That $200 bone saw attachment turned out to be a dud for my lamb cuts

Picked up a bone saw attachment for my band saw at a supply shop outside Omaha last month, figured it would make breaking down lamb shoulders a lot faster. First two carcasses it did okay, but then the blade started wandering on the third one and it chattered something fierce on the rib bones. I cleaned it, adjusted the tension, watched three videos on setup, and it still cut like garbage. Wasted about 15 pounds of good meat because the cuts were so ragged I had to trim most of it into stew chunks. The shop wont take returns on used blades either, so Im out that cash plus the ruined product. Any of you use a handheld reciprocating saw with a fine tooth blade instead, or should I just stick to my breaking knife and a cleaver for smaller stuff? I work alone mostly, so Im trying to find something faster but still dependable.

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the_anna1mo ago

Man, I feel your pain on that one. I bought a similar attachment two years ago for pork ribs and it did the same exact thing after maybe four hogs. Blade wandered like crazy and left bone dust everywhere, plus it threw sparks once. I switched to a cheap reciprocating saw with a 10 inch fine tooth blade and it is night and day different. Way more control, easier to swap blades when they dull, and I can slow the speed down so it doesnt tear the meat. Only downside is you gotta brace the carcass good so it doesnt jump around on you.