Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: "Hubbard, Eugene"
Subject: Pietenpol-List: Band sawEugene Hubbard: I have one of those Harbor band saws. I have boughtblades like you describe from Harbor and everyone else and can't keepteeth on the blade while cutting 4130. Who is your source for goodblades? because of the blade problem, I've found the saw to bepractically useless. Leon S.________________________________________________________________________________

Original Posted By: lshutks(at)webtv.net [mailto:lshutks(at)webtv.net]
Leon,I actually got mine from Grizzly, but I suspect they all come from the samesweatshop in China. I had the same experience with the "tool steel" blades.Use the bi-metal blades--Grizzly part #G5115 for 20-24 pitch--they costabout $20 each and they're slightly brittle. I've never worn the teeth offof one before breaking it by doing something stupid, usually by not properlysupporting the material and putting a kink in the blade. The other thing Ihad to do to mine was to cut away some case material around the tensioningslot in order to properly tighten the blade. I also want to replace theflimsy table that is supplied with a more stable one, but just clamping abar across the bottom of the blade slot helps a lot.I can't claim that it's a high-quality machine. It was fairly cheap and(for the most part) does the job. I've chewed through a lot of 4130 withit, having cut out most of the fittings now for the Piet.Gene-----Original Message-----

Original Posted By: "D.Dale Johnson"
Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Band sawLeon,Go to a good tool store and buy a good bi-metal bandsaw blade. They cost about $23 here in Santa Rosa and last much longer and cut better than the standard high carbon blades. Harbor freight is not a good place, my opinion, to buy good blandes to cut steel. I have cut 81 pieces of steel so far with my bi-metal blade and its still cuts very fast.Be sure to set your saw blade speed to its slowest speed. My saw will work at 80, 120, and 160 ft/min. Always use the slowest speed and use a water-soluble oil to lube the blade and it will last. Without lube and at highest speed it will not last and will spit teeth like you are seeing.Cheers, Jim________________________________________________________________________________Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 20:53:24 -0600Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Band saw

Original Posted By: Jeffery Lorimor

Original Posted By: "Hubbard, Eugene"
Piet Fliers and BuildersI bought 4130 X .090, .060 and .024 sheets in 12" X 24" sheets and tried toband saw it up into 1" X 24", 7/8"X 24" and 3/4"x24" for the fittings andhad a heck of a time cutting a straight line (looked like a dogs hind leg).Went to the yellow pages and found a machine shop with a drop sheer thatwould handle 4130. They had all three sheets sheered up in about 00:10minuets with the sizes I needed for $20.00 (the cost of a band saw blade).It has to be done with a drop sheer because if you use a knife sheer it willroll your 4130 into a barrel hoop.Hope this helpsGary BellDelaware, Ohio----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Leon Stefan"
It helps to slow your blade speed as slow as possible and run a bead of oilon the cut. I have cut .100 4130 with good blade life.Dick----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Richard Navratril"
The rule of saws is to always have two teeth in the material. This is worstcase. If you have a 22 teeth per inch blade, that means the minimumthickness to cut is .045 inches and that is pushing it. Otherwise thematerial will get into the gullet and shear off the next tooth to comealong.Chris bobka----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: javier cruz

Original Posted By: clif

Original Posted By:> > "Leon Stefan"
If you arn't using bi-matalic blades, they will last longer.When cutting any high carbon steel you must keep the cut moving along at a good clip. If you slow down too much, the friction will cause the metal to heat up and harden almost instantly. You might as well start the cut from the other side at this point or loose teeth or sharpness.JimThat's my 2 cents worth!>From: "Christian Bobka" >Reply-To: pietenpol-list(at)matronics.com>To: >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Band saw>Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 22:25:03 -0600>>>The rule of saws is to always have two teeth in the material. This is >worst>case. If you have a 22 teeth per inch blade, that means the minimum>thickness to cut is .045 inches and that is pushing it. Otherwise the>material will get into the gullet and shear off the next tooth to come>along.>>Chris bobka>----- Original Message ----->From: "Richard Navratril" >To: >Subject: Re: Pietenpol-List: Band saw>>>> >> > It helps to slow your blade speed as slow as possible and run a bead of>oil> > on the cut. I have cut .100 4130 with good blade life.> > Dick> > ----- Original Message -----

Original Posted By: "Gary McNeel, Jr."

Original Posted By:
Sorry to jump in so late, but I really got behind in my email reading. Beenflying Young Eagles in the Piet too much. But that's another story.I have an ordinary 12" Sears wood cutting band saw. I was worried aboutcutting my 4130. I tried a sabre saw and it jumped around too much. Itried a hack saw but gave up quickly. I turned in desperation and tried theband saw with a wood cutting blade. I really wanted to get some parts cutthat weekend. Guess what, it worked. I have cut all my parts out of .090and .065 sheet and it still cuts just as good. About a week ago I ranacross an article in an old EAA publication full of hints and tricks by "oldtimers". There was an article about "friction cutting". So, I found outthat I had been "friction cutting" all this time. If you haven't run outand bought a metal cutting band saw, try your wood cutting one first. Ihave a 1/2" blade and only make straight cuts. No lubrication is used.Like everyone else said, you push until it starts cutting and keep a niceand steady pressure on it.Hope this helps someone.Ted BrousseauNaples, FL----- Original Message -----