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Harbor freight metal cutting bandsaw
- Thread starter Bearkat
- Start date
rsanter
Well-known member
I have had a couple over the years, they are a decent machine for the money but not a great machine.
It helps top play with the machine and make some adjustments so it will cut straighter.
Also the HF blades are ****, get a quality blade or get some made and you will be happier
Bob
It helps top play with the machine and make some adjustments so it will cut straighter.
Also the HF blades are ****, get a quality blade or get some made and you will be happier
Bob
Vegaman_Dan
Well-known member
The HF bandsaw is a repackaged / relabeled generic Chinese saw under many names. There are a ton of modifications and tuneup advice on making these saws really become reliable and useful.
Get the US made blades for the saw that HF sells. They work very well and you'll be glad you did. They aren't that much more and save you a LOT of time.
Toss the sheet metal stand and make a new one out of anything else. Get it up higher, more stable.
Go search online for "4x6 bandsaw mods" and you'll find lots of mods available. Youtube is also a good spot to check it out.
Get the US made blades for the saw that HF sells. They work very well and you'll be glad you did. They aren't that much more and save you a LOT of time.
Toss the sheet metal stand and make a new one out of anything else. Get it up higher, more stable.
Go search online for "4x6 bandsaw mods" and you'll find lots of mods available. Youtube is also a good spot to check it out.
I have the UK equivalent (Clarke) one, possibly the best money I have spent on tools for the shop. If you do much fabrication work, or if you have a lathe you will increase you productivity and quality by a huge amount. The quality part comes in because you don't spend two days trying to fix a part you screwed up in the lathe because you can't face the thought of cutting another piece of 3" bar with a hacksaw. You go get a coffee while the saw cuts another piece of material so you can do the job properly.
Ign
Well-known member
The HF bandsaw is a repackaged / relabeled generic Chinese saw under many names. There are a ton of modifications and tuneup advice on making these saws really become reliable and useful.
Get the US made blades for the saw that HF sells. They work very well and you'll be glad you did. They aren't that much more and save you a LOT of time.
Toss the sheet metal stand and make a new one out of anything else. Get it up higher, more stable.
Go search online for "4x6 bandsaw mods" and you'll find lots of mods available. Youtube is also a good spot to check it out.
This.
paranoid56
Well-known member
i recently bought one of these and so far so good, i bought a new US blade for it, but i haven't actually needed it yet. 100+ cuts and its still good
papabil
Well-known member
The HF bandsaw is a repackaged / relabeled generic Chinese saw under many names. There are a ton of modifications and tuneup advice on making these saws really become reliable and useful.
Get the US made blades for the saw that HF sells. They work very well and you'll be glad you did. They aren't that much more and save you a LOT of time.
Toss the sheet metal stand and make a new one out of anything else. Get it up higher, more stable.
Go search online for "4x6 bandsaw mods" and you'll find lots of mods available. Youtube is also a good spot to check it out.
Hi. I have had mine for 5+ years, works great so far. bill
I had one from HF, where the electric motor went pretty quickly, so I took it back. The next one I used extensively then traded it to a friend who still has it, that was in 2009, it's still going strong. Even if the motor goes, it can easily be replaced.
The only reason I got rid of it, was I got a used US made one twice the size for $125.
The only reason I got rid of it, was I got a used US made one twice the size for $125.
Hinez Wengler
Banned
Buy a dry cut saw like a 1230 Makita. Then make a uprite stand for a portaband. Much less space and 20 times as fast.Portable also.
454ragtop
Well-known member
Might look around on CL, might be able to get a real saw for not much more. I had one of those years ago, made in Taiwan, wasn't too bad. But a made in USA saw can be had with about the same foot print, but twice the capacity, hyd down feed, quick set vise, etc.
Jim
Jim
BD1
Well-known member
Mine is around 7 years old. All original including motor. Buy blades from farm and fleet for $9.00 works well.
gus1962
Well-known member
I'm not really impressed with Harbor Freight band saws. It's price speaks for its quality. With your budget, HF ain't a bad choice or you can look for decent used band saws on CL.
Use good quality band saw blades. Good luck.
Use good quality band saw blades. Good luck.
Spudland_Dave
Well-known member
Take a look at the SWAG Off Road stand...i've got one of them for my Milwaukee Porta Band and I Love it, use the saw 2x more since I've got the stand.
JoeFin
Well-known member
Thinking about ordering a horizontal/vertical bandsaw. Tough to beat for about $200 with coupon. Really tired of the port-a-band. Any reviews?
Other then its almost impossible to get a straight cut (+- .100") out of the them, the bearings wear out quickly, and the motor is a under powered fire hazard waiting to happen that will burn out in short order ...
You should be happy as can be
ask me how I know ...