I have a big chunk of brass, 3" diameter. I was cutting on the horizontal band saw but someone suggested I should be using the cold saw instead. However, the cold saw will not move through this brass. It just sits and barely gets through at all. I checked with someone and after some checking told me to just go back to the band saw. I am just wondering if this is normal or if there is actually something wrong with the saw that is keeping it from cutting this brass? Thanks for any help 
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David,
Was the horizontal band saw doing the job? Have you tried out the hardness file test set on it? It could be bronze rather than brass and some bronzes are harder than mill steel. If it is the usual 360 free machining brass it should cut readily on either saw, unless blades have been thoroughly dulled. If you can test the saw on a piece of mild mill steel and it doesn’t cut that readily, then the blade needs to be changed out.
I know we have some sharp hack saw blades. At three inch diameter, you can probably cancel your gym membership, also; if you go this way.
Regards,
Bob
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The band saw worked fine, it was just a bit slow. I am positive it is brass and the cold saw seemed to cut mild steel just fine, so not sure what else the issue could be.
In a word galling.
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As long as no one gives me grief using the band saw I’ll just stick to it. It works just fine and the brass is barely warm to the touch after so not worried about off-gassing.
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