I've just ordered a portable badsaw from HF.
I remember reading that blade that come with it is pretty bad.
What would be a good blade for this saw and where to get it?
BTW I'll make a vertical stand for it and will be cutting carbon steel and stainless up
to 1/4" thick.

Thanks,
Alex

Alex:
www.littlemachineshop.com
Search for "band saw blade" They have the correct size and have
bi-metal blades in several different tooth per inch configurations.
Nice people too. A better blade will make very big difference.
-Mike

On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 21:30:11 GMT, Alex wrote:

I've just ordered a portable badsaw from HF.
I remember reading that blade that come with it is pretty bad.
What would be a good blade for this saw and where to get it?
BTW I'll make a vertical stand for it and will be cutting carbon steel and stainless up
to 1/4" thick.

Thanks,
Alex

Milwaukee bimetal blades if they'll fit. They probably will.

You don't say how thin you might go. Use a blade with pitch fine
enough to have at least 3 teeth engaged in the cut. If you don't do
that you'll strip the teeth off of any blade in short order,
particularly with stainless.

A blade that is finer than necessary will just cut more slowly.

Milwaukee bimetal blades if they'll fit. They probably will.
*************************
I went to a local plumbing wholesaler and picked up a 3 set package of
Milwaukee bandsaw blades from them for about $23.00. They said all the
local plumbers used these blades... I am very happy with mine, as I am still
on the first one, after fairly heavy use as a hobbist. (I built a wooden
laminated stand and use my portable mostly as a static bandsaw on angle iron
and strap, on low speed.) I too have the two speed HF portable bandsaw, and
have no complaints, considering the low cost. I do release the blade
tension when not in use. I use a spring clamp on the trigger, and just use
the plug as the on-off.

Charles,
do you mind sending me a picture of your stand? I have an idea how to build it but it
would be useful to see somebody's else construction.

Thanks,
Alex


charles wrote:
Milwaukee bimetal blades if they'll fit. They probably will.

*************************
I went to a local plumbing wholesaler and picked up a 3 set package of
Milwaukee bandsaw blades from them for about $23.00. They said all the
local plumbers used these blades... I am very happy with mine, as I am still
on the first one, after fairly heavy use as a hobbist. (I built a wooden
laminated stand and use my portable mostly as a static bandsaw on angle iron
and strap, on low speed.) I too have the two speed HF portable bandsaw, and
have no complaints, considering the low cost. I do release the blade
tension when not in use. I use a spring clamp on the trigger, and just use
the plug as the on-off.

charles wrote:
Milwaukee bimetal blades if they'll fit. They probably will.

*************************
I went to a local plumbing wholesaler and picked up a 3 set package of
Milwaukee bandsaw blades from them for about $23.00. They said all the
local plumbers used these blades... I am very happy with mine, as I am still
on the first one, after fairly heavy use as a hobbist. (I built a wooden
laminated stand and use my portable mostly as a static bandsaw on angle iron
and strap, on low speed.) I too have the two speed HF portable bandsaw, and
have no complaints, considering the low cost. I do release the blade
tension when not in use. I use a spring clamp on the trigger, and just use
the plug as the on-off.


I too would be interested in see a picture

Alex wrote:
Charles,
do you mind sending me a picture of your stand? I have an idea how to
build it but it would be useful to see somebody's else construction.

I have a PC Porta-band that I built a stand for:
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/PortaStand.txt
&
http://www.metalworking.com/dropbox/PortaStand.jpg

The jpg is a composite pic that is very long and narrow. If your
browser does shrink-to-fit, you will need to expand the pic (click on it
in FireFox).

Bob

Don Foreman wrote:
On Tue, 27 Dec 2005 21:30:11 GMT, Alex wrote:


I've just ordered a portable badsaw from HF.
I remember reading that blade that come with it is pretty bad.
What would be a good blade for this saw and where to get it?
BTW I'll make a vertical stand for it and will be cutting carbon steel and stainless up
to 1/4" thick.

Thanks,
Alex


Milwaukee bimetal blades if they'll fit. They probably will.

The Harbor Freight nearest my home sells the 3-packs of Milwaukee
bimetal blades right next to the HF blades. Very convenient to get a
cheap saw and good blades.

Pete