Bandsaw Recommendation

[RVA-Jeff]

For general hobby use, is this Jet saw 2x more accurate, long lived, pleasure to use, etc. than the HF "equivalent"?

Jet:
http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/hvbs-56m-5-x-6-horizontal-vertical-bandsaw/414458

Harbor Freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/horizontal-vertical-metal-cutting-bandsaw-93762.html

And where does this Grizzly fall, in the middle?
http://www.grizzly.com/products/4-x-6-Metal-Cutting-Bandsaw/G0622

 

[jonjon1]

I use a milwaukee portable with the chop saw stand it works awesome, plus I can pull it off the stand and cut portable-ie'....

As far as the units you are looking at I normally go by weight, lol and the harbor freight says shipping weight is heavier than the jet, although I like jet tools.. tough call..

 

[RVA-Jeff]

I have a portaband as shown but not their $$ stand. I want to be able to cut reasonable true 45's and the Milwaukee stand does not allow for that (I believe). LOL, the value-by-weight consideration isn't a bad one...

 

[royesses]

I purchased the HF version on Easter Sunday. Used a 25% off coupon so it was about $194.00. Purchased the $29.95 supercut blade for it(made in the USA mom and pop manufacturer). The saw and supercut blade are an awesome combination. With all the Asian bandsaws you need to adjust everything before use and tighten all bolts. The Jet and Grizzly are about the same as the HF with some cosmetic additions. I love my HF saw.

 

[jonjon1]

I have a portaband as shown but not their $$ stand. I want to be able to cut reasonable true 45's and the Milwaukee stand does not allow for that (I believe). LOL, the value-by-weight consideration isn't a bad one...

Yah I cant cut 45's with that thing, I use it for fast cuts {tubing or stock}, for angles I use the chop saw, but that has its limitations too. Since I got my tubing bender and started using my plasma butter more I hardly use anything but them 2 items...

 

[PCO6]

RVA-Jeff - I had a bandsaw like the ones you provided the links to for years and liked it. After about 20 years of use I replaced it with a 4"x6" swivel head saw. The main advantage is that when you want to cut on an angle the material stays in place and the saw rotates to the angle of the cut. It's a LOT easier especially in a shop wih tight quarters. For a few bucks more it's well worth considering.

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[RVA-Jeff]

RVA-Jeff - I had a bandsaw like the ones you provided the links to for years and liked it. After about 20 years of use I replaced it with a 4"x6" swivel head saw. The main advantage is that when you want to cut on an angle the material stays in place and the saw rotates to the angle of the cut. It's a LOT easier especially in a shop wih tight quarters. For a few bucks more it's well worth considering.

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Something like this?:

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...i_sku=155792&gclid=CLD-9qSAhsUCFUokgQodsQMAEQ

And it works better than a swivel vise on the ones I linked to?

Thanks for the info, all!

 

[PCO6]

^^^ That one is a bit newer and better than mine (better vice and a hydraulic controller) but it's the same idea. Much better to swivel the head than the material!