On 2011-12-05, DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2011-12-04, Ignoramus20484 wrote:
OK, I have a dumb question. When is a vertical bandsaw like that
Powermatic, better than a horizontal?

The horizontal's strong point is is cutting bar stock to length,
pretty much unattended once the workpiece is locked in the vise and the
motor started. (It should switch off when the cut is complete.) And
serious versions are equipped with coolant pumps to keep the blade and
the kerf flooded with coolant.

Mine has provisions for coolant. It does not seem to work, I will
check into it when I get time tomorrow.

The vertical's strong point is cutting material from flat stock,
either straight cuts, or following outlines to minimize the amount of
metal which needs to be removed by a milling cutter.

I do not need that much.

A vertical with a blade welder installed in the column is also
particularly nice at cutting out a hole of whatever shape in the middle
of the plate stock. You drill a hole large enough for the blade to fit
through, and in the part of the stock to be removed, cut the blade,
thread it though, weld it (and grind the flash off), thread it back onto
the wheels and guides, and cut from that hole, following the outline,
until you reach that hole again and the slug drops free.

If all you have is a lathe and a bunch of rod stock, the
horizontal is all you need. If you also work with a milling machine and
a bunch of flat stock, the vertical is preferred. Generally, it is nice
to have one of each.

I think that I will have just one, the horizontal. THis Wilton seems
to be relatively honestly made.

i