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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Horizontal Bandsaws

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Gus

04-07-2004 16:50:40




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Thinking about buying one. Grizzly's catalog has a few. I probably want a wet kit, right? Any input? Anyone got a grizzly? Thanks, Gus.




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STONE

04-09-2004 21:53:47




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
I bought a Grizzly 7" x 12" about 2 1/2 years ago ,not a problem one ..... ....



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PJW

04-09-2004 05:05:34




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
My background is toolmaker. I have built my own backyard workshop using what machines I could afford or find. I have one of those import saws that I bought for 25$ from a guy that was frustrated with the performance. I put a new blade on the saw and did some minor repairs and the saw is just fine. The trick is using the right pitch blade and speed for the material you are sawing. This type of saw is fine for the backyard shop. Sometimes people forget the basics (blade pitch, speed and feed) when sawing material. Hope this helps.

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Rick

04-08-2004 05:57:40




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
Gus; I run a ELLIS brand metal cut saw. I simply love it. I cut angles etc by just swingin the head. Blades have lasted me up too year depending on projects. It is a dry cut saw also no need for the wet mess. It will cut up to 12" square stuff. Rick



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VaTom

04-08-2004 05:52:46




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
Hi Gus,

I started with a 4x6 Harbor Freight saw. It was OK (3 months later when they finally sent a replacement part so it would track), but slow. Got frustrated trying to saw larger steel, especially when I had to flip it to finish the cut.

Now running a 6x10 Wilton that is a world of difference. Didn't come with a wet kit and, on the advice I got here, I didn't buy one. No problem cutting large steel. It's a much heavier saw and cuts 3-4 times faster than the 4x6.

Last night I was in a wood shop, buying some machinery, and the guy had a lot of Grizzly tools. He thought they were great.

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KEG

04-07-2004 19:09:13




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
gus,

TimV had some good suggestions. However, he is lucky with his $180 machine. I have one of those cheapies and it has a major problem keeping the blades on the wheels. Since there is no adjustment to align the wheels, the blades always pop off. It became worthless and I retired it to the back of the barn.

I bought the Makita carbide-tip chop saw and really like it. Gives a super-clean cut without lots of sparks.

But, it is hard to beat a good horizontal band saw for larger cutting and production work. As always, I would suggest getting a better saw even though it costs more. You'll be happy in the long run.

KEG

KEG

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TimV

04-07-2004 18:01:00




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 Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-07-2004 16:50:40  
Gus: It depends on what you get, and what you are planning on using it for. I've got a Clarke, which is TSC's house brand for the same cheapie China-made 4x6 horizontal/vertical saw that everyone else (Grizzly, Northern Tool, Harbor Freight, etc. etc.) sells. It was about $180, and I LOVE it! Granted that it's a bit clunky and has some rough edges (literally and figuratively) but it is a vast improvement over the sawzall, chop saw, or hot wrench. With a good blade, it will do a decent job at most stuff, but if you're looking at high-volume production, you'll want a wet kit, which the smaller saws typically don't have. If it's for occasional use, a wet kit is more trouble than it's worth. We've got a larger one in our machine shop at work, and the wet kit rarely gets used--too many plug-ups, overflows, etc.

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Gus

04-08-2004 03:00:43




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 Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to TimV, 04-07-2004 18:01:00  
Thanks KEG and TimV, I was thinking a step or two up from the cheapy. But not having much experience, it's good to get advice. I have a cheapy chop saw. For anything over 1/8" it takes forever. After using a sawzall and going thru blades fast, I figured I should have the wet-cooler. Don't you eat blades on thick stuff? Or do you just slow it down? How accurate and what is the capacity of the portable bandsaws? Gus

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TimV

04-08-2004 03:52:59




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 Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-08-2004 03:00:43  
Gus: The one we have at work is more on the order of what you're looking for, but I can't think of the brand. Of course, brand doesn't necessarily mean a lot--many of these are made by the same places and just rebranded. Blade life is measured in weeks or months, even with fairly heavy use. As far as the portable jobbers, a friend has a Milwaukee, and it's an excellent rig. Accuracy is (of course) dependent upon the user's steadiness, but it's better than a sawzall. Size capacity escapes me at the moment, but it's not all that big. However, for what he uses it for (cutting small angles, rebar, etc.) it works fine.

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Fred OH

04-08-2004 03:45:11




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 Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Gus, 04-08-2004 03:00:43  
4x6" is the entry level horiz/vert band saw with a 7x12 as the next one up. Some say that you can't keep the blade on them, and it is probably so if you keep the blade too tight and warp the frame. With no adjustment you have to shim the wheel mounts with paper or metal shims to get them back on track. They are not the machine that I would want to win a war with, but they do a fair job...if you can get smarter than the metal. Fred OH

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HarryG

04-10-2004 11:56:13




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Fred OH, 04-08-2004 03:45:11  
Speaking of bandsaws I have an older vertical/horizontal "Rigid" bandsaw model # 946 1468R. Its an older model and bought it used with no manual. Blades are no problem as they are 64 1/2". Have cut some good size metal like 3/4" by 8" steel. Having trouble keeping cut straight. I've aligned the guides by eye and use 2 x4s to check cut. It will stay for a while but changes. Guide bolts are still tight. No play I can find. Anyone with a manual or correct procedure to align blade?

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Fred OH

04-10-2004 20:58:51




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to HarryG, 04-10-2004 11:56:13  
Try changing the roller bearings and put the top one in bottom position...or put on some new ones...they get worn. They can be purchased from Bearings Inc. or other sources, all 6 on mine were the same bearing...I think they are about 5 bucks apiece. Your doing the alignment okay...a square...first on one side of blade and then the other... eyeballing it till it looks square and test cutting (with a new blade only.) Fred OH

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HarryG

04-25-2004 05:18:20




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to Fred OH, 04-10-2004 20:58:51  
How tight should the blade be?



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Fred OH

04-25-2004 19:07:47




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 Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Horizontal Bandsaws in reply to HarryG, 04-25-2004 05:18:20  
The ideal tightness would be just tight enough that the blade doesn't slip or wander off track...but not too tight that it distorts the frame or shortens the life of the bearings that it rides in...somewhere between the first and last guitar string should get you in the ball park. If it keeps slipping off...you possibly have an alignment problem or the wheels could even be worn and tapered if the saws got some age on it or been abused. Fred OH

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