Bandsaw outside?

[Brian Sommers]

I want to get a bandsaw but the only place I can put it is outside.

Is this throwing my money away? Will it rot to rust quickly? Or do I need to hose it down with WD40 every day when I'm done.

Or should I just stay inside and resaw by hand? - That's a terrifying thought. I'll do whatever it takes though to do woodworking.

[Alan Schwabacher]

You can do what you need to do, but it's definitely more work to keep an outdoor bandsaw in good shape. It might entail a tarp you strap over it each day as you finish work. Building some sort of enclosure can make it easier to protect. The floor space required by a bandsaw is less than for other stationary machines.

I once built a woodstrip canoe outdoors, and it feels like I spent as much time covering it with plastic or waiting for the rain to stop as I did working on it.

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Where I live, our average annual moisture is 13". 3 inches less, we'd be a desert. I wouldn't consider keeping a bandsaw outside here or in Ohio. I worked for a period of time in Ohio. I spent part of my childhood in neighboring Indiana, and nearby Illinois. IMO it would be a constant unwinnable war. The benefits of owning a bandsaw would not begin to warrant the work necessary to keep it free from rust, if possible.

[Brian Sommers]

I'm in South Carolina now, I need to update my profile.

I think I'm going to invest in a wooden bow saw and do it by hand or buy it already S4S

[Erik Loza]

Back in my MM days, we had a customer who put one of our bandsaws in some outside environment, like maybe under a covered porch. Never personally saw it but he apparently cemented the base into place. I think it lasted maybe 5 years. Once in contact with "the ground", the whole chassis started to rust from the inside out.

Unrelated and for the OP, not a huge fan of WD40 for rust protection. It works fine for cleaning and light lube but seems to attract (or at least not repel) water. There are other treatments like Boeshield and good 'ol paste wax that will do a better job. If you think about it, a good many of us have equipment that is technically "outdoors". Meaning, in non-climate controlled shops. In fact, I would say the vast majority of my pro shops here in TX. Just a steel building or whatever. They will get cosmetic rust but still mechanically work fine. I was just in a shop last week that had an MM16 from around 2006 that was like this. Not pretty but still 100% functional. Just my 2-cents as always,

Erik

[Brian Sommers]

well, let me ask you all this:

Is there some way I could put a small one on a wheeled cart of some sort that I could pull in the house at night?

maybe something like: https://www.amazon.com/WEN-3959-2-5-Amp-9-Inch-Benchtop/dp/B077QMBTLP?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_1

[Jim Becker]

well, let me ask you all this:

Is there some way I could put a small one on a wheeled cart of some sort that I could pull in the house at night?

Absolutely you can do that...mobility is often a key factor for many woodworkers and while most use that "within" the confines of their shop space, there are also a lot of folks who use space external to their shops while actually working, such as a driveway or patio. So you could pick up something like the nice 10"-12" Rikon bench top band saw or similar and put it on a mobile stand. The only downside relative to re-saw work will be limited height and the need to cut slower due to power restrictions. Using the correct blade will help with that. The issue with "outside" is primarily about weather. If you only use the tool outside while you are actually working...which is unlikely to be in bad weather...there should be no difference than there would be with working in a formal shop.

[Brian Sommers]

Thanks, that might be my solution I'm looking for. I'm aiming to be a hybrid but if I can eliminate the tough jobs my hand (ripping, resawing) then I know I'll give myself a huge boost.

[Frank Pratt]

Thanks, that might be my solution I'm looking for. I'm aiming to be a hybrid but if I can eliminate the tough jobs my hand (ripping, resawing) then I know I'll give myself a huge boost.

I agree with your direction. Leave the grunt work to the machines.

[Doug Dawson]

I want to get a bandsaw but the only place I can put it is outside.

Is this throwing my money away? Will it rot to rust quickly? Or do I need to hose it down with WD40 every day when I'm done.

Or should I just stay inside and resaw by hand? - That's a terrifying thought. I'll do whatever it takes though to do woodworking.

What, you don't have a bedroom? Do you live in a _closet_? At one point I was living in an apartment, and I had a stationary band saw in there. Get serious or go home. ;^)

[Brian Sommers]

Oh I have a bedroom but it houses my computer and I'm afraid the dust and everything else would clog it up and it would end up being a hot mess. I could hook up a dust extractor to it but still I'm afraid it would be terrible dirty.

[glenn bradley]

I'm sure there are a lot of Wood Mizers and like machines that do not get parked in controlled environments every night. A tarp or a "pop up" with walls may be a storage idea when not in use(?). Given that, you would want it mobile anyway so a mobile base that isolates it would be in your favor.

[andy bessette]

Can't imagine doing much woodworking without a decent (not Wen) bandsaw. I'd definitely look towards a solution where you could store it indoors.

[Paul F Mills]

I live in the Upstate of SC and my dad lives in the middle part of the state. We get rust on our tools when stored in the garage because the humidity is so high. I cannot imagine storing something outside.

[Doug Dawson]

Oh I have a bedroom but it houses my computer and I'm afraid the dust and everything else would clog it up and it would end up being a hot mess. I could hook up a dust extractor to it but still I'm afraid it would be terrible dirty.

Resawing by hand is going to generate more fine dust in the air than a decent band saw hooked up to a decent dust collector. Get a decent dust collector. And get an air filtration box (like the ubiquitous Jet AFS1000.) Just put a cover over the computer. No, you can't store machined cast iron outside (unless you live in the desert. Maybe. Maybe the Atacama.)

[Bill Dufour]

My metal supplier has a bandsaw in a open shack with roller racks into both sides it is pretty open to the weather. Of course it is only for 90 degree cuts and it uses flood coolant so no rust. It is coated wih oil everywhere.
Bil lD.

[Jim Becker]

I'm sure there are a lot of Wood Mizers and like machines that do not get parked in controlled environments every night. A tarp or a "pop up" with walls may be a storage idea when not in use(?). Given that, you would want it mobile anyway so a mobile base that isolates it would be in your favor.
Those machines were designed to live outside...unlike most general woodworking tools.

[Brian Sommers]

I'm thinking it might take me a while to save up for a nice bandsaw. I watched Peter Sellers video about him bringing in a bandsaw! I couldn't believe it but he really sold me on it because He even uses it for ripping, crosscutting and resawing.
I'll set mine up for straight cuts and use a handheld jigsaw for the really curvy stuff if I need it - I can touch that up with spokeshaves, shinto rasp and other files, etc.

I'll probably get the Rikon 10" that's under $500 but I'd really like to get the Rikon 14" but with a price of over $1200 - a bit steep for my tastes.
If I can sell all my jewelry tools, then I'll be able to afford it. In the mean time it's going to be one piece at a time until I can get everything.

[Tom Trees]

Don't know how the motor would hold up, blade can be removed, and guides and that sprayed.
It might be worth looking into seeing if you can find a saw that has a TIN coating on the table like on the DEFT tablesaws.
It might also be worth looking to see if they make granite tables on some machines, since granite wheels are being produced for bandsaws.

Or maybe worth looking for a broken saw or one with missing parts and make your own table from something resilient.
That might be the most sensible option.
Tom

[andy bessette]

Look for a used machine in good condition.

[Alex Zeller]

You might try looking for a meat saw. They are usually stainless steel. I came across several for a good price when looking for a used band saw. The downside is that the table is a thick sheet metal, not cast so there's no miter gauge slot. Also attaching a fence would be more difficult (and the magnetic ones will not work). It may not be the best saw for woodworking but it could get you by until you have more room inside.

Around here just covering something with a tarp is almost pointless as the humidity will get under the tarp. Once that happens the tarp keeps it from drying out. Also with the rapid changes in temperature the metal will be much colder than the atmosphere and will just suck every last drop of water out of the air.

[Pete Staehling]

I'll play devil's advocate here. Lots of power tools live in non climate controlled garages. How much worse can it be to be in a covered outdoor space, especially with a little extra care? I'd get a used Delta or similar and keep it under cover (porch, shed, or worst case tarp only, whatever). Wheel it out for use if necessary.

Years ago I used some machines in a garage (not mine). It wasn't far from the Chesapeake Bay. They sat in that garage that had water on the floor after any heavy rain. They got very little care. They had been there for decades with minimal care and were working fine. They might have had a bit of motor oil rubbed on them at some point years previously, but that was about the extent of the care they got as far as i knew other than replacing worn belts and what not. They had a very heavy patina on any bare metal surfaces, but really didn't have red rust and were generally in good working order. People who fuss over their cast iron may have been appalled at their condition, but the machines still functioned okay for at least several decades.

[michael langman]

I might consider painting the table with a can of spray paint if left outside.

[Pete Staehling]

I just remembered a shop I visited years ago. The guy who owned it built a lot of custom stuff for older restored boats. He worked up lots of custom teak pieces, some of it high dollar stuff. He did beautiful work. His "shop" was right on the water and much of it could barely be considered indoors. It was kind of a warren of lean tos, sheds, and pole barns and looked like a disaster zone. There were wood burning stoves for heat. Parts of the place were partly closed in with plastic sheeting. In the summer the parts with plastic were left open for ventilation and while under roof, definitely not climate controlled. The machines looked ancient, but were fully functional. The guy turned out beautiful work.

I figured it was a miracle the place hadn't either burned down or been condemned by the county.

[Jeff Duncan]

I was in Bangladesh some years ago and was surprised to see several “shops” with large bandsaws located under lean-to type structures. They looked to be older heavy machines, which maybe hold up better due to all the cast iron?
FYI Bangladesh has a tropical climate and is on the ocean, so is not ideal environment for equipment. I guess with a bit of care you can make things work.

Good luck,
JeffD

[Eric Danstrom]

Thanks, that might be my solution I'm looking for. I'm aiming to be a hybrid but if I can eliminate the tough jobs my hand (ripping, resawing) then I know I'll give myself a huge boost.

Shopsmith. I have two 11" bandsaws, 6x48 belt sander, 4" jointer, 18" scroll saw, 16x34 lathe, 10" table saw, 16" drill press and all the accessories stored in 2'x6' space. There's lots of cheap SS to be had on my local Craigslist. Some of its from heirs and hasn't been used for a few decades so some DIY rehabbing skills are good to have.

I'm in a single car garage and Shopsmith is perfect for my hybrid approach. Compact when storing, easy to roll out on the driveway.

(Two bandsaws mean no blade changing, very convenient :) )

[Rob Charles]

I am with Pete on this one. Machinery has been out doors in various applications & uses for a long, long time. If you need & want one, buy one. Why wait until you have a palace to house it? Understanding that the saw will likely be outside for a some time & will have concomitant high depreciation, it might be prudent to minimize the cost (ie. a decent used one at an acceptable price point), get decent cover or shelter for it, paint/coat the exposed metal surfaces & cover the electrical junctions/connections or replace them with appropriate weather/water proof enclosures, & enjoy the saw. A saw with a TEFC motor in this application might be worth a few motor $$$ at purchase. If you end up with a open motor, cover it & keep watch for a suitable TEFC, wash down or farm duty motor.

[David Buchhauser]

I'll play devil's advocate here. Lots of power tools live in non climate controlled garages. How much worse can it be to be in a covered outdoor space, especially with a little extra care? I'd get a used Delta or similar and keep it under cover (porch, shed, or worst case tarp only, whatever). Wheel it out for use if necessary.

Years ago I used some machines in a garage (not mine). It wasn't far from the Chesapeake Bay. They sat in that garage that had water on the floor after any heavy rain. They got very little care. They had been there for decades with minimal care and were working fine. They might have had a bit of motor oil rubbed on them at some point years previously, but that was about the extent of the care they got as far as i knew other than replacing worn belts and what not. They had a very heavy patina on any bare metal surfaces, but really didn't have red rust and were generally in good working order. People who fuss over their cast iron may have been appalled at their condition, but the machines still functioned okay for at least several decades.

I agree with Pete 100% on this one. There's a big difference between leaving a power tool out in the elements with rain pouring directly on it, or housing it under a tarp, makeshift enclosure, etc.
David

[Edward Dyas]

I want to get a bandsaw but the only place I can put it is outside.

Is this throwing my money away? Will it rot to rust quickly? Or do I need to hose it down with WD40 every day when I'm done.

Or should I just stay inside and resaw by hand? - That's a terrifying thought. I'll do whatever it takes though to do woodworking.You would have more issues with rust keeping the saw outdoors but if you coat the raw metal parts with WD-40 and cover it with a tarp when not in use you shouldn't have a problem. My shop is under construction and missing one wall so I have to cover everything when not in use.

[Tom Trees]

And another thing
Has any of you folks seen Bill Carters anvil that he keeps outside?
It has a lovely shiny patina from years of linseed oil.

[Pete Staehling]

I think the acceptability of this exposure will depend on the attitude and background of the user. I read about how folks fuss over their cast iron and wax, protect, polish it and are upset if it doesn't have that light shiny new look. I read about how it is ruined if there is a little humidity in the air and so on. Then I remember all the many shops I worked in over the years where the cast iron got almost no care despite being in a humid climate on the coast. Some of the shops were pretty wet (like the garage I mentioned before). I don't remember it being a big deal in any of those shops.

The cast iron in all those shops had what I considered a lovely patina. I am guessing that maybe by some folks standards it was ruined.

My current shop is climate controlled and most of the machines are either newish or someone took abrasives to the cast iron tables before I purchased them. Funny thing... I actually miss that dark patina. I am not going to intentionally let it rust on anything, but I won't mind one bit when it ultimately turns dark.

[Carl Beckett]

I'm thinking it might take me a while to save up for a nice bandsaw. I watched Peter Sellers video about him bringing in a bandsaw! I couldn't believe it but he really sold me on it because He even uses it for ripping, crosscutting and resawing.
I'll set mine up for straight cuts and use a handheld jigsaw for the really curvy stuff if I need it - I can touch that up with spokeshaves, shinto rasp and other files, etc.

I'll probably get the Rikon 10" that's under $500 but I'd really like to get the Rikon 14" but with a price of over $1200 - a bit steep for my tastes.
If I can sell all my jewelry tools, then I'll be able to afford it. In the mean time it's going to be one piece at a time until I can get everything.

I have a large 18" bandsaw. And a Rikon 10" benchtop I got not long ago (306 I think the model). The smaller bandsaw gets used as much as the larger does.

I cannot imagine resawing everything by hand.

The good news about bandsaws is they are relatively small footprint, so do not take up a lot of space. Moving it around is no problem. Do note that a smaller saw on a stand, takes up just as much space as a larger saw that is floor standing.

The Rikon sits on the end of bench for me, with tool boxes underneath. I think you will be able to do a lot with that little saw and I would take that any day over having to rip boards by hand.

In my area used 14" cast iron saws are quite cheap (cheaper than the Rikon new), which might be a consideration for you (saw a small INCA on CL yesterday for $175 which is too good to be true for you, but bargains are out there if patient). Having said that I sold my jet 14" cast iron saw when I bought the Rikon, and do not regret it.

[Pete Staehling]

I have a large 18" bandsaw. And a Rikon 10" benchtop I got not long ago (306 I think the model). The smaller bandsaw gets used as much as the larger does.

I cannot imagine resawing everything by hand.

The good news about bandsaws is they are relatively small footprint, so do not take up a lot of space. Moving it around is no problem. Do note that a smaller saw on a stand, takes up just as much space as a larger saw that is floor standing.

The Rikon sits on the end of bench for me, with tool boxes underneath. I think you will be able to do a lot with that little saw and I would take that any day over having to rip boards by hand.

In my area used 14" cast iron saws are quite cheap (cheaper than the Rikon new), which might be a consideration for you (saw a small INCA on CL yesterday for $175 which is too good to be true for you, but bargains are out there if patient). Having said that I sold my jet 14" cast iron saw when I bought the Rikon, and do not regret it.

You mentioned the Rikon 10" and the 14" cast iron models. Those are the two options that sound like likely options for the OP to me. Either squeeze a the Rikon inside somewhere on the bench or find a deal on a used Delta, Rockwell, Jet, or similar and keep it outdoors but under cover or in a shed and wheel it out for use. You can probably find a 14" for pretty cheap if you are patient. There are thousands of them out there, some sitting unused, some being replaced with larger saws, some being upgraded. It shouldn't be too hard to find something in the $300 +/- range in most parts of the country if you aren't in a big rush.

[Doug Dawson]

I think the acceptability of this exposure will depend on the attitude and background of the user. I read about how folks fuss over their cast iron and wax, protect, polish it and are upset if it doesn't have that light shiny new look. I read about how it is ruined if there is a little humidity in the air and so on. Then I remember all the many shops I worked in over the years where the cast iron got almost no care despite being in a humid climate on the coast. Some of the shops were pretty wet (like the garage I mentioned before). I don't remember it being a big deal in any of those shops.

The cast iron in all those shops had what I considered a lovely patina. I am guessing that maybe by some folks standards it was ruined.

My current shop is climate controlled and most of the machines are either newish or someone took abrasives to the cast iron tables before I purchased them. Funny thing... I actually miss that dark patina. I am not going to intentionally let it rust on anything, but I won't mind one bit when it ultimately turns dark.

Rust is red, not dark. I like patina too, and my older tools have it. Rust is entirely different from patina. It is the fruit of negligence and neglect.

[lowell holmes]

My band saw sits on a mobile base and stays in a corner of my garage shop.

https://www.google.com/search?q=bandsaw+mobile+base&oq=bandsaw+mobile+base&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.10646j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8