Harbor freight 4"x 6" bandsaw motor problems

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
2,045
Has anyone had the capacitor in their motor burn out?

I just purchased the bandsaw about a month ago, used it a little at the start, seemed to work fine; then I used it for about 30 mins straight over the weekend and started to smell something burning. I removed the capacitor cover and the capacitor looked like it had an internal fire which had burned through the case.

I replaced the capacitor with a new one and after about 10 minutes, I could smell burning again.

Anyone know why the capacitor keeps getting burned?

Should I just replace the complete motor? I have a 1HP Grizzly that I was hoping to make into a disc sander. Other than the motor problems, the 4" x 6" is so much nicer to use than my ol' portable one.
 
If the bandsaw is less than 90 days old I would just have harbor freight do the work on it. They'll likely replace the motor or the whole unit.
 
Take it back, I used one and still do for over 2 years. There are ones that have been in service longer. You got a defected unit, or your power supply is faulty?

Spencer
 
... this saw is *the* workhorse of knifemakers across the country. The next step up is about $600 and diminishing returns definitely seems to apply. If you have a secret that we don't know about, please share.
 
AcridSaint said:
... this saw is *the* workhorse of knifemakers across the country. The next step up is about $600 and diminishing returns definitely seems to apply. If you have a secret that we don't know about, please share.
Click to expand...

Yes it is the workhorse for the money, I found it to have limitations after shopping around I settled on the Wilton 14" its about $1200.00. It sure is a huge difference. Solid work table , clearance on both sides of the blade and the blade stays on untill you are ready to take it off. That was the biggest draw back to the HF.

Its not that it cuts any faster it just cuts in a very consistent manor.

You do get what you pay for
Spencer
 
Spencer, is that the Wilton Tradesman? If so, did you get the VS motor or the pulley machine? Thanks.
 
Hey Spence, I agree that you do get what you pay for and that you've certainly got a nicer machine than the $150 HF saw. The only majoy drawback I can see is the lack of clearence, the table is fairly easy to fix with a chuck of micarta or mild steel. I'm sure cutting out some of the large pieces you do makes a bigger difference, but would you agree that for a maker who rarely makes knives over 10" or so isn't going to see as much benefit?

I've cut a lot of things on the HF saw and I think it's the best deal out there on a budget. If my only problem using it was the motor burning, I sure wouldn't want to spend $1200 to replace it, especially if it were under warranty. If I needed more sawing power or more options then I would be more inclined.
 
Oh I do agree I think I just failed to make my point, I did a lot of looking before I made my pruchase if I could not have afforded the Wilton I would have bought another HF they are the knife-maker bandsaw imo.

I would sometimes cut for a few hours and in that time frame the blade would always pop off the track no matter what I did to the tracking, it just seems to be the way it is.

After cutting a bunch of .250 stock I had finally had enough and choose to upgrade as far as I could.

I still use my HF for cutting some of the more stubborn handle materials and kydex which can really foul up you roller guides.

Hope that makes better sense
 
fitzo said:
Spencer, is that the Wilton Tradesman? If so, did you get the VS motor or the pulley machine? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Yes it is the Wilton tradesman pulley model, I thought hard about the VS but the lowest speed is only 80 and according to the company its somewhat faster than advertised. I have had it for a few months and really enjoy it, changing speeds is really quick and painless.

I put 2 full sandbags in the bottom to keep in place, one thing I like is I can cut very close to the line, follow curves and get most of the tight radius's.

Its the last bandsaw I will have to buy

Spencer
 
Spencer, sorry to pester with questions, but how do you find the guides? Are they high quality or would you enjoy having a better set? Also, how close down does that upper guide get? Will it come right down to the stock?

Thanks for the response....
 
Mike the guides are good quality, with nice thick carbide pads and yes the guide can be brought right down on top of the stock. The adjustment system, rigidity combined with a good blade= good cutting

Its a very ridged setup.

Spencer
 
Thanks! I keep thinking about one of those every time I use my 25 year old 4x6!
 
Thanks for the reply Spence. I have had a few trials and tribulations with the HF saws, of course. The blade popping off is just a matter of life with them, fortunately it's not all that often, even without any modifications to the stock machine. Of course the table makes a racket and is flimsy and sometimes you have to get creative to work around that left side, because it's just like you said, you get what you pay for.

Overall, I believe we're on the same page.

Try not to pay too much mind to Mike, his ears perk up when he hears about nice (and expensive) tools ;)

Sorry for derailing your thread flatgrinder. I still think you should get it replaced or repaired under warranty.
 
AcridSaint said:
... this saw is *the* workhorse of knifemakers across the country. The next step up is about $600 and diminishing returns definitely seems to apply. If you have a secret that we don't know about, please share.
Click to expand...

I simply said save your money because if I am correct, the 4" x 6" HF saw is actually meant to cut horizontal cuts but has somewhat of small and possibly flimsy table? I have never personlly used one, but I have seen it in the store. Looks like it was slapped together in 10 minutes and had a really quick paint job. I'm sure tons of knifemakers on a budget use it and that's great. Personally I am not the type of person that deals well with frustration (blade falling off or coming off track). I have had a lot "cheapo" toys in the past that just simply turned out to be crap and not very precise. If it works for you then thumbs up to you guys! The money you save in the beginning + frustration and motors burning out and whatever problems is just simply a pain that I'd rather not deal with anymore :D
 
It's a horizontal/vertical saw, it comes with a vertical lock. This is not the "budget maker's" saw, it's the saw that probably 80% of makers end up buying, the other 20% being mostly portaband conversions, angle grinders and a few of the more expensive saws. Why would all of these "budget makers" stick with such a cheap and worthless saw... I just can't figure it out.

Blades pop off of all saws and blades break, blades have to be changed. Motors burn out, even on Wiltons. That's why we have warranties, that's why the OP has a warranty. How much are you really taking advantage of the extra $1000 you spend? Do you need that extra precision in a metal cutting band saw? Is it because you don't know how to use the other tools in your shop? Does the machine last ten times longer, take one tenth the time and one tenth the money to cut out a blade?

I'm not saying the other saws aren't nice and I'm not saying that some makers don't need them. But the blanket suggestion that they are so worthless that you should just save your money for something better is absurd. No, you did not use so many words, yes you did imply it. You're passing opinions and advice on something you have no experience with, go figure. We never see you blather on about things you know nothing about, do we?
 
I did a quick search on Harbor Frieght and could not even find a 4x6 bandsaw. I am confused, which I might add is not hard to do, but which saw are you talking about AcridSaint?
 
EAsy boys no reason to start a range war over bandsaws.

Its a known fact that many, many makers use the HF with great success at one time i had 2 one was parked under my bench as a reserve. When I came home from the blade show my budget allowed for me to upgrade to a better saw, its the way I have been operating for the last 2 years. 100% of my knife earnings have went back into my shop for materials and upgrades. Like I said I still have the HF set up and use it on a regular basis but when it comes down to cutting steel the Wilton does it and it does it well.

When I "slapped my together" I took the extra time to build in a few extra supports, used lok tite, and some large flat washers with nylon locking nuts and a nice big pad to sit on. It was and still is a solid saw. I have aslo seen guys bench top mount where the rig does not move at all.

I had a few problems with my wilton when it arrived and brought it to the companies attention, they fixed my issues and sent me the rip fence for free which is a great asset when I rip large blocks of micarta.

In Bob T's book on folders it shows a picture of the famed HF style bandsaw, how many knives and material to you think Bob has cut on that thing?

Both arguments have value, but it does take time to just plop down lots o cash for machinery , when a guy may still need other items before hand.

Flatgrinder did you get your issue resolved?

Ease up its just knifemaking
Spencer
 
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