Band Saw Cutting Techniques Explained

Band saws are one of the most versatile tools in the shop. For this reason, you as a technician have a responsibility to learn the art and practice your skills in hopes of becoming an expert technician. While cutting wood and metal is a skill that can take years to master, once you've accomplished this, what you can build using a band saw is seemingly endless.

Before becoming a master, one must master the basics, which includes perfecting your band saw cutting techniques. If you're new to operating a band saw, or are just looking to brush up on various styles, here's a rundown on four common methods. 

The first trick to a precise cut is to keep your band saw well maintained, clean and lubricated. Efficient lubrication and misting systems work best to produce accurate cuts. Treat the saw badly and it won't cut well, no matter how skilled a cutter you are. 

Cutting Straight
A straight cut is the mark of any good band saw expert and takes practice, a steady hand and deep concentration. While cutting a straight line sounds easy, it isn't. Even the slightest movement can turn your straight mark into a wonky line.

Arch Cut
To carve a circle, cut around the circumference of the circle a little piece at a time.  It’s important not to overdo it.  You can take away pieces of wood but you can’t add wood back.

Re-Saw
Re-saw refers to cutting thinner and smaller pieces of wood from a larger piece.

Simultaneous Cutting
Several pieces of wood can be cut by the band saw at the same time as long as they are the same size.  You can do this by stacking the pieces together, securing it with strong tape. 

Remember, your band saw cutting skills are only as good as the care you take of the blade and the overall condition of the band saw itself.  Regular maintenance, lubrications and misting systems, and proper care for the blades and your skills will continue to improve over time.

The Key To Keeping Your Machines Working Well

All across America industrial machinery is being used to build our cars, our technologies and lots of other everyday items we use.  These machines do everything from producing parts to assembling finished products. They have a big job and are relied upon heavily for mass production. 

Because of their abundant usage and our dependency of the goods they produce, keeping them in prime condition is extremely important. One of the best things a business can do for their machinery is to make sure it is properly lubricated. 

Many people believe that a lubricant is simply used to make things “slippery.” While it is the primary function, there are more advantages to using the right lubricant. In addition to friction reduction, it also reduces the amount of wear that occurs during operation, reduces operating temperatures, minimizes corrosion of metal surfaces, and assists in keeping contaminants out of the system.

In short, if you want to continue producing high-quality goods and keeping consumers happy, it's best to invest in a top-of-the-line MQL system. Our metalworking fluid and lubricants are environmentally safe organic oils that are as much as 300-times higher in lubricity than conventional cutting oils. They function as a cleaner, purging the system of dirt and debris with every application. These systems ensure that your machine’s core components remain consistently lubricated, effectively reducing heat and friction, thus extending the life of your machines. 

Finally, they save you money. And who doesn't like to hear those magical words.  Regular lubrication reduces the need for expensive repairs and part-replacements, saving many manufacturing companies thousands of dollars each year. If you’re in the market for high-quality industrial lubricants, look no further than MagLube.com. Contact us today to learn more about our eco-friendly MQL system and industrial lubricants.

Maintaining Your Band Saw Blades

A band saw is an important tool for a wood worker. Its versatility is well-known, making it commonplace in industries such as metalworking, lumber yards and countless industrial facilities.  Its popularity also means that your band saw is worked hard on a daily basis. 

To keep your band saw running well, proper maintenance is as vital to it as correct usage of the equipment. Cleaning and maintenance of a band saw at regular intervals is essential for production and increased lifespan. The importance of regular maintenance of your band saw cannot be overemphasized. 

An important tip to remember: never limit the band saws maintenance to one part of the machine while overlooking the rest. All parts functioning together bring it to maximum performance. If you neglect a key part, such as the blade or a belt, there can be consequences to other pieces of the machinery. Regular maintenance with band saw coolant increase the longevity of the tool, enabling it to run smoothly and produce accurate cuts.

Keep your blades in peak condition by regularly following these care tips:

• Wear a new blade down before usage. This is a common mistake often overlooked. 
• Lubrication is a must, especially when cutting metal. 
• Release tension from the blade after every usage. When cutting materials, your blade heats up.  As it heats, it stretches.  As it cools, it shrinks.  This shrinking can cause tiny cracks in your blade if it is still under tension. 
• To get the most out of your blade it is important to sharpen it periodically.  With your band saw off, gently rub a sharpening stone along both sides of the blade.

The Importance of Proper Lubrication

Obviously, consistent lubrication is essential when working with heavy-machinery and equipment. Everything from heavy-duty construction machinery to small-scale contracting tools requires some degree of lubrication to properly function. It's invaluable to the life of those tools that the lubrication schedule for maintenance is followed closely. Failure to do so can have serious, and costly, consequences to your tools and your company’s productivity. 

While many systems come with a built-in lubrication system, they aren't necessarily the best option. So what is the right solution, you ask?  A minimum quality lubrication system, especially MagLube’s environmentally-friendly solution, is the answer.  Decreasing friction and heat are among two of the key components provided by our industrial lubrication systems. 

Increased friction can lead to damaged core components, which dramatically shortens their usefulness and overall life spans. Well-lubricated parts, on the other hand, rub against each other in a much smoother manner than components lacking in lubrication. Like friction, heat can be minimized by a reliable lubricant. The more friction, the more heat – and the more heat produced means the greater the chance of your equipment overheating.

MagLube offers a variety of lubricants, all at an affordable price. Rather than spending money on costly and unnecessary repairs, our minimum quantity lubrication products will help keep money in your pocket. Shop our inventory today at MagLube.com.

Making a Smart Business Investment

The right lubrication can make all the difference in keeping your tools and equipment in working order. As a smart business owner, you know that's key to your business' success. Without properly functioning equipment, you can't continue to produce at a profitable pace; not to mention the costs associated with fixing the equipment, while you’re taking a hit on production.

Your company’s heavy-duty industrial tools and machinery need consistent and reliable lubrication in order to properly perform their day-to-day functions. In the absence of regular lubrication, the core components of the equipment will begin to rust, overheat, and rub up against one another, causing considerable damage. 

Are you looking to make a smart investment for your company’s future? If so, keep your machinery up and running for the foreseeable future with MagLube brand lubricants, as well as our convenient MQL system.

We know that lube application isn't one-size-fits-all, which is why we have a large diversity of applications to offer.  Our MQL system strives to meet the needs of our rapidly-expanding roster of clients. Even though our mass-produced application systems satisfy the bulk of our client base, we realize that certain tools have highly specialized needs. For this reason, MagLube is happy to create custom-made application systems for clients with specialized machinery.

Lubrication plays an invaluable role in keeping your industrial tools in working condition. However, not all lubricants are created equally. Make the smart choice for your business, and your tools, by investing in our non-toxic, highly dependable MQL system.

Why Use MQL

When it comes to cooling your cutting machinery, coolant has been the traditional route to flood the surface and keep the heat at bay. But the better solution, for a number of reasons, is minimum coolant lubrication.

Petroleum or synthetic based coolants typically mix 10-20 parts with water to flood the work-piece and tool to prevent heat. These traditional machining lubricants, or metalworking fluid/flood coolants, have little lubricating properties.

One of the main downsides to the use of coolant is all the extra steps involved. It requires equipment to recirculate, filter, test, and treat coolant, with contamination from bacteria, tramp oil, and swarf being major concerns. Spent coolant is typically classified as toxic waste and its disposal is regulated. Therefore, the use of flood coolant requires additional fees of its disposal. Another consequence of coolant is that it’s messy. Machines, floors, and finished parts are often left wet from coolant, causing potential slip hazards and often requiring part cleaning before secondary operations can take place.

Our industrial lubrication systems are environmentally safe organic oils that are as much as 300-times higher in lubricity than conventional cutting oils. They work to prevent heat from occurring by eliminating friction within industrial lubrication systems. They are distributed directly to the cutting edge of the tool before the workpiece cut is made with our precision delivery systems. This eliminates the need for quenching due to the lubricating properties in which heat is displaced through the chip, no fumes or mist are emitted, and there is no cleanup because 99.9% of the lubricant is consumed in the cut.

The cost and negative effects of traditional flood coolant are exactly why MQL is the perfect alternative. For all of your lubrication needs, visit MagLube.com and shop our entire inventory of eco-friendly lubrication products.