Band saw for meat and bones: types, design features, review of the most popular models

Any construction or major renovation is unlikely to be complete without boards and various beams. In this case, all this material must be cut to the required size.

Of course, you can purchase ready-made boards or beams. But this will require large financial costs. Therefore, many home craftsmen and professionals prefer to do everything themselves.

And for this you need the right tool, for example, a band saw. And in this case, you should not immediately run to the store to buy a machine.

If you have a little experience, then you will definitely be able to make a homemade band saw. And the technology of its production will be discussed in this article.

What it is?

The devices belong to auxiliary equipment that is widely used in industrial production, catering and retail establishments.
Mechanical saws consist of 4 main elements:

1. Countertops.
2. Limiter.
3. Pusher.
4. Cutting saw.

The design of most saw models is based on the same operating principle. Meat blocks are cut without crushing bones. This prevents their small fragments from getting into the pulp of the processed product. All types of mechanical saws give an even cut. It does not spoil the presentation of the product and affects the length of its shelf life.

Neatly cut pieces of meat look attractive to buyers.

Band saw device for cutting meat and bones.

Principle of operation

With the help of limiters, the thickness of cutting pieces of meat is regulated. The raw material, placed in a tray installed on the tabletop, is fed by a pusher onto the saw blade, which is closed by means of 2 rollers.

During operation, it moves perpendicular to the bed. The cut pieces fall on the tabletop in different directions.

At the end of the operation, the pieces are sorted. Waste is separated from them.

Instructions on how to make a band saw

You will need to go through several steps:

• Make drawings using a computer program or download them on the Internet. Decide on the size of the installation and clear a place for it.
• Make pulleys from plywood or other material. They need to be sanded and covered with rubber on the end side.
• Use metal channels to make the axle, or use durable wood.
• You need to insert bushings into both sides of the base that will hold the already made disks from point No. 2. Adjust them so that they stand straight without deviating.
• You can use a damper to dampen excess vibrations and vibrations.
• Install the motor (down below the table top) and connect it to the rotating parts.
• The table can be assembled from chipboard and covered with insulating material on top. It must stand firmly on a leg and be designed for a large mass, especially if metal will be processed.
• If you want a straight longitudinal cut, guides should be installed.

We will show you drawings with dimensions and calculations of a band saw that you can make yourself.

Kinds

Saws produced by manufacturers have different classifications.

According to their purpose, they are divided into 2 types:

1. Entry level . Used to equip meat processing plants. The devices are not designed for long-term operation. The body of this type of equipment is made of anodized aluminum.
2. Highly qualified . Designed for catering establishments and meat processing shops. The equipment can work without interruption for 8-10 hours. The equipment body is made of stainless steel.

Based on the type of cutting blade, saws are divided into 2 main types:

• Tape.

• Disk.

The saws are driven by electric motors. According to the installation method, the equipment is divided into floor-mounted and table-top. Each type of device has its own purpose. Circular saws are used for cutting carcasses in a suspended state and on a table. Table saws are compact in size and designed for catering establishments and shops.

Expert opinion

Levin Dmitry Konstantinovich

Floor-standing devices have high performance. They are intended for industrial production that processes large volumes of meat.

Quality control

Careless welding may result in the following defects:

• displacement of the planes of the canvas relative to each other occurs due to a large stroke or low current;
• splashes of molten metal on the surface of the tape occur when the current is too high;
• Lack of penetration occurs when the force and stroke of the movable clamp are low or the current is insufficient.

In a high-quality welded fabric, the seam bead protrudes above the plane by at least 1.5 mm. The test is carried out by bending the tape with a radius of 20 -25 cm. If a circle is obtained and no cracks form on the seam, there is nothing to worry about. If the blade bends in the shape of the letter V, the metal was overexposed to annealing. The appearance of cracks indicates hasty cooling.

Do-it-yourself band saw welding is completed. But if you lack experience, you will probably have visible defects. So do visual quality control. Carefully inspect the seam and make sure there are no defects. The most common defects are displacement of the edges, release of molten metal onto the blade and lack of penetration.

It is also necessary to check how well the annealing was performed. To do this, bend the saw blade into a circle. The diameter of the circle should be about 25 centimeters. Now pay attention to the shape of the bend of the canvas. If the shape looks like a circle, then the annealing was done efficiently. If it looks like the letter V, then it is of poor quality.

Design features, pros and cons

Band saws and circular saws have their advantages and disadvantages. It is difficult to determine which is better. Circular saws are available in manual and stationary versions. The simplest manual design consists of a disk-shaped knife, a housing and an electric motor. Such devices are designed for cutting small volumes of raw materials. Stationary equipment is used for cutting large carcasses.

The advantages of circular saws include:

• Possibility of cutting meat in any position.
• Ease of use.
• Low cost.
• Long service life.
• Easy to maintain.

The disadvantages of circular saws include:

• High degree of heating of the cutting edge.
• A large percentage of waste when cutting raw materials.

The size of the discs for cutting meat is selected depending on its type.

Have you ever worked with a band saw for meat and bones?

It happened! It didn’t happen

The main disadvantage of band saws is their high cost. The high cost of the equipment is compensated by its advantages.

Among them:

• Low noise level during device operation.
• Long service life.

• Smooth cut.
• Energy efficiency.

Expert opinion

Levin Dmitry Konstantinovich

When cutting bones with band saws, no small fragments are formed.

Homemade sawmill from a chainsaw

Wood species is one of the most popular construction materials. Modern tools and technology are used to process it. To cut down trees, you cannot do without such a universal tool as a chainsaw. For the upcoming processing of wood, special sawmills are used, the price of which is usually higher than chainsaws. In order not to have to take a sawmill, home craftsmen found a way out of this situation. The sawmill is made from a chainsaw with your own hands, which allows you to significantly save on the purchase of special equipment.

Accessories for manufacturing

Depending on what type of unit the unit will have, for its production you will need to use the following components:

• Chainsaw as the main cutting tool.
• Welding machine with electrodes.
• Rollers and guides.
• Roller bearings.
• Material for the production of a frame, which will be presented in the form of corners or iron profiles.

You will also need to prepare a drawing of a sawmill using a chainsaw. Indeed, on the basis of such a drawing, a homemade apparatus will be prepared. To produce the simplest manual sawmill you will need a minimum of materials, and the work will take a little time. If you plan to make a stationary machine with the use of a chainsaw, then it is important to prepare additional rails along which the unit will move.

Top 10 models of saws for cutting meat and bones

The line of popular equipment models includes devices costing from 30 thousand rubles, with varying power and performance.

FIMAR SE/1550 380B

Table type band saw. The equipment is produced by the Italian company FIMAR, specializing in the production of professional equipment for catering establishments and shops. The products are sold in various countries around the world and are very popular.

The FIMAR SE/1550 380B model is equipped with an emergency stop button and an engine brake. The pieces coming out from under the saw have a smooth cut. The painted saw body is made of anodized aluminum, and the saw guides and meat pusher are made of stainless steel. Work surfaces are washable.

• Advantages of the FIMAR SE/1550 380B model : compactness, stylish appearance, increased safety, high-quality meat cutting, ease of installation and maintenance.

• The disadvantage of the models imported to Russia is the absence of an emergency stop button.

The cost of the saw starts from 79 thousand rubles. Manufacturer's warranty 12 months.

Foodatlas JG 210

The meat table saw is manufactured in China. This is an inexpensive, reliable meat cutting machine designed for shops and catering establishments. The equipment body is made of stainless steel. The equipment set includes a push-button control panel and 2 canvases.

Meat is fed for cutting manually using pushers. The desktop is motionless. Access for washing to its working surface is not limited in any way.

• Advantages of the Foodatlas JG 210 model : low price, ease of maintenance.

• Disadvantages : one speed operating mode, manual feeding of meat for cutting, fixed cutting table.

The cost of the product starts from 36 thousand rubles. Manufacturer's warranty – 6 months.

PLM 240

The model is produced by Belarusian. It is a leader in mechanical engineering in the CIS countries. The PLM 240 saw is intended for catering, retail and medium-power processing plants. Equipment productivity – 500 kg/hour.

The saw body is made of stainless steel. For leveling on the floor, the equipment is equipped with 4 adjustable supports. To adjust the size of cutting pieces, a ruler with a gradation of 5 mm is installed on the movable table. The equipment set includes a device for cutting the last piece.

A special folding table is designed for cutting chilled meat. All work surfaces are easily accessible for washing. To operate the equipment, a network voltage of 380 W is required.

• Advantages of the PLM 240 model : simplicity of design, reliability in operation, relatively low price.

• Disadvantage : The equipment requires professional installation.

The cost of the model starts from 180 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 1 year.

PLM 160

The model has an external resemblance to the PLM 240, but its dimensions are much smaller. Equipment productivity – 300 kg/hour. PLM 160 is widely used in small meat and fish processing shops. The saw installation method is floor-mounted.

The case is made of stainless steel. It is installed on 4 height-adjustable supports. All working surfaces are available for processing.

• Advantages of the PLM 160 model : reliability and safety in operation, ease of maintenance, long service life.

• Disadvantage : installation of equipment must be done by specialists.

The cost of PLM 160 starts from 81 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 1 year.

KOLBE K800

The equipment is manufactured by the German company Kolbe Foodtec. The model is intended for large processing enterprises. It has 2 versions of desktops: movable and fixed. The case is made of stainless steel. The equipment set includes a special device for portion cutting of meat and fish. The equipment installation method is floor-mounted. The height of the saw is adjusted using anti-vibration feet.

The KOLBE K800 electric motor has thermal protection. The design has 4 emergency stop buttons.

• Advantages of KOLBE K800 : high productivity, ideal cutting quality.

• Disadvantage : the need for regular maintenance.

The manufacturer's warranty period is 1 year.

Kocateq JG 2020

The equipment is manufactured in South Korea by Korean Refrigeration Company Incorporated . The model is intended for processing industries of small and medium capacity. Installation method: floor. The case material is stainless steel.

The Kocateq JG 2021 electric motor is equipped with a protection system. It serves to block its operation in an emergency. The saws installed on the equipment are height adjustable. Push screens are provided to protect workers' hands.

• Advantages of the equipment : safety and reliability of the equipment.

• Disadvantage : Requires professional maintenance.

The cost of Kocateq JG 2021 starts from 116 thousand rubles. Manufacturer's warranty 24 years.

Airhot HLS 1650a

The equipment manufacturer is the Chinese company Airhot. She exports her products to 40 countries. The Airhot HLS 1650a model is designed for slicing meat and fish in catering and retail establishments. The design is easy to assemble and disassemble, which is convenient for cleaning. Installation method: desktop.

• Advantages : affordable price, ease of maintenance and installation.

• Disadvantage : low performance.

The cost of Airhot HLS 1650a starts from 37 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 6 months.

Hurakan HKN SE

The model is produced by the Chinese company Hurakan. It produces a wide range of professional equipment for catering establishments. The saw installation method is tabletop. For safe operation, the equipment is equipped with a pusher with a protective screen. The body is made of anodized aluminum.

• Advantages of Hurakan HKN SE : safety, ease of maintenance.

• Disadvantage : low performance.

The cost of equipment starts from 40 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 6 months.

Fama FSGM 106E

The equipment is manufactured in Italy. The working surface of the table is made of stainless steel. The body is made of anodized aluminum. The design is equipped with a safety switch and has a cutting thickness regulator. Installation method: desktop.

• Advantages of the model : affordable price, simplicity of design, safety of operation.

• Disadvantage : low power.

The cost of Fama FSGM 106E starts from 62 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 12 months.

Fimar 1550

The band saw with a painted body is produced by an Italian manufacturer. The model has a similar design to FIMAR SE/1550 380B. Available in 2 versions: with voltage 220 W and 380 W. The design of the model is equipped with an emergency stop button. The body is made of anodized aluminum.

• Advantages of the model : ease of maintenance, low price.

• Disadvantage : low performance.

The cost of equipment starts from 78 thousand rubles. The manufacturer's warranty period is 1 year.

Manufacturing of structural elements

Preparing for work

When starting work, you need to prepare all the tools and materials, as well as a place where it will be comfortable and safe to make a homemade band saw.

The manufacturing instructions will be divided into 5 points and include steps to produce a homemade bandsaw. The article provides photo and video materials that will help you not make mistakes during production.

Base

• Since the band saw must be strong, it is necessary to prepare plywood with a thickness of at least 15 mm. We cut four blanks 550 mm long and 23 mm wide.

• Next, we make the markings using a pre-created stencil, or you can make the markings directly on the workpiece. The two plates located inside must have a niche for the adjustable mechanism. For external parts it is necessary to draw a through groove. The amount of vertical adjustment will depend on the size of this groove. Next, you need to mark a through hole for the lower drive shaft. In addition, we will need a surface for a saw table, the dimensions of which in terms of the width of the table will not exceed 150 mm. In all workpieces, it is necessary to cut a square between the circles in height equal to 15-20 cm, and not exceeding 15 cm in width.

• Using a jigsaw, you need to cut out the necessary parts, as well as the adjustment groove for the upper pulley, then drill a hole for the lower drive shaft.

• Next, you need to assemble the future foundation. For assembly, use PVA glue or any other wood glue. We apply it in an even layer on all the surfaces to be glued, then we apply the parts to each other, avoiding inaccuracy. Fixing the products must be done with clamps, since high-quality gluing requires a tight fit of the workpieces. It is necessary to wait a day until the glue dries completely.

• We install bearings for the lower drive shaft.

• To make a tensioning mechanism for a band saw, you need to make a block, the dimensions of which will correspond to the niche in the saw body. A hole is drilled at the end of the block for the pin and fitting. Sockets for bearings are cut out on both sides.

• We insert the pin and secure it in the block. It should stay firmly in the hole. To increase the strength of the fastening, before inserting the pin, apply PVA glue to its surface, and you also need to additionally secure the pin with a self-tapping screw or screw.

• Next, the shaft bearings and fixing sleeve are installed.

• Using a screw in the foot, the saw blade tensioning mechanism will be rigidly fixed.

• It is necessary to install a handle on the pin, the rotation of which will allow you to change the depth of immersion of the bar into the base, thereby changing the distance between the pulleys - this is how the belt is tensioned.

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While the base glue dries, we begin making moving elements, namely pulleys. The entire process of their manufacture is reflected in the photographs provided.

• On a sheet of plywood 15 mm thick, you need to mark the contours - a circle with a diameter of 150 mm.
• Cut the blanks with a jigsaw along the outlined contours and drill a hole in the center of the circle.

• Even the most precise and careful sawing will not give the workpiece perfectly correct shapes, so it is necessary to grind the ends. For this, a grinding machine with a table at 90 degrees relative to the plane being processed will be used. If you do not have a suitable tool, you can grind the edge using a hand-held grinder or a homemade screwdriver with a grinding attachment. The workpiece is fixed with a bolt or self-tapping screw to some base. Thus, when it is fed to the grinding wheel and rotated around its axis, a perfectly smooth circle is obtained.

• After processing the pulley on a grinder, you need to wrap its ends with insulating tape in several layers, and you can also use rubber from bicycle inner tubes.

Sawing table

The saw table will be 15 cm wide. It will be installed on a special end face of the base of the machine between the pulleys. You need to make a cut in the table for free movement of the saw blade. The dimensions of the table being manufactured depend on the needs and preferences of the craftsman. You can make a small table that only slightly protrudes beyond the machine and saves space, or you can make the upper surface area larger for ease of work. As always, in life you need to choose the “golden mean”, so the final decision is up to the master.

It is best not to make the cutting blade yourself, but to buy a ready-made one. In stores you can find a wide variety of options, which differ in type, size, type of steel used, hardening of the material, shape of the teeth, their setting, etc.

Below is a table with some parameters of saw blades.

In addition, band saws differ in tooth size:

• with small tooth
• with middle tooth
• with large teeth

The greater the hardness of the tape, the greater its resistance to dulling. The rigid blade allows you to cut material at high feed rates without compromising the performance characteristics of the work.

In this case, for our band saw, the best option was to choose a blade 1065 mm long made of carbon steel, marked Constant Hardness.