Straight cuts are crucial to prepping materials for welding such as cutting I-beam, square, or round tubing. If your cuts are crooked it will make welding difficult at best, impossible at worst. Fillers may be needed or additional welding wire to fill the gaps left by the uneven edges. You may also have to recut or even scrap your piece and start over which is time-consuming. Here are some tips on cutting structural materials right the first time so your welds can be made simply and efficiently.

Set the tension properly on the blade. Tensions set to 32,000 PSI or more can cause the band to break or other failures, and less than 25,000 PSI can lead to the beam strength being poor or crooked cuts. Most machines work best with the tension set between these numbers.

Making sure your cuts are straight is easily achieved by setting your sawing parameters correctly. Set your machine to the correct cut rate and blade speed for your material. Slower speeds for tougher material, higher speeds for softer material.

Secure any bundles of material before cutting. This will prevent pieces from moving, ensuring your cuts are correct on every piece.

Use the correct blade to withstand the stresses of structural cutting and break in your new blades to hone the teeth and extend the blade’s life.

Ensuring you are able to get the job done right the first time is vital for production and efficiency. Don’t waste time or materials making cuts that won’t stand up to the job at hand. Keeping proper care of your machines and blades is the absolute best way to ensure your cuts will be straight and smooth and you will save yourself a lot of trouble by doing it the right way the first time. If you work in a field where your tools are the most important factor, check out our website for information on the KAMA bandsaw lineup. Start with the best so you can finish the job right the first time!

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