Pressure-Matic
Every great project starts with a single cut, and for us, that cut happens at the Pressure-Matic. This horizontal band saw is a testament to the fact that you don't always need to do the heavy lifting yourself. The name is a direct reference to its primary function—it's an automated, pressure-based cutting machine that does the grunt work for you. It's where the creative process begins to take its first precise, deliberate step.
Unlike the loud and chaotic cutting tools in the workshop, the Pressure-Matic is a study in quiet efficiency. All you have to do is load the raw material and set the pressure. From there, the saw works autonomously, slicing through thick pieces of steel or aluminum with a slow, methodical precision. It’s the foundational tool that takes a raw piece of stock and makes it a manageable size, preparing the material to move on to the next station for more detailed work.
The Pressure-Matic may not get the glory of the final cuts, but it's an indispensable part of the workflow. It saves a tremendous amount of time and effort, acting as a silent, powerful guardian at the very beginning of a project. It ensures that every one of our masterpieces starts with a flawless, perfect cut.
June 1, 2013
This tool originally had its own base, but what happened to it is honestly lost to the chaotic archives of the workshop. What you see here is one of its first evolutions. It wasn't a bad base by any means—it got the job done—but as with everything in the workshop, we knew it could be leveled up. This was a solid starting point for a tool that would eventually get a much-deserved upgrade.
February 24, 2016
And here we go, the next evolution. My thinking was that having some fluid cutting options would help increase blade life. So, I welded up a support for the bandsaw to sit on and added a catch basin so I wouldn’t have to dig around for parts that fell. I even attempted to make it a multi-use station by adding a bend brake, which did not stay there long because it kept getting in the way. But it was a nice extended work surface, so it wasn't a bad idea.