Hand-held band saw

Abstract

A powered hand-held band for cutting a work piece and a method for manufacture and use. The band saw includes alternate blade guides respectively for selectively using one of a first cutting path for cutting a work piece flush with respect to a work surface and a second cutting path for non-flush cuts.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A powered hand-held band saw for use in cutting a work piece angularly extending from a substantially planar work surface, the saw having a closed-loop saw blade circulatable about a blade travel path, the saw comprising:
 a frame defining a channel throat, the frame further having a handle including a grip portion defining a handle longitudinal axis;   a drive motor connected to the frame;   a first pulley rotatably engaged with the motor about a first pulley axis;   a second pulley rotatable about a second pulley axis separated from the first pulley axis, the first and second pulleys defining a blade travel path;   a pair of first blade guides connected to the frame and positioned on opposing sides of the throat along the blade travel path defining a first blade cutting path between the guides, the first blade cutting path is positioned to be substantially parallel to the handle longitudinal axis, wherein the first blade cutting path providing for a substantially flush cut of the work piece with respect to the work surface.   
     
     
         2 . The band saw of  claim 1 , wherein the frame further comprises a cutting guide surface positioned along a side of the frame, at least a portion cutting guide surface is substantially co-planar the first blade cutting path. 
     
     
         3 . The band saw of  claim 1 , wherein each of the pair of blade guides includes a single, continuous blade guiding surface. 
     
     
         4 . The band saw of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second blade guide connected to the frame for guiding the saw blade along a second cutting path positioned along the blade travel path, the second cutting path positioned inward in the frame with respect to the first cutting path providing for a non-flush cut of the work piece with respect to the work surface. 
     
     
         5 . The band saw of  claim 1 , wherein the second blade guide comprises a pair of blade guides separated from each other along the second cutting path, the second blade guides positioned so that the second cutting path is angularly displaced with respect to the first cutting path. 
     
     
         6 . The band saw of  claim 1 , wherein the second cutting path is inward of the first cutting path relative to the cutting guide surface. 
     
     
         7 . The band saw of  claim 1 , wherein the saw blade is selectively positionable along one of the first and the second cutting blade paths for selective flush or non-flush cutting of the work piece with respect to the work surface, 
     
     
         8 . The band saw of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pulley rotatable about a first pulley axis;   a second pulley rotatable about a second pulley axis; the first and second pulley axes defining a longitudinal axis of the frame;   the frame further comprising a handle including a grip portion; the handle grip portion defining a handle longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal frame axis, and wherein the handle longitudinal axis is substantially parallel to the first cutting path portion.   
     
     
         9 . A powered hand-held band saw for use in cutting a work piece angularly extending from a substantially planar work surface, the saw comprising:
 a frame having a handle with an elongate grip portion defining a handle longitudinal axis, the frame defining a throat channel extending inwardly from a side of the frame opposite the handle and a cutting guide surface on the side of the frame on opposing sides of the throat channel, the cutting guide surface having a substantially planar portion on each side of the channel throat;   a continuous loop saw blade;   a first pulley rotatably engaged with the frame about a first pulley axis;   a second pulley rotatably engaged with the frame about a second pulley axis separated from the first pulley axis, the first and second pulleys engaged with the saw blade and defining a blade travel path;   a drive motor connected to the frame in engagement with the first pulley;   a pair of first blade guides connected to the frame and positioned on opposing sides of the throat along the blade travel path defining a first blade cutting path between the first guides, the first blade cutting path is positioned to be substantially parallel to the handle longitudinal axis and is substantially co-planar with the cutting guide surface planar portions, wherein the first blade cutting path provides for a substantially flush cut of the work piece with respect to the work surface.