Harbor Freight 4x6 Bandsaw

[fivestring]

<font color="blue">"I had the camera out in the garage to document the project for a future post here on TBN." </font>

That was a heck-of-a start to a project! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[5030]

I did that once too. Smoked the start capacitors on my 3 phase lathe motor. I think they shorted to ground within the case. Sure does stink. I didn't get away as cheap as you though. Cost me over $200.00 for a re-wind and new capacitors at the motor shop.

 

[have_blue]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have had very good experiences with HF power tools such as their drill presses and bench grinders. Have had a small drill press over 20 years and still works fine, so went with HF again when I bought a new large floor model this past year. )</font>

I got the 16 speed floor model about a year ago for $187, which was a dollar a pound. It's paid for itseslf already.

I don't generally like cheap tools, but when they give them away, I can't turn them down. They are so affordable, I actually dare them to fail. I can buy 4 or 5 HF tools for the price of 1 "American" tool (probably made in China anyway). At $20 for an air impact tool or $25 for a large set of Fortsner bits for example, I can afford to replace them every few years... if they ever fail. So far, so good with all my HF tools.

 

[dwynn]

5030
I did know that a three phase motor used capactiors on on three phase. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Henro]

<font color="blue"> I did know that a three phase motor used capactiors on on three phase. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif </font>

For power factor correction, rather than starting purposes, I would presume... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[EastTexFrank]

Darn, that photo is quite impressive. As for Harbor Freight, I've had good luck with their stuff over the years. My philosophy on tool buying is that if I am going to use it a lot, I spend the money and get a high quality name brand but if it is something that I'm seldom going to use, I buy a cheaper model ... often from Harbor Freight. As far as being made in Taiwan, most of the name brands are made there too, it's just that the quality control and finish is much more stringent. Better luck next time (if there is one) and hey, I'm not laughing. I can imagine the downtime, frustration and hassle associated with your "smoker".

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

You overworked those poor little squirrels inside that motor. Wow, I bet that charred squirrel hair and meat sure did stink.

My buddy had a BIG job to do for a saw and I recommended to him the "JET" brand. He bought one, put a good blade in it and got his job done (took about 6 months on the side). He built a 15 foot tall x 50 foot wide door that hinges along the top. It swings outward and upward with hydraulics. Will make nice shade this summer. I need to get a picture of it to show you folks.

 

[Spencer]

I got off to a bad start with this bandsaw but after I got the replacement motor I have been impressed. I've been cutting all sorts of metal all week without a problem. The cuts that I am getting are just as square as the square that I am using to check them. There is little to no filing or grinding to do after the cuts are made. With the auto-off feature I can just "set it, and forget it" while I go do some other work. The noise is minimal so I don't even need to wear any hearing protection. I have attached a picture of some of the 1/4" thick 3" by 3" square tubing that I was cutting up last night. As you can see the edge left by the saw is perfect. I don't think my 15 year old Makita chopsaw is going to get much use from now on. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Slamfire]

I have one of those works fairly good, don't cut real square though. Have smoked the motor on a reciprocating saw from HF. Also smoked the motor on a Skil grinder, so how can you tell before it happens?

 

[Soundguy]

If I remember right, that blade is 64 1/2 inches by 1/2 inches. The HF 3.99 ones are as cheap as they come. For the next level up... run by TSC and pic up a 7.99 bi-metal. They sell the blades that fit that saw and thier chineese saw. Still not the quality of getting a 18.00 dollar one from a tool/blade store.. but the tsc saw will last about 3 times as long as the HF one.

Glad it worked out for you.


Soundguy

 

[Lazy]

Hi

I have used this type bandsaw for many years in the electrical trade, but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.

Charlie

 

[Henro]

Lazy,

One advantage is that you can start the cut and then go do something else, and the bandsaw will turn off when it is done cutting...

Oh wait a minute...I see now...Lazy might now want to see that advantage!!! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Lazy]

Hi
Oh so its slower than a chop saw Ic you could take a break maybe a nap while its cutting the piece.

charlie.

 

[SPIKER]

Hey I was just wondering if you saw has that seratted quick close feature on it? I know ours don't work to well but it does the job. like I stated since we got that expensive saw we don't cut with much else. this past wek, the balade aws getting used up pretty well and i cut the hitch off of some 3/8" chain hooks, (a HF buy) so I can weld them onto the bucket of my tractor, maybe do that tomarrow...

anyhow those forged hooks were hard enough to finish off the blade! lol it cut them true still but you can really tell when the blades iht something hard!

Mark M /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.
)</font>

Heat for one thing.. everything I've ever cut on a chop saw heats up so much.. top of the cut is blue-black by the time the cut is finished.. the bandsaw produces a cut that is more or less hand-handleable right after cut.

Soundguy

 

[Spencer]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Hi

I have used this type bandsaw for many years in the electrical trade, but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.

Charlie )</font>

For me, the advantages are the much less noise, no HAZ (heat affected zone), no sparks, and less work to clean up the cut.

I've only used it for a week, I hope I will come up with other advantages as time goes on. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[5030]

Spencer:

I have one of those saws too. One thing I did was get a couple of Starrett vari-pitch bi-metal loops right away. Enco tools sells them mail order www.useenco.com. I deal with them for perishable tooling as well as shop supplies.

I also added a mist coolant unit that I had on my vertical mill. The coolant unit is self-contained, all you need to do is hook up a compressed air hose. I went to a cold air gun on the mill. That's less messy when milling parts but with the saw, the mess is nil.

 

[uhmgawa]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">(
I have used this type bandsaw for many years in the electrical trade, but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.
)</font>

An abrasive chop saw will cut hardened metal. I once tried to make
a bucket trowel by cutting a conventional brick trowel with my 4x6
saw. Got a scratch on the trowel. The 14" abrasive saw just
chopped it in half.

 

[Zork]

You know, alot of things you buy from hf you need to be careful of. They do have some nice stuff for the price--verses-- the amount of times that you use it. I think that your problem is more of a motor/ winding/ voltage problem (warranty?) unless your saw band wheels are binding (still warranty). I think if you called them, that they would rectify the problem immediately. Give 'em a call. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GerardC]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( </font><font color="blueclass=small">( but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.
)</font>

Heat for one thing.. everything I've ever cut on a chop saw heats up so much.. top of the cut is blue-black by the time the cut is finished.. the bandsaw produces a cut that is more or less hand-handleable right after cut.

Soundguy )</font>

I've used both. It all depends on what you are doing. That determines which one to use.