Cutting steel on a bandsaw, any experience?

[DownWest]

Been using something like #14 for many yrs, but a little better engineered . Also a TC toothed one. But the blades are a bit pricey and something in a bar cleaned them all off...
For a one off, discs every time.

 

[Graham_Wright]

Find someone near you with a plasma cutter,job will be done in no time and accurately

.....................if you're not fussy about the edge finish.

 

[rogerthebodger]

.....................if you're not fussy about the edge finish.

Otherwise find some one who does laser cutting.

I now get all my stainless steel laser cut up to 20 mm thick.

The 2 part steering wheel hub I got laser cut 2 pieces 20 mm thick with just a extra 2/3 mm in O/D and I/D made machining a doddle.

I am doing the same for the clamp on boss for my PSS shaft seal to prevent the seal rotor moving.

 

[vyv_cox]

In my failure diagnosis days I have cut up hundreds of components in almost every type of metal imaginable using a bandsaw. We never used any grinding methods as the heat input could destroy the microstructure. Blades were consumed or broken fairly frequently but we made them up ourselves, buying in rolls of the blade material. Some sections were pretty sizeable, certainly well over 25 mm thick.

 

[Freebee]

I need to cut a length of steel bar, 10mm thick and 100mm wide, I have 16 cuts to do, plus 8 triangles.

I have a trusty Record BS250 bandsaw. I know I can buy a 24tpi metal cutting blade 70.5" long.

What's the practical experience?

Or would it be easier to buy 2 packs of 1mm slitting discs for my grinder?

I have tried this with a BS250 and a metal cutting blade but the blade speed which the bandsaw has is set up for wood and it runs too fast, if you could gear the speed down somehow you may have a fighting chance.

 

[Caraway]

Yes. Welded. It's a set of engine mounting brackets.

Then whizz it up with an angle grinder. I cut all my metal that way. You can be very accurate, and as you are welding the components the final finish will rely on the welding, rather than the cutting. I normally grind my welds and often buff them with a flap wheel. If the weld penetrated properly it will be plenty strong.

 

[Solent sailer]

A jigsaw is another option, with a metal cutting blade. Slow but safer and more controllable than an angle grinder. It will also give neater cut.

You can always use some cutting past, its messy but prolongs the blade life.