What Is A Band Saw?

A band saw is an elongated saw with two round drums [at either end] that the blade or band encircles. The band saw can be mounted to a stand or can be handheld. Most handheld portable band saws are hefty so that after awhile the users' arms tend to get tired. A nice feature about the band saw is it tends to make nice, smooth, clean cuts. Its key users are people who work with piping of some sort less than 2". There are other larger types of band saws in our industry, but they are mostly used in machine shops, or manufacturing plants. There are horizontal and vertical band saws which are large, fixed in place machines. The machines are big and bulky, and are not often moved.

 

 

 

The Band Saw Blade

The band saw blade is a long, circular, flexible band containing a single row of teeth. The size of the band saw blade will depends on the type of saw being used. These bands are very sharp, so great care should be given when handling them. Always use the proper safety equipment when changing blades. Some of the proper equipment and safe operating methods are listed below:

  • Safety glasses
  • Gloves, should be worn when changing and operating
  • Loose or long hair should be tied up or tucked in a cap
  • Always read the manufacture's operating booklet before starting any cutting procedures
  • Be careful of loose pieces of material that may shoot off of the tool
  • Unplug the tool before changing blades

 

General Guidelines for Cutting with a Band Saw

1) Check for proper blade orientation. Teeth on the left side of the tool should point toward the rear of the band saw. If they don't, you will need to remove the blade, turn it inside out, and re-install the blade.

2) Be sure to install the blade against the machine guides. Run the saw away from any material for a few seconds before starting the cut.

3) Be sure to use the correct blade for the material and dimension being cut.

4) A typical rule of thumb is to use more teeth per inch for thinner or harder materials and fewer teeth per inch for softer or thicker materials.

5) Adjust the speed of your cut to the material you need to cut

6) Position the machine guide bar firmly against the work piece material and lower the running blade into it.

 

Who Should You Sell To?

There are many industries that use the band saw. These include:

  • Mechanical contractors
  • Electricians
  • Metal fabricators
  • Fire protection
  • Sprinkler contractors
  • Pipefitters
  • Industrial maintenance
  • Petrochemical maintenance

 

Common Manufacturer's Designs

Many manufacturer's share common features in their designs. This allows your customers to mix and match blade and tool brands. Some of the common features across a number of manufacturers are listed below:

  • Vertical or in-Line motor design
  • Variable & 2-Speed (AC/DC)
  • Standard Round 3-1/2"
  • Rectangular Standard 3-1/2" x 4-1/2"
  • Speed Range 195 Ð 350 SFPM
  • Capacity
    • Standard 3-3/8" pipe, 3-3/8" x 4-1/8" Rectangle
    • Wide throat 4-3/4" pipe, (4-1/2" x 4-3/4" Milwaukee) Rectangle
  • Gear and Chain Driven 44 7/8" Blade