Lets talk vertical vs horizontal bandsaws

[samthedog]

Ok, so every metal shop should have a bandsaw. I am looking into what I should be saving for and have seen some really nice older, European made vertical metal bandsaws.

What are the advantages / disadvantages of vertical vs horizontal. I know horizontal saws often have an auto cutting feature with a hydraulic gas ram. What else is there?

Do you prefer one over the other or do you have both? I am looking for opinions here so feel free to chime in.

Paul.

 

[Dave Smith]

Paul --I have both and each has a different purpose for me--the vertical one is great for thin sheet metal and some heavier also--the horizontal is best for cutting off thicker pieces of long stock--a vertical can do both but you can't cut sheet metal in a horizontal.--I would get a good vertical one first unless your horizontal can be raised up to cut vertical also. ---Dave

 

[samthedog]

Thanks Dave. The only issue I have come across is that vertical bandsaws are 3 times the price. Here are some examples of vertical saws:

http://www.blocket.se/uppsala/Bandsag_48710727.htm?ca=23_14&w=3

and here:

http://www.blocket.se/kalmar/Mossner_SM300_metallbandsag_48671590.htm?ca=23_14&w=3

each of these is over 2000 USD. I am not happy spending that money unless the saw has a blade welder as well so that limits it further again.

Paul.

 

[fastback]

I also have one of each. I keep my horizontal in my barn where my stock is located. The vertical (home made) is in my small machine shop. As already indicated the vertical is good for sheet metal but I like it for roughing pieces for milling and turning. The horizontal is used for cutting the bulk material to rough length.

I am now thinking a small reciprocating horizontal (home made) may be on the horizon. I think that they are very accurate and would be a great addition to the shop.

 

[PurpLev]

Horizontal benefits: automatic operation, "set it and forget it" (well...don't forget it ... but you get the picture). allows you to cut rough stock to rough length (bars/plates) and let the saw do the work while you can prepare other stock, or work on another process in the mean time.

Vertical benefits: free form cutting. allows you to cut shapes, angles, curves, slots, and other intricate cuts on the face/side of parts free hand, or with the aid of jigs/fixtures that are otherwise impossible to do in a horizontal position without a supporting table.

Question you should ask yourself - which of these operations you will need more (if you can't get both, or get a bandsaw that can transform from horizontal to vertical like some smaller saws can)

 

[Ray C]

+1 on what Purplev wrote. Horizontal vs Vertical are apples and oranges -worlds apart from each other.

Also, my horizontal can be flipped-up and used as a vertical. The small Harbor Freight unit works this way and I use that feature a lot.


Ray

 

[Dave Smith]

Paul--the vertical saw can be easilly made in your shop--they are a very simple machine and material can be scrounged for low cost--all you need are two wheels approx 14 to 24"--some bearings, a motor, some shafts, some pulleys to get slow speeds--a frame and some guides--a belt tightener and simple tracking mechanism--and buy your blades---you can also maybe find an old wood bandsaw and slow the speed down with pulleys, it would work good for you also.---Dave

 

[dogbed]

When I started my shop I bought a Millwaukee portable band saw. I used it for all my cutoff work in with a vise. I use it a lot in the field which is why I have it. I eventually mad a small hanger for it that I hung it off the side of my shop press for small vertical cutting. Pretty handy little guy.

I now have a Rockwell 14" with a 10:1 reducer for cutting slow metals.

 

[samthedog]

Paul--the vertical saw can be easilly made in your shop--they are a very simple machine and material can be scrounged for low cost--all you need are two wheels approx 14 to 24"--some bearings, a motor, some shafts, some pulleys to get slow speeds--a frame and some guides--a belt tightener and simple tracking mechanism--and buy your blades---you can also maybe find an old wood bandsaw and slow the speed down with pulleys, it would work good for you also.---Dave

Converting the wood bandsaw may be a better option. I have a lack of time so making one from scratch is not really an option.

I will check out the local distributors regarding a horizontal / vertical saw. The Optimum brand is sold not far from me and I think they are Taiwanese machines.

http://www.leknes-maskin.no/Optimum4/2725

The machine with hydraulic down feed is about 1000 USD. I'm not sure if it has the ability to be a vertical bandsaw though.

Paul.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I have both, and use them about equally. The vertical is an old Craftsman that was slowed down by the shop that formerly owned it, by adding a jackshaft where the motor was, and moving the motor down lower. I most often cut wood, sometimes aluminum or plastic, and it's slow but who cares?