Power Hacksaw vs Bandsaw

Although the power hacksaw and bandsaw serve similar functions, they have some significant differences. The power hacksaw uses a forward-and-backward motion to slice through the material, with the cut made during the backstroke. Alternatively, a horizontal bandsaw enables continuous cutting because the blade is in a closed loop.

In both instances, the workpiece is fixed, and the cutting action is performed by the moving blade positioned on a swing arm that is dropped onto the workpiece. Material is fed into a vertical edge of a vertical bandsaw while it travels between at least two wheels.

Power Hacksaw

A powered hacksaw is a step up from a regular, non-powered hacksaw. It is highly effective at cutting large pieces of metal despite having somewhat archaic technology. The development of the power hacksaw enhanced the basic hand-held hacksaw's capabilities. Compared to what a hand-held hacksaw can handle, it can cut through thicker and broader materials.

How Do Electric Hacksaws Operate?

An electric motor drives the crank to which the power hacksaw's frame is attached. The electric motor's rotating action is conveyed to the crank through the belt and pulley. The crank then uses the regular motion to translate the spinning action into a reciprocating motion.

Read More: Types of Hacksaw Blades and Uses

This causes the blade and frame to reciprocate back and forth. The material is laid out beneath the blade, which is lowered to slice into it. Power hacksaws typically have a frame lifted slightly during the forward stroke and cut during the backward stroke. By doing this, it is ensured that during the idle stroke, the blade won't contact the workpiece. The cutting tip of a power hacksaw blade is pointed in the direction of the back.

Powered hacksaws come in two general categories:

• Gravity Feed – It uses gravity, as its name suggests. The frame's weight maintains the swing arm's downward motion and puts pressure on the job.
• Hydraulic – The hydraulics, in the case of hydraulic power hacksaws, give the blade further control over the cutting force. The power hacksaw is essentially a powered version of a typical, hand-held hacksaw, as the name suggests.

Bandsaws

Power hacksaws and bandsaws perform comparable tasks, yet they operate using distinct mechanics. Here, the blade is constantly cutting rather than in a reciprocating action. As a result, the horizontal band saw can cut metals significantly more quickly than a power hacksaw since there is no idle forward stroke.

Bandsaws can be divided into two categories: horizontal and vertical. They denote the blade's actual orientation, as their names imply. Vertical bandsaws are mainly used to cut soft metals like aluminum, produce patterns, and work with wood.

Here, the material is fed into a long, flexible blade that runs between two sizable upper and lower wheels rather than into the blade itself. The drive wheel, which connects the idler wheel to the edge, is one wheel. A small table through which the blade moves serves as the cutting surface for the material. Material from the table is run through the blade.

Bandsaw Vs. Power Hacksaw Comparison

Although the two devices do the same thing, they have some differences. The most noticeable differences are shown below. 

Efficiency

There is no question that the bandsaw is far more effective than the motorized hacksaw in terms of efficiency. The speed at which the bandsaw cuts and its precision and cleanliness contribute to this. Compared to using a powered hacksaw, projects take less time to finish. In some cases, the smoothness of the edges is not a concern, such as when demolition work is being done.

Reducing Time

This is another area where the bandsaw excels since, unlike a motorized hacksaw, it doesn't require an idler return stroke to cut the metal. Instead, the hacksaw blade must be pulled forward and repositioned to cut into the material while the hacksaw is working on the backstroke. In contrast to the motorized hacksaw, the bandsaw works continuously without wasting a stroke.

Tool Size

The motorized hacksaw is noticeably smaller than the bandsaw in terms of size. Due to the wheels and motor that drive the blade, bandsaws are often significant. A powered hacksaw is more compact.

Although a powered hacksaw is not the lightest of saws, it may be moved from one location to another. Moreover, compared to a bandsaw, it is much simpler to load onto a vehicle. So, the motorized hacksaw should consider if mobility is a top need.

Cost

The pricing is the only real benefit a power hacksaw has over a bandsaw, especially one with auto-feeding capabilities. The most expensive auto-feeding bandsaws can cost more than $10,000, making them comparable in price to mid-range vehicles. However, if purchased brand-new, lower-end bandsaws of decent quality will still cost you thousands of dollars.

For a few hundred dollars, one can buy a power hacksaw. Hacksaws in reasonable condition are frequently found for $200 or less. But even with the most recent features, a power hacksaw is still much less expensive than a standard bandsaw. If staying within your budget is your priority, a power hacksaw may be the right option if it can handle all of your requirements.

Read More: Circular Saw Blade Guide

Ability To Cut

The bandsaw excels in this situation over the motorized hacksaw because it can quickly work through a large volume of material. However, due to their reciprocating frame construction, building a large frame size for powered hacksaws is challenging. Also, power hacksaw blades shouldn't be long because they could break quickly. Therefore, cutting the same quantity of material with a powered hacksaw takes longer than it does with a bandsaw. This is because the size of the material that can be cut is limited.

Speed Variability

Different speeds can be used with bandsaws to maximize their cutting capacity. This implies that depending on what works best, you can set the speed for some metals either faster or slower. Typically, a motorized hacksaw has only one speed.

Powered hacksaws have a straight blade with square teeth, while bandsaws have a long flexible blade in the shape of a circular loop. Only a tiny amount of the blade is ever used during cutting. By the time the same cutting tooth circulates and returns to the workpiece, it has had plenty of time to cool down. On the other hand, the reciprocating blade has no opportunity to cool down, resulting in shorter tool life.

Additionally, because the length of the bandsaw blade is used during cutting, there is even distribution of tool wear. Significantly when cutting small cross-sections, a power hacksaw blade is often used only in the middle of the edge.

CONCLUSION

Decide which is ideal for you by ranking your needs in order of importance, evaluating your financial situation, and then choosing. Although the powered hacksaw has fewer capabilities than the bandsaw, it is still a handy saw for beginners who don't want to spend much money. On the other hand, the bandsaw is preferable for established workplaces since it provides more variety, cleaner cuts, and increased production. The final factor to take into consideration is which one perfectly suits you.