A band saw is either a tall machine that sits on the floor, or, it's a smaller, shorter machine that sits on top of a bench. It is made up of an outside casing that covers the motor, pulleys, and other inner workings. There is also a cordless, portable type of band saw that can be taken from job to job by contractors. It runs on an eighteen volt, rechargeable battery pack. It is obviously smaller and lighter than the other two types of band saws.
Band saws are named as such because they have a serrated, metal band that is held in place by two pulleys. The pulleys allow the band (also called the "blade") to move around in a circular motion. The band is what cuts the material you feed it, and it is available in different sizes. It is most useful for cutting curved or rounded shapes out of materials. This type of saw has a capacity of handling eight to thirty - six inches of material at a time. The band saw is run by an electric motor, and it can have one or more running speeds.
You can cut a variety of materials with a band saw, making it a versatile machine in your work shop. However, for every type of material you want to cut, there is a suitable band saw blade to cut it with. Therefore, you will need to change the blade and tune it every time you change materials.
The different types of blades are as follows: a regular tooth band is most often used for cutting wood. A skip tooth blade is best used for cutting pieces of soft woods; and a hooked tooth blade is made for cutting through pieces of hard woods. You can also purchase a special diamond blade that is able to saw through pieces of glass. And, there is a hardened blade that can cut through metal. These blades come in varied tooth sizes, tooth shapes, band material, et cetera. You can purchase blade widths that range from an eighth of an inch to three quarters of an inch in width. Thin, flexible blades are used to cut curved or rounded pieces, while wide blades are strictly used for cutting straight lines.
By using the proper type of blade, you can cut almost any type of material, including soft wood, hard wood, thin steel, copper, conduit, metals, glass, galvanized pipe, and PVC pipe. Once you have chosen the proper band saw blade, and have installed it, you should make sure it is adjusted so it is positioned on the center of the pulleys. The tension of the blade should also be tight enough to keep the blade from slipping. Read and follow your owner's manual in order to achieve the best results.
When you use a band saw, for safety's sake, you should always wear protective eye wear. Also, make sure that you keep your hands away from the blade. Adjust the guard so that is just clears the top of the material you are going to cut. Remember that the lesser number of blade teeth that are exposed, the safer you will be.
