I remember a hacksaw our local gunsmith had in his shop, shortly after
the end of WWII. It was a regular hacksaw frame, clamped in a
home-brew base and driven by a hydraulic ram. The "handle of the saw
clamped into a pivot, so the far end could be raised, a machinist's
vise was placed in the appropriate spot and the saw lowered to the
work. The hydraulic ram pushed and pulled the saw across the work
piece and the weight of the ram lowered the saw through the work. As
the saw stroked "forward," it tripped a valve, which then reversed the
stroke, which tripped a valve, which reversed the stroke, which...

Any ideas or comments, other than the cost for parts and fabbing it
would cost more than a hobby bandsaw?

Pops

(remove the nitrous sulfide to email)