Harbor Freight 4x6 bandsaw ($229)

Col Defender

Col Defender

Joined
Nov 11, 2011
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Anybody using this cheap stationary band saw to cut blades out from 1/8 or 3/16 steel? Does it work OK for that purpose? With a coupon I could get it for under $200 which makes it close to portable saw prices

Thanks
 
If you read the answers to the thread you posted yesterday, it was clear that many makers used one. I would say it is the number one most popular metal band saw for knifemakers.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
If you read the answers to the thread you posted yesterday, it was clear that many makers used one. I would say it is the number one most popular metal band saw for knifemakers.
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Thank you Stacy for a clear answer to my question; it is a spot on answer. Except for the "If you read" part. I can assure you I read all the answers carefully and while there were some references to 4x6 and to HF the two were not clearly linked in most answers and given my level of knowledge about band saws, assumptions would be dangerous. Then there were lots of answers which described guys' $1000+ saws and they were very interesting but did not help me to decide whether the cheap HF would work for me or be a waste of money. Hence my new thread this morning - and by the way, thanks also for being so prompt in your answer - I might even go shopping today or early next week.
 
I was mostly kidding about this being a new thread. The amount of info can be confusing and overwhelming at times.

Short answer, the HF 4X7 is a good shop saw. Thousands of them are in knife shops worldwide.


I put a brace on mine so it stayed in the up position firmly, took off the vise, and tossed an old English saddle over the bed to sit on while cutting blades. I more recently took the arm off and bench mounted it as shown in the photos in the other thread....and threw the base away.
 
Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith said:
I was mostly kidding about this being a new thread. The amount of info can be confusing and overwhelming at times.

Short answer, the HF 4X7 is a good shop saw. Thousands of them are in knife shops worldwide.


I put a brace on mine so it stayed in the up position firmly, took off the vise, and tossed an old English saddle over the bed to sit on while cutting blades. I more recently took the arm off and bench mounted it as shown in the photos in the other thread....and threw the base away.
Click to expand...

Thank you very much!
 
Just a heads up, some are POS. Mine never worked right no matter what I tried. Dewalt portaband works 1000% better and I think the best thing short of a full size saw.
 
My HF 4x6 was marginal until I threw out the blade and replaced it with a Starrett 18tpi blade. It's like a different saw with the good blade.
 
I have a HF 4x6 and it gets a great deal of use. They do take some effort to get them set up correctly, but there is a yahoo group that has lots of info on getting them running right. First thing you want to do is trash the belt that comes on it and get a good bi-metal blade. I also have a portaband, but my 4x6 does a better job for me at cutting out blanks.
 
Tried every trick out there and of course first one was a good bi-metal blade but the thing never worked right. But I see lots of folks who got a good one so I guess I am the exception. Still I would not buy another one and would replace my portaband in a sec. Good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Patrice Lemée;15371078 said:
Tried every trick out there and of course first one was a good bi-metal blade but the thing never worked right. But I see lots of folks who got a good one so I guess I am the exception. Still I would not buy another one and would replace my portaband in a sec. Good luck with whatever you decide.
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No Pat, you're not the only one. Have heard of a few that bought a HF saw and couldn't get em to work right.
 
When I got mine , I tossed the stock blade from the get go , and used a Lenox DieMaster II , and replaced the table with a larger one made from 5/16 plate. Been using it for about 6 years troublefree. I did lock mine it the upright position also.
 
That's just the way it is with HF sometimes. You have guys that have rode those saws(and other tools) hard and put them up wet for years with no problems and some have problems from the get..There are some folks out there that build those saws for fun..Add lubricant systems,hydraulic downfeed and everything..They end up with very nice saws but have plenty of work in them..Though that's it I guess, its not work if you enjoy doing it.
 
Mine has worked fine for years and made me a lot of money.

Get a good blade, learn how to align it and adjust it.
 
Change the blade first thing. HF has half ass bimetal blades that are much better than the one that comes with the saw even if they are not nearly as good as the Starretts. Also brace the legs somehow, That is the real weak link on that saw. Also look on here and elsewhere for ideas on how the replace the stock table with a small one made from some real plate. i think that you can make one small enough to where it works and you may not have to remove it to used the saw horizontally. Also replace the screws that hold down the table. They are pot metal of the worst kind and hard to get to with a screwdriver. You might want to find some torx or allen head ones.
 
Thanks everyone - here's my plan. After church today I will take the old failed portable saw to our local HF store. (HF told me 11 days ago, they were sending me a shipping label to return my saw and they would replace it; so far I don't even have said label.). At the store I will try to cut a deal to give them my broken portable saw in exchange for credit toward the 4x6 floor mounted one. It has to be worth a try. :)
 
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