Metal band saws are made as either a vertical band saw or a horizontal band saw. Metal band saws are used to cut curves and hard objects, but is this all they can do? No, they are also great with cutting some smaller rabbets, tenons and re-sawing thin strips.
A band saw is simply defined as a power tool consisting of a continuous piece of flexible steel, with teeth on one side or both. Before getting one for yourself, it is necessary you have at the back of your mind some of the features of the particular band saw you want to buy.
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Before now you might have been wondering, what considerations you need to make before procuring your band saw. This may seem especially complicated to a first timer, but not to worry as only two of these features are seen as primary.
The throat of the band saw and depth of cut are the main concerns you should have when you are about to purchase any band saw. The throat is calculated by measuring the distance from the side of the vertical frame to the table. This distance is used in determining the cut width that band saws make.
The depth of cut on the other hand, is measured by calculating the length from the table to the upper blade guides. The feature is what is usually used by band saw makers to sell their products. It is also this same feature, which tells you the kind of stock (i.e. thickness) your band saw can cut.
The other considerations, which should be made by you before procuring your desired horizontal band saw or the vertical type band saw apart from the two main concerns stated above, are the accessories and the tables it needs to have. Every vertical band saw needs to have a steel or an aluminum alloy table, which may be tilted to 45% to make angled cuts. Tables should possess miter track.
For the accessories, ensure the band saw you want to purchase has a miter gauge and rip fence, if these items are not already included. They will prove useful when you are re-sawing, ripping and cross cutting. This is especially so for a vertical band saw.
A horizontal band saw is not often used by professional handymen as much as a vertical band saw. I guess this is because the horizontal models are easier to use than the vertical models. In spite of this, it is necessary for you to understand how each one is used and what it can do before procuring one.