I've been reading the archives to get a handle on this dilemma...I need to do a little aluminum and brass metal cutting, preferably on my 14" Grizzly wood BS -- but not enough metal cutting that I can justify buying a variable speed BS or a separate metal saw. (Also do not have any additional floor space for another machine.) So, if I *must* use my wood BS for this task, how can I stack the deck in my favor?
- Is there a relatively easy way to reduce the speed of my BS? Such as the commonly available inline variable speed units used for routers?
- Are there any blades that would work especially well for this task? Perhaps with small teeth spread further apart, to reduce the "virtual" speed of the blade?
- Is there some maximum thickness I should keep in mind when cutting aluminum and brass on a wood BS?
- Or is it such a bad idea, I should cut some other way, such as using my chop saw with a negative hook blade?
What bad things happen if you cut aluminum or brass at the high speeds a wood bandsaw runs, anyway? ... thanks ...