Harbor Freight metal cutting band saw

[djw250]

Anybody have any experience with this saw? I'm thinking about buying one this weekend at a sidewalk sale they are having, and wanted to get some opinions. This is the saw I'm considering Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices It will be $150 plus I have a 20 percent off coupon.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[MadReferee]

That 4" x 6" bandsaw is pretty common and just about everybody offers some flavor and color of it. There are web sites, discussion forums and Yahoo groups dedicated to just that saw.

They work like crap out of the box. You need a bi-metal blade. The Chinese motor is rated 1 HP but is really about 1/4 HP and will probably burn up right away. The gear box is probably filled with sand or other crap. Do a little searching on Google or where ever and you will get lots and lots of info. Some of the mods people have made for this saw are quite clever.

I have the older style HF model and have made several mods to it including a completely new stand. If you like to tinker and need an inexpensive saw for metal then this is the one.

 

[MossRoad]

I have one that is similar from H.F. I do not see it on their website anymore, but it was in the same price range. The one you liink to must have replaced the model that I have.

The one I have is J U N K Y, but works. My motor appears to be smaller than the one you linked to and the adjustable blade roller guide things look to be different, too. The motor on mine had a plastic fan that didn't circulate any air and looked to be made out of the same plastic that milk jugs are made from. After the saw ran for 20 minutes, I shut it off and the fan melted off the shaft... twice. The replacement saw did it too. So now I just run it with the fan missing. It gets very hot, but I haven't managed to kill it yet.

Also, the blade pops off often. I have tried many adjustments, by I ended up having to cut slow by increasing the tension on the counter weight spring. My advice to you is take the cheap product insurance on it, if at all possible. And take the saw back every time it croaks. Also, take the advice about the bi-metal blades. I couldn't find any at H.F. and am looking for a local source.

To summarize, that saw that you linked to looks to be an improvement over the model they sold earlier in the year in the same price range. However, get the insurance on it. It should work O.K. for home use, but not any kind of production stuff.

 

[MrJimi]

I have been wanting to get one also and this is what I have been looking at, more money, more features and better saw? Hydraulic down and auto shut off and oiling are what I want.
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Jim

 

[MadReferee]

Also, the blade pops off often. I have tried many adjustments, by I ended up having to cut slow by increasing the tension on the counter weight spring. My advice to you is take the cheap product insurance on it, if at all possible. And take the saw back every time it croaks. Also, take the advice about the bi-metal blades. I couldn't find any at H.F. and am looking for a local source.

The trick to the blade is to get a bi-metal blade from a tool supplier like ENCO for about $20-$25 and tighten it on the saw until you can tighten it no more, then tighten it again. I have made thousands of cuts with mine and I know of people using these in light production environments. Once you get rid of the crappy junk on the original, they seem to work just fine.

 

[MossRoad]

That 4" x 6" bandsaw is pretty common and just about everybody offers some flavor and color of it. There are web sites, discussion forums and Yahoo groups dedicated to just that saw.
.... Do a little searching on Google or where ever and you will get lots and lots of info. Some of the mods people have made for this saw are quite clever.

I have the older style HF model and have made several mods to it including a completely new stand. If you like to tinker and need an inexpensive saw for metal then this is the one.

Here's a link to someone's modifications of that saw. Pretty neat.

 

[MossRoad]

The trick to the blade is to get a bi-metal blade from a tool supplier like ENCO for about $20-$25 and tighten it on the saw until you can tighten it no more, then tighten it again. I have made thousands of cuts with mine and I know of people using these in light production environments. Once you get rid of the crappy junk on the original, they seem to work just fine.

Nice stand!

 

[Soundguy]

Anybody have any experience with this saw? I'm thinking about buying one this weekend at a sidewalk sale they are having, and wanted to get some opinions. This is the saw I'm considering Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices It will be $150 plus I have a 20 percent off coupon.

Thanks,
Dave

We picked up one like that at work.. I classify it as a good automated hacksaw.. it will cut anything you could cut with a hacksaw.. except your arms dont get tired.

The #1 -must- upgrade is to get a blade from somewhere other than Harbor freight.. get the blade from TSC for thier saw.

Soundguy

 

[Jagmandave]

I bought one from Grizzly for a bit more than that, it had the hydraulic lift and drop control, automatic off at the end of the cut, depth control and the real important one for me, the recirculating coolant and pump.
I've had it for 5 or 6 years now with no problems, and cuts perfectly straight cuts in all sorts of metal including thick walled stainless tubing........

The only thing I don't like is that fact that the only coolant you can get now is water based, you have to change it fairly frequently or it gets rancid, and of course it evaporates too.......

here's the one I bought....

 

[kje383]

Put a metal cutting blade in your saws all, it works very well. kje