General bandsaw at Harbor freight

J

Jurassicfish

Joined
Feb 8, 2017
Messages
4
Has anyone actual used the 4 speed verticals band saw harbor freight sells? I know the reputation of harbor freight tools, but does anyone have they have used.
 
Been useing a portaband from them for about 2yrs, think it gettin ready to give out but its done alot of cutting.
 
Yes and no, I bought one off ebay a few years back. It's the same saw, differnt color. I made a bigger table for it as well. For the money spent, it owes me nothing. One thing I found was tho, throw the blade that comes with away, and get a good blade, like Lenox or so.
 
I am trying to purchase a metal cutting bandsaw at a reasonable cost. I have a wood cutting saw. The use would be for cutting out blanks.
 
I have been using one for about 6 years now. With good blades it will work very well if set up properly. The biggest problem with mine is that the blade frequently wants to pop off the wheel. I don't think i have it set up well. But when it's working, it does a good job. The other thing is that the plastic tension handle on top (when set up vertically) eventually stripped out and cracked. I welded up a new handle for it and it's not going to break anymore. As wkfl says, it owes me nothing. And it sure as hell beats going at it with a hacksaw. One addition I made was to use it with a momentary foot switch. That way I keep both hands on the work piece. If things go pear shaped all of a sudden all I have to do is take my foot off the switch and it stops, no fumbling around for the little on/off switch on the bandsaw. HF sells the foot switch too.
 
i4Marc said:
I have been using one for about 6 years now. With good blades it will work very well if set up properly. The biggest problem with mine is that the blade frequently wants to pop off the wheel. I don't think i have it set up well. But when it's working, it does a good job. The other thing is that the plastic tension handle on top (when set up vertically) eventually stripped out and cracked. I welded up a new handle for it and it's not going to break anymore. As wkfl says, it owes me nothing. And it sure as hell beats going at it with a hacksaw. One addition I made was to use it with a momentary foot switch. That way I keep both hands on the work piece. If things go pear shaped all of a sudden all I have to do is take my foot off the switch and it stops, no fumbling around for the little on/off switch on the bandsaw. HF sells the foot switch too.
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Thanks. I know it is not going to be a great saw, but I might try it. Thanks.
 
The Harbor Freight is the knifemaking industry standard. I have had mine for 15 years. I did upgrade the table.
Use good bi-metal blades.
 
The 4 speed vertical is woodworking saw. Knife makers typically use the HF 4x6 horizontal / vertical bandsaw.
 
I stand corrected!
Yes- I was talking about the HF 4 X 6 saw!
 
In 10 or so years I am my second hf porta band and another knife making buddy has the 4x6 for that time with no problems


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
My HF 4x6 metal cutting saw doesn't work, and I can't figure out why. I'll get to that project some day, but for now I still have the variable speed portaband from HF, and it still works great.
 
I use the HF red vertical/horizontal saw. The red model has a larger motor if I recall correctly. I have mine set up permanently in the vertical. With Starrett blades, it works really well. Had to replace the belt a couple years in but that was simple enough. It has more than paid for itself:) I removed the horizontal clamp and wrapped the frame with foam and duct tape for a seat.
 
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