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Best Way to Cut Copper Rod Stock?

Wolfman29

Wolfman29

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Hey there everyone.

My bandsaw recently started to malfunction... I used to use it to cut copper rod stock (7/8" diameter) but then it got caught on it and... well, not it doesn't cut straight (the blade shakes back and forth).

So what's the best way to go about rapidly and cleanly cutting copper rod stock? Preferably, something that doesn't involve expensive equipment, because I don't have much money... :D

I have a dremel, but the battery always craps out on me (really, really old) and it doesn't want to cut through copper rod stock very quickly or cleanly anyway. I could hacksaw it to death but that would take forever....

Any ideas?
 





Kevlar

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With a new blade, a hacksaw won't take too long, it's what I use. I really can't think of anything else, sorry.
 
Flaminpyro

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Yep that is what I use a hack saw and it's got an old blade in it.
I cut 5ea 1" aliminum and 3ea 1' copper just today...
 
123splat

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Wolfie,
Remember the discussion on anealing? Softens up the metal makes it easier to cut. Have you tried increasing the tension on your Bandsaw blade.
 
Mohrenberg

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yup a hacksaw is about your only choice. if the stock is short enough you can put it on your lathe and let it spin (slowly) and do the cutting for you.

Harbor freight also has portable band saws for $75 that work pretty good.
 
Wolfman29

Wolfman29

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@123:
Yup. Same copper rod stock that I annealed before. Does the process last? If so, I shouldn't need to anneal it again, yeah?

@Moh:
HAH! If only I had a lathe.... Or enough money to buy a bandsaw.

@Chip:
What's that?
 
chipdouglas

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a reciprocating saw is more commonly called a "sawzall" it is a motorized saw that makes a straight blade go back and forth really fast... and the 14 tpi that meas "teeth per inch. 14 tpi is good for non ferrous metals. when using a motorized saw it is good to use a cuttin fluid also. i also tape around where i am cutting to help prevent unwanted scratches.

michael.
 
Wolfman29

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Hmm, I actually think I have a jigsaw if my ex-step-dad didn't take it when he left. And, to Chip: Hmm. Don't think my dad had one of those....

I have this odd saw that jumps the blade up and down... it's table mounted and it jiggles a lot... don't know how to describe it, but it's a vertical blade that moves with the whole "arm" and then the arm moves up and down to make the blade move up and down. I tried cutting copper stock with it but it didn't work :( What type of saw is this?
 
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Thorsteenster

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Sounds to me the best way for you is going to be seeing why your band saw is jumpy.
Is it for cutting metal or wood? I have an el cheapo from Home Depot, even with a bi-metal blade it's to fast to cut metal. Sheet anyway, rod may be fine, but yours may be too fast also.
 
Wolfman29

Wolfman29

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Well, I have cut with that band saw before. It worked quite well, actually, and it cut through my rod stock very well for a while and then it got caught on something and then it broke (got caught while on).

I would try to take apart the bandsaw and see why it's jumpy, but I am afraid that I won't be able to put it back together in working order once it's apart.

And I have no idea if it's for cutting metal or wood. Probably wood, because my dad never worked with metal and it was his... but it works fine on metal, so what's the problem? :p

EDIT: By the way, while I was gone for the two or three hours, I made a very nice, copper, perfect fitting heatsink that even makes contact with the pill for my second Aurora C6! I did a great job with this one :D The fit is so tight that it effectively turns the whole host into the heatsink... I think I could even put a 445 or a high-powered 405 in this baby! (With RCR123As, of course)
 
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Thorsteenster

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Not much to the band saw, couple wheels and blade guides. Just open her up and look to see if you see anything that looks odd or broken. You can also turn it on for a few seconds to help pinpoint the cause.
Really you might just need to tighten/adjust it.
 
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