“Tooling up” - Band Saw

While it is true that only a few hand-tools are necessary to build a Long EZ, the project itself creates a powerful excuse to stock up on all kinds of powered instruments of mayhem. When used as intended, they will actually save time and help create better parts; when used carelessly, they are going to make you wish you didn’t.

Case in point, the Band Saw.

Did you know that band saws are the preferred way to cut frozen meats? 

How easy do you think it would be to slice off a whole hand with a simple slip up? 

The average wood/soft-metal rated band saw’s blade travels at 3000 feet per minute, enough to slice through flesh like it wasn’t even there.

Be careful out there!

Enough said.

If all you need to cut is wood and aluminum, or an occasional fiberglass part, you can get away with a very inexpensive band saw purchased at your preferred retail store. 

$124 + taxes = $131

If, on the other hand, you are interested in cutting denser metal parts, like steel, you’ll soon find out that those saws are 10 times more expensive. 

$1395 + $79 shipping = $1474

I’m not really sure why that is, since they share most of the parts, and they are all made in China. 

The only real difference between the two is the speed at which the blade travels. 

Cutting steel is a slow process that generates a lot of heat, so metal-cutting saws are adjustable down to 100 fpm. You may also need to use cutting fluid to keep the blade from overheating and stripping all its teeth.

Because I decided to “go-Commando” with my Long EZ construction, and at least try to fabricate as many of my own metal parts as I can, I needed a saw that could handle steel.

As you can imagine, I have been agonizing over the decision to buy an expensive metal saw for a long time. Then one day I ran into SWAGoffroad.com, and noticed an interesting product that allows you to turn an inexpensive portable metal cutting band saw, into a small table saw.

So I did what anyone with a small budget would do, and bought an inexpensive reconditioned saw, and the SWAG Off-Road table attachment, and presto... I had me a metal cutting table saw. 

Table + saw

= table saw

I also purchased the pedal switch to turn it on and off, since you have to use a clamp, or zip-tie on the saw's trigger. 

On/Off foot pedal switch

This set up works very well, the only thing missing is a blade-guard, so you really have to be extra careful when using it. Fortunately the blade spins very slowly, and the teeth are very small. Still, I’m not planning on finding out how they deal with soft flesh.

Saw doing its thing