How to Cut a Angle Iron on a Band Saw

When cutting angle iron with a band saw, you need to use a band saw designed to cut metal. A woodcutting band saw runs too fast to cut metal, even if it has adjustable speed settings, and a woodcutting band saw does not use coolant. Coolant is vital to cutting angle iron, as heat will build quickly between the blade of the band saw and the angle iron. If too much heat is generated, the teeth of the band saw blade will wear prematurely and you will have difficulty cutting through the angle iron.

Things You'll Need

• Metal-cutting band saw
• Angle iron
• Safety glasses
• Tape measure

Instructions

1. Examine the blade of the band saw for missing or worn teeth. If the blade shows excessive signs of wear, exchange the worn blade for a new blade.

2. Put on your safety glasses.

3. Slide the angle iron onto the bed of the band saw and flip the angle so the two legs of the angle iron are resting on the band saw bed.

4. Lower the band saw until the blade rests 1/4 of an inch above the peak of the angle iron. Hold the end of the tape measure against the blade of the band saw and slide the angle iron along the tape measure until you reach the dimension that you need to cut the angle iron.

5. Turn the handle of the band saw vise clockwise to secure the angle iron, turn on the band saw and lower the band saw slowly toward the angle iron.

6. Complete the cut and then raise the band saw above the peak of the angle iron.

7. Turn the handle of the band saw vise to release the angle iron and remove the cut length of angle iron from the bed of the band saw.

References

• Band Saw Metal Cutting
• Weldtube: Band Saw Case Study