Harbor Freight 4x6 Bandsaw

Lazy · Mar 6, 2004

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 · Mar 6, 2004

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 · Mar 6, 2004

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 · Mar 6, 2004

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 · Mar 7, 2004

( but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.
)

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 · Mar 7, 2004

( 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 )

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 · Mar 7, 2004

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 · Mar 19, 2004

(
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.
)

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 · Mar 21, 2004

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 · Mar 21, 2004

( ( but can't see any advantage of it over a chop saw. I must be over looking something.
)

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 )

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