RoyJ wrote:
I'm probably going to open a question that sounds like the 'red states
vs blue states' but I gotta ask:

I deal with a University Engineering proto shop that has a 8x12
horizontal band saw was inexpensive to start with, is getting pretty
ratty, needs to be replaced. The question: cold saw or bandsaw? I'm
pushing for a bandsaw because blade costs are so much lower.

The kicker: this shop is used by inexperienced users doing all sorts of
known and unknown materials. Much of the work is not easy cutting of
long sticks of hot rolled angle. More like short chunks of anything
including stainless. I can't depend on them clamping the part correctly.
I can't depend on smooth entry feed or even the right feed pressure.

To give you a feel for things: the Delta vertical bandsaw has a blade
life of around 2 weeks, usually winds up missing most of the teeth after
someone tries to cut some .120 stainless, snags the teeth. I'm afraid
I'd be looking at sending in a $500 cold saw blade every other week. Not
going to happen on my watch.

Hi Roy,

Sorry you're stuck with this, I've been re-treaded twice (part time)
with the instructor stuff (vo-tech and university). I'd like to think
I've more patience now, but shop habits either start early or come "HARD".

I'd go for the cheap band saw (most work), "and" the cold saw (precise
potato chip thin error work), "then" a dry abrasive saw (for the
beautiful sand pounding children, whom their parents enrolled at birth,
can use) if they're not sure. I can just imagine myself starting the
semester with that...

It's about shop habits, if your going to treat your workers well, your
co-workers well, or keep your employer solid, you better know where your
starting and going. A concept or design is not the start, or the end, in
a "blink of an eye".

The best instructors I can remember always "set the groundwork of
performance" and were taskmasters at your getting there.

"Known and unknown materials ????", tell the students there might be
depleted uranium in the materials rack and see if they pay attention,
and check before they grab it!!!! (and of course, know how to find out
if it is, and how to work with it if they want too).


Matt