsaw which is particularly made for cutting meats only. But you can try both wood and metal bandsaw just by changing blade and speed. You have to buy a small thin blade and increase speed to 2000/3000 FPM.
Can a wood saw blade cut aluminum?
Surely it does. Just make sure that your wood bandsaw blade is; long with many teeth in there. You wouldn’t believe that the wood Nasdaq is way stronger than it cut the material like metal or something like that. Sometimes you just need to change the speed to cut things smoothly. If there is a speed regulator, then it indeed works. Bande should be a little stone and need more teeth, at least 20 – 24.
Wrap up
Your question was, can a wood bandsaw be used for metal? Hopefully, you get your answer by now. Cutting metal with a wood bandsaw is not a big deal. But the matter of fact is your blade will wear fast, and it’s a bit risky as well. Apart from that, you should get a proper saw made for metal cutting like PORTER-CABLE Saw or Milwaukee Metal Cutting Saw. These will serve you better than wood bandsaws.
Leave a Reply