Sawing is the process of cutting a workpiece with power band saws, hacksaws, and circular saws. This article discusses the process capabilities and limitations of band sawing. It provides information on band sawing machines, their fixtures and attachments, band construction and materials, blade design, and cutting fluids associated with the band sawing process. The article also discusses the variables considered in band saw machining. In addition, it presents examples representing the comparison of contour band sawing with milling and shaping in various applications. The article concludes with a discussion on the safety precautions to be followed during band sawing and on friction band sawing, circular sawing, and hacksawing.

Mechanical cutting methods are widely used by the metal fabrication industry. This article introduces the welding fabricator to some of the mechanical equipment used to shape or prepare metals for welding. The most prevalent equipment used for mechanical cutting includes shears, iron workers, nibblers, and band saws. The article provides details on each of these.