1020 – 03 – Types of Band Saws

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Band sawing is one of the most common cutting operations. It employs a specialized toothed blade that slices through a workpiece. Most band saw cuts involve separating stock into two separate segments.

Horizontal band saws like the Trajan Band Saw featured in the video are typically used to cut long materials to length. They have separate features that are essential to the cutting operation: they hold the material in one place and then cut through it. While extremely effective when it comes to straight cuts, their design isn’t effective for cutting curves and other designs. They are important in the shop for prepping other material to be worked on in other situations.

Vertical band saws differ from horizontal blades in that their blade remains stationary while the material is fed into it. A vertical band saw is capable of cutting angles and other shapes out of a workpiece. These band saws often feature an in-blade-welder, allowing the band saw to fabricate new blades on the fly. This gives the operator the choice to break the blade and re-weld it inside the material. This lets them make interior cuts and shapes.