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Hey guys I am looking into buying a new mitering band saw for our machine shop at work. Mostly cutting mild steel 2"-4" round and square tubing, some 1/2" sheet from time to time, and C channel. Maybe aluminum rarely. We currently have 2 Amadas that are about 25 years old and have definitely seen better days.
Have had a lot of recommendations for Ellis. They seem like a nice product, but they cut dry (no coolant). This sounds attractive to reduce mess and one extra thing that doesn't have to be dealt with.
Budget is not really an issue (was looking at Doall 500S $20k), but the Ellis's are so much cheaper than others it would be extremely easy to convince management and less paperwork for me lol.
We went from a DoALL TF25A to a Dake LE10A. I would recommend the Dake. We've had amazing blade life cutting the same materials moving from the DoALL to the Dake. The coolant is self contained with a chip auger out the back, you don't ever do anything but dump the bin.
We have an Ellis at my work. Absolutely would not buy one personally. Won't make a straight cut after the 1st three cuts on a brand new blade, after rebuilding the pivot point multiple times (with oem replacement parts) and adjusting guides. Not worth the time. My plant has two of these machines, and the school some of the guys I work worth went to..... they all do not cut straight.
When you say cut straight, you mean in the 90 position?
Yes. As the blade travels downward, it starts to wander to the right (standing at the front of the machine). Cut is off horizontally by 1/8" on the rear of the cut, and up to 3/8ths in the front, at a very noticeable vertical angle. After so many rebuilds, we typically use a milwaukee port-a-band now, and we see more square cuts. The amount of money the company has dumped into these things is insane, but look at the initial cost of a new machine and don't want to hear it.
Ended up with a DoAll 400S. Will be installing next week and will post my review
How did the DoAll end up working for you? Did you go with their pneumatic vise or auto lift option? What made you decide to go that direction over another Amada saw? Thanks.
How did the DoAll end up working for you? Did you go with their pneumatic vise or auto lift option? What made you decide to go that direction over another Amada saw? Thanks.
Well its been 2 years and its holding up well, which says a lot considering how abusive people are on machines here.
It has the Pneumatic vise, auto lift, laser. Cost was the biggest factor. Amada wanted $40k, and DoAll was $15ish.
One thing I dont like is the way the advance speed adjustment is. Its easy to lose track of its position and turn the saw on to find it coming down at full bore because some people like to use it to bring the blade closer to the part to measure before they start the cut.
FWIW- We have an Ellis- had the same crooked cuts. talked to Ellis, they said to tighten the blade up about as tight as i could by hand, something 40,000 PSI on the blade.
After that- Cutting a 6" square tube 3/8" wall, I see maybe 1/32" off. it is damn near straight at 90*. but that is just my experience. and it is the 1800.
Unless you're cutting plastic I think that swapping a wet cut saw for a dry cut is the opposite of progress. Good blades like Starrett aren't cheap and everything else equal dry cutting will ruin blades faster.
10-09-2015, 07:58 AM
Band saws for light production
Re: Band saws for light production
