Best Metal Cutting Band Saws for your Workshop – What to Consider Before Buying

A metal band saw is best suited for cutting and processing metal pieces, such as a copper pipe or a strip.

Before you decide on a particular metal band saw, you should consider important criteria such as the weight, power, band and cutting speed and the length, width, and thickness of the saw blade.

Here we present you all the metal band saws that we have tested in detail. We would like to make your purchase decision easier and help you find the best metal band saw for you.

The WEN 5-inch Metal-Cutting Benchtop Bandsaw makes easy work of brass, aluminum, copper, steel, and more. Cut pipes up to 5 inches in diameter or rectangular materials up to 5 x 4-7/8 inches in size. Variable speed operation allows for blade rotation anywhere from 125 to 260 feet per minute to help ensure the perfect cut on a variety of sizes and materials. The compact design makes transportation and storage simple, giving you access to a powerful and rugged machine at both the job site and at home.

How to choose a metal-cutting bandsaw?

Buyer’s guide for the metal-cutting band saw

This review and guide provide information on some best metal-cutting band saw you can find.

There are quite a few manufacturers of metal-cutting bands saw on the market, and the prices vary greatly. From a pure price point of view, the type of metal-cutting band saw can be priced from $350 to $1330.

The best metal-cutting band saw for your garage

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Metal-cutting band saws in comparison

Grizzly Industrial Metal-Cutting Bandsaw

It can cut in either horizontal or vertical positions

The G0561 7″ x 12″ 1 HP Metal-Cutting Bandsaw was designed to cut 7″ round and 7″ X 12″ rectangular metal stock. The 93″ x 3/4″ blade rotates at one of the four-blade speeds (90, 135, 195, and 255 FPM). Blade speed adjustments are as easy as moving the location of the V-belt on the motor and wheel pulleys. The feed rate and feed pressure are also adjustable.

GENERAL INTERNATIONAL Metal Cutting Bandsaw

Engineered for cutting ferrous and nonferrous metals with speed

4.5-inch Metal cutting band saw with stand 4.5-inch -4.6 Amp metal cutting band saw with 3 Speeds, stand, and wheels. Bandsawing produces uniform cutting action as a result of an evenly distributed tooth load. The band saw is ETL Certified and offers 3 speeds.  Solid cast iron saw head frame and vise that opens to 6-inch. Featuring a heavy-duty steel stand with a tool shelf plus wheels and handle for easy transport. The BS5205 has a vise that swivels up to 45 degrees, as well as a throat depth of five inches, enabling you to gain more flexibility and control over each project.

SHOP FOX Metal Cutting Bandsaw

Built-In Mobile Base

This economical, portable, easy-to-use, 3-speed bandsaw is an excellent choice for small or large projects where you must cut a variety of metals, plastics, or wood. When the vertical cutting attachment is installed, the saw is able to make vertical cuts for your unique cutting requirements.

As the name suggests, you can cut metal with a metal band saw. You can also use it to shorten thin pipes, such as copper pipes. Small metal workpieces that need to be installed later with a precise fit can also be cut to size very well using a metal band saw.
As you can see, a hand band saw can be used to process rather small workpieces, so it is mostly used by model makers or hobby craftsmen. There are bandsaws in different designs, sizes, and power. There are also saws for the model maker, which are specially designed for filigree cuts.

What do I need to consider when buying a band saw?

Before buying, it’s important to weigh how much and how often you’ll actually use the tool. Of course, for occasional or even only use, it does not have to be a professional, powerful metal band saw.

So, first and foremost, you should compare the technical details of the saws before you buy. Factors like band speed, weight, and power are basic things you should keep an eye on.

When it comes to the band speed, it is recommended that you can adjust the speed. Most bandsaws are offered with at least two levels or are infinitely adjustable. Sometimes there are also versions that even offer three steps.

This function is especially important if you want to cut different materials because each material has its individual requirements.

If you want to use your metal band saw not only at home but often have to move it to another location, you should make sure before buying that it is not too heavy.

After all, there are also giants among the handy models, which definitely bring along their 60 kg. Therefore, they are rather unsuitable for mobile use. On average, a weight of 20 kg is sufficient and also recommendable. In terms of performance, the band saw should have a power of around 800 watts in order to achieve good and satisfactory results.

When buying your metal band saw, pay attention to the band speed, weight, and power of the motor.

How does a metal band saw work?

A metal band saw works in principle like its woodworking relatives. A ring-shaped metal band saw blade is driven by a motor, rotates, and is guided over two rollers.
This ensures an uninterrupted cut because the saw blade runs continuously in a straight line. The sawing process is not only very precise, but also very easy to handle.

You can create straight as well as curved or circular cuts. You can also cut a wide variety of metal workpieces. It makes no difference what type of metal is to be cut, be it iron, copper, steel, or aluminum.

What should the cutting capacity of a metal band saw be?

The cutting capacity of your hand band saw varies because it depends on the setting of the saw. In most cases, an individual cutting capacity is specified for each setting.

This is based on the degree, most commonly 45° and 90°.

For square cuts, 130 x 125 mm is optimal and a sufficient range for the do-it-yourselfer. For round cuts, however, the cutting capacity should already be 120 mm. If the cutting performance of your machine is in this range, then you can be sure you have made a good choice.

How high should the speed of a metal band saw be?

The maximum speed alone is not the deciding factor in whether you can achieve good results with the metal band saw. Rather, it is the regulation of the speed which is important. Of course, a maximum speed is also only achieved when a corresponding power is offered by the motor.

Of course, you should not underestimate this maximum speed. It is usually specified as the cutting speed.

It should be in the range of 30 m/min to 80 m/min. Good metal band saws have these speeds as a matter of course. As already mentioned, it is then advantageous if these can be individually set and regulated.

Metal band saws purchase criteria

There are many things to consider before making a purchase. Therefore, it is always important to know what the metal band saw will be used for. The following purchase criteria are then based on this. For the model maker and hobbyist, for example, smaller models, which do not have so much power, are sufficient.

This is because precise and small cuts are usually necessary for model making. However, anyone who does extensive renovations, refurbishments, and works a lot with metal should not be stingy when it comes to power. The cutting speed is also crucial. In the maximum range, this should definitely reach its 80 m/min.

In addition, of course, the cutting performance must be considered. Here it is crucial which materials you want to work on primarily.

With portable, smaller models, so-called hand band saws, horizontal cuts are always possible. If you also need to cut vertically, you should look for professional machines.

In the following, we will show you what to look for in the individual features and how you can compare and evaluate different bandsaws. This will make it easier for you to decide whether a particular device is suitable for you or not.

In particular, you should pay attention to these criteria:

• Construction
• Weight
• Power
• Belt and cutting speed
• Saw blade length
• Saw blade width
• Saw blade thickness
• Horizontal and vertical sawing
• Price
• Accessories

There are metal band saws that cut vertically or horizontally. However, there are also models that integrate both cutting functions in one model. This saves the purchase of two different metal band saws.

How to choose a band saw blade

If you choose the band saw blade that is best suited for the task at hand and set the optimal cutting mode, the cost of the process will be reduced without sacrificing quality.

To buy the right tool, you need to check it for compliance with a number of parameters. Such prudence will allow you to achieve an even cutting line, the absence of cracks and chips on the workpiece.

There are several types of blades available for cutting tools, which are designed to work:

• with stone;
• metal;
• wood.

The harder the raw material of the workpiece, the denser the alloy of the cutting part. For products go to the production of composite and hard alloys and steel.

How to choose the width of the blade

Sizes of band saw blades for wood and metal should be chosen taking into account the nature of the work.

• The width of the tool varies between 0.55-3″. The standard is considered to be the cutting parts at 1.2-1.6″.
• The wider the saw, the smoother the cut will turn out. So in the absence of instructions for conventional cutting, choose the widest blade that is suitable for a band saw. In this case, the material will feed as quickly as possible.

For contour, cuts, choose a saw so narrow that it can be used to cut corners and shapes in the material.

Bandsaw teeth: basic parameters

• The number of teeth

The first point you should pay attention to is the number of teeth. When determining this parameter, take into account:

• The more teeth, the smoother the cutting of thick-walled workpieces;
• If the number of teeth is small, the load on the area of the workpiece decreases;
• A high number of cutting edges distributes the stress of the operation, stresses are distributed over the entire saw’s surface.

• The size of the teeth

Consider the following guidelines when determining the size of the tines:

• Standard-sized teeth are suitable for cutting thin material and shaped cuts.
• Large teeth are suitable for deep cuts.
• Small cutting edges are the best choice for cutting thin-wall sheets.

The tooth pitch of the band saw blade must match the parameters of the mating part on the machine.

It is most reasonable to use the following recommendations when selecting a tool:

• large constant pitch is suitable for cutting thin-walled sheets of small dimensions;
• frequent, evenly spaced teeth are good for cutting large sheets of material.

The tooth pitch determines the quality of the material cut, the level of vibration during the operation, and the rate of tool grinding.

According to this parameter, all blades are divided into 3 groups:

• Wavy profile. The teeth are wave-shaped along the whole length of the bandsaw blade and have different angles of inclination. The wavy profile is used for cutting thin materials and small workpieces.
• Standard setting. The edging elements are placed alternately on both sides, with one tooth in the center. Standard setup is suited for sawing large metal sections on horizontal machines, contour cuts, and vertical feed machining.
• Group setting. Teeth are set in pairs on the left and right sides. These tools provide the best possible cutting speed and a clean cut with minimal load on the cutting part. This design provides the highest possible cutting speed and cleanliness with minimal strain on the cutting part.

Important: Check when purchasing if the blade can be sharpened and how many cycles are allowed of the cutting edge is allowed.

Metal Cutting Bandsaws Price:

Metal Cutting Bandsaws Under $400

• GENERAL INTERNATIONAL  Metal Cutting Bandsaw

Metal Cutting Bandsaws Under $500

• SHOP FOX Metal Cutting Bandsaw

Metal Cutting Bandsaws Under $700

• WEN Metal-Cutting Benchtop Band Saw

Metal Cutting Bandsaws Under $1300

• Grizzly Industrial Metal-Cutting Bandsaw