Found this on the harbor freight website in the wood working section, just wondering what everyone thought about with using it for aluminum? Wanting to use it to make the cuts for making catch cans so nothing too thick. Or if anyone could recommend a good one for near the same price that would be great. Thanks.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=32208

 

it will work for aluminum. You might be surprised how thick it will cut. For the normal 3003 or 5052 the std wood blades work well but for 6061 or anything better you need to buy a bimetal blade . Used an old craftsman for years before I got the doall. Use a skip tooth design or like a 6tpi

 

I've been looking at band saws too.
The Ridgid saw at Home Depot has a three year warranty and is only 30$ more:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100041658

They actually have a reconditioned one for $280 too:
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...ctId=100642051

I think like most saws of any kind, you need to put money into a good blade. (I've got a 60$ chop saw from Sears with a 80$ blade and it works perfectly.)

 

i have that harbor freight one.i got it for free and it cuts all the al i need it to.you can also convert it to cut steel.you need to add a jack shaft to reduce the speed down.

 

Harbor freight = disposable tools.

 

may have to check that one out... Thanks.

 

So slower is better for steel? It says it goes down to 600 fpm. How much slower does it need to go?

 

I have this one. I cut aluminum and stainless on it all day. Nice thing about this unit is that its both a horizontal and a vertical band saw.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=93762