Choosing a band saw for wood. Band saw – which one to choose for woodworking Choosing an inexpensive band saw for the home

Choosing electric saw, the question may arise, which band saw to choose? How to choose a band saw blade?

But don’t be afraid, everything is not as complicated as it might seem at first glance. In our article we will help you figure it all out.

The first thing you need to do is decide for what purpose you are buying a saw. As a rule, it is needed for craftsmen working with. But, there are also band saws for metal. This is also worth paying attention to.

Band-saw - This cutting tool, used for band saw machines. By its design, the band saw has the appearance of a flexible steel tape, tightly looped, with a row of teeth along one edge.

The band is mounted on two pulleys, which are rotated by the electric motor of the band saw.

Using a band saw, you can make both straight and shaped cuts. That is why the scope of its use is very diverse and is not limited only to furniture production.

Types of band saws

Band saws can be divided into the following kinds:

• toothed;
• toothless;
• electric spark principle of operation.

Toothless Band Saws And electric spark saws The actions work similarly to circular saws. The only difference is the purpose of the teeth.

When choosing a band saw for metal, you need to pay attention to the design features of the band saw machine.

The main purpose of a metal band saw – this is the execution of angular, straight and figured cuts. If you need to make cuts at an angle, you will need to purchase special rotary jaws for this machine.

Characteristics and properties of the band saw

The main properties and characteristics of the saw are:

• height and width of cut;
• type of cutting blade;
• electric motor power;
• total weight of the machine and diameter of the pulleys.

• up to 300mm – light;
• from 420 to 500 mm – medium;
• with a pulley diameter above 500 mm - heavy.

Lightweight bandsaw machines are equipped with electric motor up to 2 kW, medium and heavy electric motor up to 4 kW.

Blade Types

For cutting with a saw, special requirements are placed on the strip blade.

For cutting metals, bimetallic blades consisting of two metals are used. The main part of which consists of a metal strip made of special spring steel, and the working part consists of tool steel with sharpened teeth.

Carbon steel blades are widely used. According to their heat treatment, tape fabrics can be divided into the following types:

• with the same hardness across the entire width;
• with flexible blade and hard teeth;
• tempered blades over the entire width.

Blades with the same hardness across the entire width work well on medium-diameter pulleys. The Rockwell hardness of the sheets is 47 units.

Saws with a flexible blade and hard teeth have a specific structure. Only the top half of the tooth will be hardened, leaving the saw blade flexible. The Rockwell hardness of the saw body is 31 units, the hardness of the teeth is 64 units.

Saws with a hardened blade over the entire width are the most popular. Their Rockwell hardness is 52 units, and their tooth hardness is 67 units.

Due to the high hardness of the teeth, the resistance to dulling is significantly increased, and the increased rigidity allows for cutting at high speeds.

Sharpening band saws for wood

When cutting wood or metal, the teeth of a band saw may lose their original sharpness. This is why you need to sharpen your electric band saw.

Sharpening the saw blade is as follows::

• initial sharpening;
• cleaning;
• wiring;
• final sharpening.

To restore the cutting qualities of the saw blade teeth, use special sharpening machines.

As a result initial sharpening you will eliminate all cracks in the teeth’s sinuses, and also restore the profile teeth maintaining a certain symmetry to the rest.

When cleaning All metal filings remaining after sharpening are removed.

When wiring change angles.

During final sharpening correct symmetrical distortions of angles and sharpen the working edges of the teeth.

Sharpening saws with your own hands will require you to have certain skills and abilities. Therefore, if you are not sure of the quality of your work, leave this matter to the specialists.

Choosing a band saw from the variety of saw sizes available on our market is not an easy task. Let's look at the main factors to consider when choosing a band saw:

1. Saw thickness:

The thickness of the saw is determined by the diameter of the pulleys.

• 0.9 mm– thickness ideal for band dividing machines, the saw works well on any pulleys. Has a 20-25% increased resource compared to saws of greater thickness. But there is a limitation when sawing sawlogs: the work must be done at low feed rates in the summer and on pulley diameters less than 40 cm.
• 1.0-1.07 mm– optimal width for work all year round. The work is carried out at medium feeds, but it quickly breaks on pulleys with a diameter of less than 47 cm.
• 1.1 mm or more– cuts workpieces well large diameters. Work is carried out at high and medium feeds, but it quickly breaks on pulleys less than 55 cm and when the saw is poorly prepared.

2. Saw width:

• 27 mm– the narrowest saw, economical choice. With high-quality training, it shows good results.
• 32-35 mm– optimal in terms of price-quality ratio, works well at medium flows all year round. But when the saw log diameter is more than 60 cm, it is necessary to reduce the feed.
• 38-41 mm– a saw with a slight increase in rigidity, sometimes helps when sawing workpieces over 60 cm.
• 50-54 mm– works great when sawing sawlogs into high speeds with a diameter of more than 60 cm. It breaks quickly on pulleys with a diameter of less than 55 cm if the saw is poorly prepared.

At correct operation the saw can serve until, as a result of re-sharpening, its width is reduced to 60% of the original.

3. Saw tooth pitch:

Tooth pitch is the distance between the top points of adjacent saw teeth.

• 19 mm– requires more engine power, at least 11 kW, and a reduction in feed; a saw with this pitch is stable when working with hardwood and sawlog diameters greater than 60 cm.
• 22 mm– a universal step, the saw is designed to work all year round.
• 25.4 mm– used on saws with a width of 50-54 mm when working at high speeds. A large sinus is capable of carrying a larger amount of sawdust per unit of time.

The tooth pitch is a constant value. When resharpening a saw, you must strive to keep the pitch unchanged! An error of even 0.1 mm is completely unacceptable. For example, on a saw with a length of 4020 mm with a pitch of 22 mm, 183 teeth - an error of 0.1 mm will result in a size error of 18 mm. With each subsequent resharpening, the error will accumulate.

Simonds® (USA) produces saws in the following sizes:

• 0.9 x 27 x 19
• 0.9 x 32 x 19
• 1.1 x 32 x 22
• 1.1 x 38 x 22
• 1.1 x 51 x 22
• 1.1 x 54 x 25.4

4. Tooth shape:

A number of tests were carried out to find out optimal values shape, angles and height of teeth. The test results formed the basis for the production of all band saws.

Tooth height– the distance between the teeth that removes sawdust, so the depth of the cavity must be sufficient. To increase the service life of the saw, the surface of the saw blade after sharpening should be smooth and even and should not contain scratches, burrs or microscopic cracks.

Tooth profile formed by two angles - anterior and posterior. The optimal rake angle is 10. At this angle, the saw cuts wood of any density and humidity well. Changing the clearance angle has little effect on the sawing process. The choice of saw of one profile or another is determined by the hardness of the wood.

Simonds® (USA) produces saws with the following profiles:

• 9/29 – recommended for hard and frozen wood
• 10/30 – universal profile used for soft and hard wood

5. Divorce:

Setback is the distance by which the tooth is bent in relation to the plane of the saw blade. The spread can be considered ideal when a mixture of 70% sawdust and 30% air remains between the saw blade and the wood. The larger the spread, the wider the cut will be, and accordingly, more engine power is required. The purpose of setting the teeth is to create clearance for the saw in the cut, as it is necessary to reduce friction between the saw and the wood, and also to prevent overheating.

Choosing a saw for specific tasks when sawing, the following factors must be taken into account:

1. Design features of the sawing machine: main drive motor power, pulley diameter and saw guide system.
2. Hardness of sawn wood:

The correct and balanced choice of a band saw is one of the most important criteria for high-quality woodworking and the production of competitive products, as well as long-term operation of the equipment.

One of the main stages of woodworking is sawing wood. Cut a board, create an accurate cut, cut a workpiece - in the home workshop they use it for all this. circular saw, but its scope is limited. It allows you to make only straight cuts and is capable of processing boards of relatively small thickness.

Wood band saws do not have such restrictions. Their design features allow you to cut large cross-section timber, cut workpieces of complex shapes, and, if necessary, unravel round timber.

Band saw: what is it

The main feature of a band saw is its working tool. This is a flexible strip of high-strength steel with sharp teeth, closed in a ring. The cutting blade is placed on two drums, one of which rotates an electric motor.

The precision of the cutting edge movement is ensured by guides. Saw blades are replaceable. By selecting canvases with different characteristics, you can get a cut with the necessary parameters. There are horizontal and vertical band saws.

Criterias of choice

Modern industry offers various models of band saws, differing in power, performance and size. For any workshop, you can choose a device with optimal characteristics. Choosing a saw for home use, you need to pay attention to a number of its main characteristics:

• engine power;
• shape, size and pitch of teeth;
• blade width;
• the ability to quickly change the cutting blade;
• equipment manufacturer.

The power of the device is selected based on the expected volume of work, the parameters of the blade are chosen based on the available wood and the type of products that are planned to be manufactured.

Characteristics

To use a band saw effectively, you will need several blades of varying widths and thicknesses. When choosing a tool for a particular job, it is important to consider the following:

• Only soft wood can be processed with a thin blade, otherwise it will quickly bend and the cutting line will be uneven;
• the wider the blade, the more accurate the cut will be;
• a thick saw is not suitable for working with small bars and thin sheet material, they are deformed due to heating;
• angled cuts and figure cutting can only be done with a narrow cloth.

In addition to the geometric dimensions of the blade, it is important to pay attention to the profile and height of the tooth. An important criterion for a band saw blade is the number of teeth per unit length.

Note! The more frequently the teeth are spaced, the smoother the sides of the cut.

A saw with a fine tooth has a longer service life due to less pressure on each tooth. A fine-tooth saw is preferable for hardwood due to more pressure to the cutting edge.

The quality of the cut is also affected by the height of the tooth. The large tooth is great for rough work and cutting thick wood. Small bars and thin sheet material can only be cut efficiently using a fine-toothed tape.

Another important parameter is the tooth pitch. There is a rhythmic step and a variable step. The saw with rhythmic steps is suitable for fine work, this tool is convenient for cutting thin slats and sawing out parts from plywood. A variable pitch blade should be chosen for processing large pieces of soft wood. Thanks to the asymmetrical arrangement of the teeth, this blade will not clog and will easily cut thick boards.

Manufacturers

Particular attention should be paid to the equipment manufacturer. A band saw, like any machine used in woodworking, must be distinguished by quality and reliability; you should not chase temporary benefits; it is better to buy it right away good device. There are not so many manufacturers with a name.

1. Arntz (Germany). One of the world leaders in the production of woodworking equipment. The saws from this manufacturer are of high quality, but belong to the devices of the highest price segment.
2. Lenox (USA). A popular American company that produces high-quality machines. Distinctive feature products - proprietary coating of cutting edges, guaranteeing durability and low operating costs.
3. Wikus (Germany). Excellent German quality plus a wide range. In the product catalog, everyone will choose a machine that fully meets their wishes.
4. Forezienne (France). The company offers a wide range of saws and other woodworking equipment. The cutting tools of this manufacturer are characterized by excellent quality and high reliability.
5. Lennartz (Germany). The company specializes in the manufacture of band saws for various purposes, offering both small household machines and equipment for sawmills.
6. Doall (USA). A small company that has managed to establish itself well in the woodworking equipment market. Offers a wide range of saws, spare parts and accessories for them.

Chinese manufacturers offer a wide range of band saws. These devices are distinguished by their low price, but cannot always boast of high quality.

How to make a band loom

Like many other machines, you don’t have to buy a saw. Having the skills to work with the material and the desire, you can safely begin manufacturing band press on wood. Made with high quality, its characteristics can be compared with factory equipment, and in some ways even surpass it.

First of all, you should decide on the layout of the main components and assemblies; for this you can find a drawing or make your own unique project. When creating your own saw, it is important to take into account the parameters of the tape that you will have to buy in the store. You definitely won’t be able to make it yourself.

Homemade machine bed

The basis of any machine (band saw is no exception) is the bed. This is a frame on which components and assemblies are attached; it assembles the components into a single device.

The best material for the bed of a vertical wood band saw is steel. A massive square will do, or you can use a profile thick-walled square pipe. Welding is used to assemble parts.

Stanin homemade machine can also be made from wood. It’s worth making a reservation right away, use sheet materials(chipboard, plywood and others) is not worth it for the frame. The racks can be made from timber with a cross-section of 80 x 80 mm, or a box-shaped structure can be made from boards with a thickness of 20 mm or more. Wooden frame they are glued at the joints, and metal corners on screws are used for reinforcement.

No matter what material is used to make the frame, it must be stable, durable, and flexible. It must compensate for vibrations caused by the rotation of the pulleys and the movement of the cutting blade.

Pulleys and supports for them

The most important component of a band saw is the pulleys. Rotation from the electric motor is transmitted to the lower one. The best way for this purpose, providing the ability to change speed and safety, is a V-belt drive. The upper pulley is driven. In addition to supporting the cutting tool, it provides tension.

Multilayer plywood is suitable for making pulleys for a homemade machine. Several identical blanks are cut out of it (the total thickness of the package must be at least 30 mm). A hole for the bearing is made in the center of each workpiece.

Note! The blanks are glued together, adhering to the principle of gluing plywood - the direction of the fibers of adjacent sheets should be mutually perpendicular.

After gluing, the package is further processed to obtain smooth surface. The pulley itself can be lightened by cutting several symmetrical round windows in it.

The bearing is installed in a metal flange, which is secured with bolts. The axis of the bearing assembly must be exactly perpendicular to the plane of the disk, otherwise the pulley will become loose, which can cause serious damage.

To prevent the blade from slipping, the working surface of the discs is processed to a barrel-shaped profile and covered with thin rubber (an old bicycle inner tube will do).

Tabletop

The material for the countertop can be multilayer plywood covered with textolite or other durable plastic. If possible, you can use a metal sheet. In any case, its surface must be resistant to the appearance of burrs and ensure good sliding of the workpiece.

Be sure to make a side support on the tabletop. It must be removable and securely fixed in any position. This will greatly facilitate the processing of workpieces of the same type and ensure cutting accuracy. As a stop, you can use a square of a suitable size or make simple design from several videos.

Guides

The operation of a band saw is based on the fact that, rotating on disks, the blade carries out a translational movement, biting its teeth into the workpiece. Due to the large length and complex geometry, the blade will rattle during movement. To ensure an accurate cut, it is necessary to keep the vibration of the belt to a minimum. For this purpose, the machine is supplemented with guides.

The simplest guides that can be made at home are two bearings, with a tape placed in between them. The bearings are bolted to the frame. To maintain the possibility of using tape of different thicknesses, the distance between them must be adjusted.

Exterior finishing

When making a machine for the home, we must not forget about the safety of its operation and aesthetics. appearance. After installing the upper pulley, it must be covered with a casing. This will complete the entire design and ensure the safety of the operator in case the saw comes off the pulley.

If the frame is made of wood, the easiest way to cover the pulley is with plywood. When metal structure you can use the same plywood or galvanized metal sheets. In any case, one side panel must be removed to replace the tape. At the end of the work, the casing, like the frame, is painted or varnished.

On-off buttons must be installed on the front panel next to the operator. The buttons should be easy to operate and not be pressed into the body. The wires suitable for the engine are placed in a box or corrugated tube.

To make working more convenient, a lamp is installed on the machine. It is better if it is on a movable mount. A box for collecting sawdust under the lower pulley will help to significantly simplify cleaning. This is not difficult, you just need to screw on an inclined bar along which the sawdust will be poured into the container located below.

After sawing machine fully assembled, it is being tested. First of all, you need to visually verify the alignment of the pulleys. In case of the slightest deviations, the pulleys are aligned; for this purpose, washers made of textolite or fluoroplastic are put on the shafts. Next, a test cut is made. It is performed without guides, the work proceeds without pressure. If the device is working normally, you can install the guides and feel free to get to work.

We have collected for you photos, characteristics, prices and reviews of the Best Band Saws rating.

• band-saw
• power 710 W
• smooth speed control
• weight 5.7 kg

Price

from 42930 rub. up to 52110 rub.

Reviews of Makita 2107FW

Advantages

Lightweight, powerful, compared to the “monkey” (mounting saw), consumables are free. 1 blade is enough to dissolve 2-3 tons of metal. The cutting accuracy is beyond praise!

Flaws

The machine really lacks a clamp with the ability to cut the workpiece at an angle.

A comment

Well worth the money, perfect for a small workshop.

• band-saw
• power 350 W
• weight 17 kg

Price

from 10976 rub. up to 13390 rub.

Reviews about Zubr ZPL-350-190

Advantages

Flaws

The guides are very weak, it only takes a couple of times to unscrew and tighten, the saws themselves also become dull very quickly, there are no wiring on the blades and only 1 out of 3 are normal, and that’s enough until the first knot.

A comment

On work surface There was a sticker stuck on, I had a hard time scraping it off, but in the store they said I had to heat it up with a hairdryer. What do I tell them about the stickers? In general, there is nothing good to say about the canvases; out of 7, one was superb, the rest were so-so, two immediately burst during installation and you can see consumer goods from the welding of the seam. All my expectations were dashed on the first day of work.

• band-saw
• power 900 W
• weight 81.2 kg

Price

from 45680 rub. up to 51,300 rub.

Reviews of Makita LB1200F

Advantages

1) Build quality (best in its price category)
2) Equipment (4 high-quality saws included, not weak demo saws like others, bearing guides)
3) Quality materials and attention to detail
4) An excellent, smooth, cast-iron table (those who have worked on cheaper ones will understand how important this is)
5) Quiet operation (4+, the noise is mainly from the wood and not from the machine)
6) Good rip fence. (aluminum, but attached on 2 sides, so the ride is always smooth)
7) Excellent smooth cut at all speeds (despite vibration)
8) The ability to use improvised means to increase the cutting height to 230 mm!
9) Price/quality ratio - 5+

Flaws

1) Vibration at high speeds (can be treated on the advice of owners from a special forum)
2) The pulleys require fine-tuning (although this is a bit of precision, it doesn’t interfere with the work)
3) The protractor dangles and requires a “file”, but this can be cured
4) Bearing guides (yes, this has both advantages and disadvantages because it can create difficulties when working with resinous or undried wood - sawdust sticks to the bearings) but if desired, you can simply replace them with “crackers”
5) Weight. One of the heaviest (if not the heaviest) semi-professional band saws. For some this is a virtue.

Each wood band saw differs in grade, width, and tooth size, shape, and frequency. Poor cutting quality is often caused not by a bad blade, but by the wrong choice of blade. At the same time, there are many characteristics that you need to focus on when purchasing. Therefore, you need to figure out how to choose a band saw.

The most important criteria when choosing a saw are:

• volume of work and frequency of its implementation;
• wood characteristics (thickness, species, humidity);
• shape, size, frequency of teeth;
• quality of sharpening;
• company manufacturer.

All these parameters affect the main characteristics of the cut:

• its evenness;
• thickness;
• presence of cracks and chips;
• vibration during the process.

Scope of work

The simplest criterion is the volume of material that needs to be cut. For one-time use, it is better to choose a cheap blade with standard hardness. For constant use, you need to purchase the highest quality wood band saw. A tool made from durable steel will last much longer, so the investment will be worth it.

Blade width

The width must be selected based on working conditions. First of all, you need to focus on the type of machine; recommendations for choosing a saw should be found in the operating instructions.

The width of the canvas varies in the range of 14-80 mm, the standard value is 38-41 mm.

Also, when purchasing, consider the following nuances:

• thin blades quickly bend when working with rough wood;
• wide blades give a more even cut;
• thick saws easily deform thin and plastic bars due to strong heating;
• Sometimes you need to make a cut at an angle, and this greatly affects the depth of the cut.

What teeth are needed?

Before choosing a band saw, you need to decide on the type of teeth that will be optimal for the job.

First you need to decide on the density of the dentition:

• the more frequent the teeth are, the better the quality of the cut; this is especially important when performing decorative work;
• the rarer they are, the higher the pressure on each individual tooth, this is suitable for hard rocks wood;
• the more frequent the teeth, the more evenly the stress is distributed on the canvas, the less it deforms;
• The more frequent the teeth, the lower the pressure on each and the longer they last.

The next parameter is the size of the teeth:

• large sizes are needed for rough cutting, for example, for sawing large logs;
• small dimensions suitable for thin plywood and decorative work.

Be sure to take into account the tooth pitch, there are 2 recommendations:

• a wide rhythmic step is needed for thin plywood;
• a narrow pitch is necessary for thick bars.

To prevent the blade from clogging, blades with variable pitch are chosen for sawing soft rocks.

The teeth of a wood band saw are not straight, but at an angle to each other. This design is called wiring, it is needed in order to reduce the level of vibration, and this has a beneficial effect on the wear resistance and life of the tool.

The standard set is a three-piece set with teeth that alternately lean left and right and another straight tooth that stands between them. This type is used for most jobs and can be used for contour sawing. Group wiring differs in that straight teeth and teeth inclined to the left or right stand in pairs. This shape makes sawing more efficient, but the blade is also more expensive.

You should also consider the shape of the teeth. It is better to select the profile to the type of wood that needs to be cut:

Sharpening level

A complex but very important parameter to evaluate. It is necessary to check the sharpness of the teeth; doing this by hand requires experience. You also need to make sure that the material is uniform; this can be assessed by the uniformity of color and texture of the metal. If possible, buy blades from places that provide blade re-sharpening services. If you want to sharpen a wood band saw with your own hands, then do not forget to check how many cycles are allowed for the blade.

Saw manufacturers

Mostly quality tools produced by European and American companies. When choosing a saw Special attention should be given to the manufacturer:

Make your own saw

If you have the skill and special tools, you can make the blade yourself. The mechanism of the machine itself is extremely simple; it resembles a bicycle with a wheel and pedals, but between them there is not a chain, but a saw blade. The first wheel attaches to any rotary motor (you can use a drill). The second wheel is only needed to fix the saw.

A band saw for wood is made with your own hands in accordance with several rules:

1. Particular attention should be paid to the frame of the machine and the fastening of the wheels. The design must withstand strong vibration, and the wheels must rotate easily and sit firmly on the machine.
2. The saw must be securely fixed; it must not fly off and injure someone during operation. This is the main safety requirement.
3. The blade itself must be purchased in a store, since it is made of special steel, and it is very difficult to make the teeth correctly yourself.

Making a band saw with your own hands - video