BandFiler

BruceC · Dec 19, 2016

Is anyone familiar with Bandfilers? They are like a bandsaw but instead of a blade there is a series of short files attached to a band and this band runs around the wheels as a bandsaw blade would.
They don't seem to make them anymore. Is that because they didn't work too well or they have been replaced by a better tool?

There seem to be dedicated bandfilers and bandsaws which can take either a bandsaw blade or a bandfiler.

Here is a pic of a dedicated bandfiler.

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Larry Dickman · Dec 19, 2016

place I used to work we had one. No body ever used it, but just looking at it was scarier than shit. Like some medieval torture device. I can't picture it being too safe, and it had to have been noisier that hell.

Mebfab · Dec 19, 2016

The original purpose was replaced. They where used to file relief (secondary) into stamping dies. This is now done on a vmc or wire edm.

Same with knocking corners off parts. Done on the machining center when making the part.

Mike C. · Dec 19, 2016

I have a Grob bandfile in the home shop. It's a cool thing now and again. Biggest use I have had for it is contouring parts roughed out on the bandsaw. It's actually not at all dangerous or noisy, certainly nowhere near as much so as a bandsaw. File bands are kind of expensive, but as long as you run them at the proper surface speed for the material, they last a long while. I don't know that I would go out and spend a lot of money on one, but I bought a lathe from a guy and he said I could have the bandfile and a small horizontal saw if I got them out of his way... twist my arm.

BruceC · Dec 20, 2016

Thank you for the information.

I got a hold of the parts needed to try putting a bandfile on my doall band saw. Not sure what I will use it for but it should be interesting to see how/if it works.

Thank you.

SAG 180 · Dec 21, 2016

They were superseded by the much more efficient "File blaster" which used a hopper filled with tiny files that were blasted at the object to be filed with compressed air through a nozzle.

Onepass · Dec 22, 2016

Mebfab said:
The original purpose was replaced. They where used to file relief (secondary) into stamping dies. This is now done on a vmc or wire edm.

Same with knocking corners off parts. Done on the machining center when making the part.

I believe thats right on as far s why ya don't see'em for sale new or even used. I'd say in a private shop where you have a multitude of older machines and didn't have a wire EDM or a CNC machine, they'd still come in handy. I've got one. It's a near new DoAll factory made band filer. It works great for what it does. It ain't any noisier than a bandsaw and it certainly isn't the least intimidating to use. Bought it surplus from a big gov't shop. It comes in handy for me- I have it near my mill- it makes a right nice table to put parts on, or even a fan in the summer

[486] · Dec 22, 2016

Seems like something that they had before proper abrasive belts came about.

Get yourself a proper metalworking belt sander, 6-7K sfm, 2hp per inch of width. it'll eat metal real nice, and quick too.

Mike C. · Dec 23, 2016

Band file doesn't get the work hot, doesn't tend to round the corners, and removes material almost as fast, with a good sharp coarse file on it. Much quieter and no abrasive dust slinging all over the place. If you have never used one, they are a very interesting machine.

MartyZero · Dec 24, 2016

Yep. Used for putting relief on dies. I used them back in the late '70s. Wire EDM made them passe'.

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