Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: cutting bandsaw door

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    south jersey
    Posts
    355

    cutting bandsaw door

    what is the best way to cut a hole in the door of a bandsaw for dust collection without making it look it was done by an incompetent chainsaw killer?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2006
    Location
    Mililani, Hawaii
    Posts
    175
    1) Hole saw (best)

    2) Jig Saw with circle attachment (good)

    3) Free-hand with a tin snips (poor-choice)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Gilbert, AZ
    Posts
    239
    I dremelled it. The port was then attached to the outside and covers up the ragged hole.

  4. Quote Originally Posted by Brian Kerley View Post
    I dremelled it. The port was then attached to the outside and covers up the ragged hole.
    And miss out on a perfectly good excuse to go buy another tool - appropriate size hole saw?
    Shame on you

    A.W.D.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2007
    Location
    Seattle, WA
    Posts
    1,495
    After drawing the exact location, I started with an angle grinder to rough out the hole, then moved to a dremel to fine-tune it and relieve the burrs left behind.

    It may not be totally perfect, but to the eye, it looks like a true circle. And of course, it's covered by the hose, so it really doesn't matter.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central MA
    Posts
    1,583
    The absolute best way is with a 4" knockout punch. The problem is that you have to know a commercial electrician that has one.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    The Hartland of Michigan
    Posts
    7,628
    Cutting torch will do it.
    Never, under any circumstances, consume a laxative and sleeping pill, on the same night

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Minnesota
    Posts
    2,283
    It's super easy!

    Hold your dust port against the wheel cover and use a Sharpie marker to trace around the inside. Then use a jigsaw with a metal cutting blade and run the jigsaw on it's smoothest setting. If the hole is a bit ragged when you're done it won't matter because you're going to cover it with the dust port. I did this with my old JET bandsaw and it worked great. You won't believe the difference when you connect it to your dust collector.
    Last edited by Jason White; 09-24-2013 at 9:50 PM.

  9. #9
    Why cut a hole in the door? Can you mount a shop-vac hose under the table at the lower guide assembly?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    south jersey
    Posts
    355
    I've been doing that. not good enough. far better than nothing but still leaves more sweeping than I'd like. I'd be very interested in yours and others experience.

  11. #11
    When I had a plasma cutter, I would usually use a jigsaw when I could for the cleaner cut. If you would want to get exotic, you could use a carbide burr in a router with a pattern to refine the hole, but that would be a little extreme.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Raleigh, NC
    Posts
    888
    A knockout will give you a very clean, round hole. Even a HF knockout will work once!
    I also stuck weather stripping all around the lower door and it helped considerably, but am still losing suction under the table. If I never tilt the table or change the blade, I could really seal it up

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •