Looking to buy a BandSaw

[srs]

There is also a torch cutter out now called Petrogen that uses gasoline and oxy. Very impressive. except the cost, but if you consider the cost of the fuel in the long run, It might be worth it.

Petrogen | Petrogen Oxy-Gasoline Cutting Systems Home Page

J_J, do you know how much the Petrogen system costs? Very impressive, a little scary the thought of using gasoline but viewing their web page it really makes sense. Thanks.

 

[J_J]

J_J, do you know how much the Petrogen system costs? Very impressive, a little scary the thought of using gasoline but viewing their web page it really makes sense. Thanks.

I believe the basic kit is around $1200.00

 

[Gizmo36]

I cut with propane , but I like that better . I am going to look in to that thank you JJ

 

[DMF]

I've had the same experience with a cheap 14" chop saw from Harbor Freight. Unacceptable cuts and noisy to boot.

Bought an HF band saw recently

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

I've cut mild steel tubing 4"x4"x 1/4" wall with excellent results.

Yes, it's slow going with this type of saw. But it does have an auto-off feature that turns the power off when the cut is completed without operator intervention. I just clamp the stock into position (easy task), start the saw, lower it onto the stock and do something else while the saw does its thing. No muss, no fuss.

The HF unit is Chinese built. It's a heavy sucker. Takes 64-1/2" saw blades that cost about $10 U.S.

I just bought this same saw over the weekend; it was marked down to $199 and I had a 20% off coupon!

 

[srs]

I believe the basic kit is around $1200.00

Pretty hefty price tag. I guess if you cut steel everyday it would be worth it. Thank you.

 

[J_J]

Pretty hefty price tag. I guess if you cut steel everyday it would be worth it. Thank you.

Now if you add up the cost of all the oxy/acetylene torches, regulators, and hoses, and the tanks, and then all the refills for a year of just medium welding and cutting, It could add up rather quickly.

 

[ArTrvlr]

I just bought this same saw over the weekend; it was marked down to $199 and I had a 20% off coupon!

Is that how you threw your back out, unloading that saw?

Have you put it together yet? The assembly instructions say: "With additional manpower, and an adequate lifting device, carefully set the Bandsaw on top of the Stand assembly". Hardheaded me, I tried it by myself anyway. I could pick it up, but no way can one person hold it in place and start the bolts into the stand. If you put any of the weight of the saw assembly on the stand before the bolts are in the stand will collapse. Plan B: Pick the saw up with my engine hoist and a couple of straps; went together real easily then. And the stand is pretty sturdy once it is bolted to the saw. But the whole thing is top heavy and feels like it could tip over pretty easy while you are moving it.

Anyway, be careful handling it, don't make your back any worse.
jp

 

[DMF]

Is that how you threw your back out, unloading that saw?

Have you put it together yet? The assembly instructions say: "With additional manpower, and an adequate lifting device, carefully set the Bandsaw on top of the Stand assembly". Hardheaded me, I tried it by myself anyway. I could pick it up, but no way can one person hold it in place and start the bolts into the stand. If you put any of the weight of the saw assembly on the stand before the bolts are in the stand will collapse. Plan B: Pick the saw up with my engine hoist and a couple of straps; went together real easily then. And the stand is pretty sturdy once it is bolted to the saw. But the whole thing is top heavy and feels like it could tip over pretty easy while you are moving it.

Anyway, be careful handling it, don't make your back any worse.
jp

I wish I could say that I threw it out doing some manly-chore like trying to lift more than I should...at least it would sound better than "I sat on the couch" which is what really happened!

My friend at work picked it up for me over the weekend. I backed my truck up to his van and him and another friend lifted it into my truck for me. When I got home, my neighbor came up to the house. I pulled Fergie up to the tailgate and he slid it into the bucket. From there I drove to the barn and lowered the bucket and he slid it out onto the floor. That is where it has sat all week! Hopefully I can get my nephew to swing by tomorrow after work and he can assemble it 'cause I'm going to need it to repair my snowplow (which has to be done this weekend, bad back or not!)

Thanks for the assembly tips JP, I'm sure they'll come in handy!

 

[rhamer]

Well I tracked down my new bandsaw on friday to the couriers local depot. Apparently they had been sitting on it for a couple of days, for no appent reason, other than it was heavy

Anyway, I gave up and went down to the depot in the 45degC heat and picked it up myself.

I couldn't touch it on Saturday, as it was just too hot, and we had no power for the day as well.

Today I braved the heat (it was a bit cooler today) and unpacked it and set it up.

So far I'm happy with it, I have made a few cuts and they are straight and square. I've fiddled with a few things to fix a couple of assembly issues, like the hydraulic cylinder was rubbing against the side of the tray.

When cutting big stock it is very slow though. 125x75x6mm @ 45deg takes about 20 mins. I am running it on the slowest speed and quite a slow feed rate, while I learn it's capabilities. Maybe it is capable of more, but I don't want to push it yet, especially as I don't have a spare blade.

Anyway, so far so good.

Cheers

Rohan

 

[Renze]

When cutting big stock it is very slow though. 125x75x6mm @ 45deg takes about 20 mins. I am running it on the slowest speed and quite a slow feed rate, while I learn it's capabilities. Maybe it is capable of more, but I don't want to push it yet, especially as I don't have a spare blade.

When ordering new blades, i could choose between three different bands. Fine works great for thin walled stainless milk tubes. Coarse works better for solid.
I use the intermediate, because i saw everything. When sawing very thin walled stuff i reduce the downspeed of the saw arm by hand.

Mine has the hydraulic dropspeed controlled cylinder on one side, and a coil spring on the other side of the machine. You can set the downspeed with it.

Mine took about 15 to 20 minutes to saw four 100x15mm flatbars tacked together, with a dull blade. The cutting fluid was semi-frozen, it would flow but it started to build ice pillars on top of the band guide where it flows over the band.

Because i wanted to saw an angle greater than the vice on the saw could do, i used a loose fixation clamp to clamp a tube to the table. It let go, and now i have a kink in the blade, making it jam everytime i saw something thicker than 5mm.
I needed a new blade anyways.