cutting sheet metal straight....

[David King]

Joe that Wilton looks an awful lot like a China Delta 14" knock-off. Is there any reason why one would pay $1100 for that over a used 14" with a change of pulleys for say $200-$300? At that price point I could retrofit a new Jet 14" with a 3 phase motor and vfd for less...

Here: http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/577708877.html A $14" grizzly for $200. I see these every week for that price.

[David Schwab]

I also thought that looks just like a Delta. Some Delta's are half that price new. Is the one shown variable speed of something to allow it to run slow enough for metal work?

[Joe Gwinn]

Joe that Wilton looks an awful lot like a China Delta 14" knock-off. Is there any reason why one would pay $1100 for that over a used 14" with a change of pulleys for say $200-$300? At that price point I could retrofit a new Jet 14" with a 3 phase motor and vfd for less...

Here: http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/tls/577708877.html A $14" grizzly for $200. I see these every week for that price.

The model number does not come up at grizzly.com, so I cannot tell what kind of bandsaw this is. It appears to be intended for wood.

For steel cutting, one needs to run slowly, but with great force. A woodworking bandsaw on a VFD will achieve the "run slowly" part, but will flunk the "with great force" part. More than likely, the blade will just stall.

The difference between wood-only and wood/metal is mass, and a gearbox.

Here is Grizzly's competition for the Wilton 8201: http://www.grizzly.com/products/Vert...-Bandsaw/G0621.

To put some numbers on it, for cutting wood and aluminum, one wants about 3000 feet per minute blade speed. For mild steel, about 100 fpm. For stainless steel, maybe 40-50 fpm. And a good blade.

The frame on a wood-only bandsaw may not be strong enough to handle the "with great force" without undue distortion (which causes wandering cuts and blades jumping off the wheels), either.

But if you can find a used metal-cutting bandsaw, by all means get it if it's in good condition, and well-priced. They are actually pretty common.

[Steve A.]

my local guys who do my laser work have no trouble shearing 1/8 or 3mm mild ferrous for me in 3/16 or whatever widths I require. a good industrial sheet metal guillotine will handle that for you, so contact your nearest sheet metal shop that's doing heavy work.

Ditto on the local sheet metal fabrication shop...

BTW a good laser setup costs about $100,000, Possum! I guess you'd have to sell a few pickups to make up for that expense...

Mr. Google just found a thread on DIY CNC rigs:

http://www.instructables.com/forum/Laser-cutter/

Steve Ahola