Harbor Freight metal cutting band saw

[BobRip]

Moss, maybe you should just mount a small 4 inch electric fan near the motor. This would give some cooling and extend the life. It could also cool once the motor is turned off.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

Anyone have this version?
HDC Item Details #03111

G9742 4" x 6" Metal-Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head

 

[jmcalli]

The Harbor Freight saws are very popular and if you don't mind tinkering they can be made to work well. However, buying one can be a crap shoot. Since I'm at the point in my life that when I feel like working I want my tools to cooperate, I bypassed the HF saw. I bought a used Roll-In EF1459 bandsaw instead.

The Roll-In is a horizontal bandsaw, turned vertical, with a large horizontal work table and a vise/fence that can be used to position and clamp the workpiece. The movable saw platform is on a track and is gravity fed. It can be automatically fed against a clamped workpiece by gravity, damped by a hydraulic cylinder with an adjustable needle valve. It can also be used as a conventional vertical bandsaw, by leaving the movable carriage stationary and sliding the workpiece on the table against the blade.

The Roll-In has been a great saw for me. The only maintenance it's needed was routine lubrication and installing a longer power cord. After many cuts, including 6" solid cast iron and steel rounds, I'm still using the original bimetal blade. It's heavy but it came mounted on wheels so it's easy to move and sweep under. New Roll-Ins sell for $3,995 but I've seen several good used ones sell for about what I paid for mine ($750). They are made in USA.

 

[shovelhead]

Hey Dave, I have last year's version of this saw. Yes, it is a POS, but I've used and abused it and I guess I can say it has paid for itself. If I burn it up tomorrow, I'd probably buy another one ASAP. I haven't put expensive blades on mine, but I'm sure it would make a difference. I do use a lot of lubricant when making large cuts (3 x 3 x 1/4" angle). I bought a case of WD-40 at a neighbor's garage sale, so this is what I use. Do not think you are getting a quality product. Again, it is a POS, but mine has served me well. Good luck

 

[Mith]

Mines been great. I bought one from a company that added some of their own bits, such as heavier castings, and a better motor.
I broke one of the castings by doing the blade up too tight, and occasionally the blade jumps off if you put it too hard through thin material, but other than that its great.
They arent the bast quality, but for the price they are a great buy.

 

[rswyan]

Anyone have this version?

Brad,

I have the Homier version - I bought it (used) as an upgrade to replace the original Harbor Freight bandsaw I had. The blade guides are a little better and it came with hydraulic downfeed already installed. I'm happy with it so far.

 

[mikim]

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....

HF is advertising theirs in the flyer I just got for around $200 .... where did you find this grizzly for anywhere near this price? I'd jump at this grizzly for $300 if I could find it.

 

[CTyler]

I bought the more expensive one two years ago and have been happy with it. The original blade did not last long but have good blades for it now with more teeth. It can be used horizontaly or verticaly.

The one I have looks like this but its green and has wheels.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

 

[mikim]

went to the grizzly website after I posted last -- that saw is priced higher than I want to spend. I like buying good tools - but gotta weigh the price vs. usage factor. Can't see spending $600+ on anything that I'd use very infrequently. Guess I'm back to looking at porta-bands with a stand. Fits my needs & budget much better. Grizzly has one of those too, at a price I can afford to blow off if it turns out bad.

 

[djw250]

Well, I went to the sale over the weekend, and decided to pass on the band saw. It just looked too cheap in person, and I don't have the time to fiddle with any more stuff that doesn't work right. I picked up a 14", 15 amp chop saw instead, and am pretty happy with it so far. I haven't cut much with it yet, but it blazed through a piece of 2x2x1/4 angle impressively. It should cut most stuff that I will be cutting, and it only cost me $72.