Jet Verticle/horizontal Bandsaw

marekz

marekz

Joined
Jun 16, 2008
Messages
1,699
hello everyone, i need to purchase a bandsaw. some of my email friends suggested a JET horizontal verticle bandsaw.It is barely in my price range. i wanted to know if anyone ever used one of these and if i could use it for metal and wood cuuting. when its in the verticle position i dont see where/how the work rest is set up. Would this be a good first bandsaw if not can any one reccomend a metal/wood bandsaw in the $300-$400 range. thank you

Product Information

5" x 6" Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw
Standard Features
UL listed single phase motor
Exclusive design heavy-duty 14-gauge stand
Large diameter wheels and built-in handle allows easy movement
Front legs feature adjustable leveling pads
Ball bearing supported blade wheel
Fully adjustable ball bearing blade guides
Heat-treated and ground steel worm gear with bronze drive gear
Three blade speeds to choose from
Automatic shut-off after cut

Standard Equipment Vertical worktable
½” Carbon steel blade
Adjustable material stop


5" X 6" Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

Product Specifications
ASSEMBLY Assembled
BED HEIGHT INCHES 25-1/2
BLADE SIZE INCHES 1/2 x .025 x 64-1/2
BLADE SPEEDS (SFPM) 80,120,200
BLADE WHEEL DIAMETER INCHES 7-3/8
CUTTING CAPACITY 45 DEGREES INCHES 3
CUTTING CAPACITY 90 DEGREES INCHES 5
CUTTING CAPACITY RECTANGLE 45 DEGREES INCHES 5 x 3
CUTTING CAPACITY RECTANGLE 90 DEGREES INCHES 5 x 6
FLOOR SPACE REQUIRED 19"L x 44"W x 57"H
MOTOR 1/2HP, 115/230V, 1 Ph, Prewired 115V
THROAT DEPTH INCHES 6
VERTICAL WORKTABLE INCHES 9-5/8 x 9-1/2
VISE SWIVELS 45 Degrees
WEIGHT 115





May We Suggest


Replacement Blade For 5" X 6" Horizontal / Vertical Bandsaw
Replacement Blade for 5" x 6" Horizontal / Vertical Bandsaw
From $12.95 QTY:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
i think you can see a picture of it with the above adress
IMG]http://images.lowes.com/product/662755/66275524786.jpg[/IMG]
 
Last edited:
i'm also interested in the answers here, looking to pick up a bandsaw in the very near future.
 
Don't know about that JET saw, some folks here have them and will chime in. If you're looking for something that is more affordable, I suggest looking into the Harbor Freight red 4x6 saws. These or the ones from Grizzly are the most common ones in maker's shops. HF puts them on sale and you can get one for about $150. If you're worried about the quality, you can go with a Grizzly for a few bucks more.
 
I've got the Jet. Had it for about 4 months. I paid about 240.00 for it at Menards (I think they are only in the midwest). I like it for what I use it for. The carbon blade that come with it is worthless and the worktable is pretty flimsy, but if you pick up some bi-metal blades, it's a good tool for the money.
-Mark
 
Seems like they are pretty similar to the Harbor Freight saw. So I guess it would depend on pricing.

Allen
 
I had the Jet 4X6 for 12 years before buying the bigger 7X12 for horizontal cutting and a DeWalt portaband set up in a stand for vertical cutting. My current set-up is worlds apart better than the 4X6.... HOWEVER, it's also a substantial amount more $$$.

As entry level, I think the 4X6 is a pretty decent saw. I'm not sure why they're calling it a 5X6 now.... they must have changed something to increase the cutting capacity.

Anyway, I've seen MANY of the HF 4X6 saws, and they are the same saw as the Jet, just painted a different color.

For $150 at HF plus $20-30 for a GOOD Lenox DieMaster II blade, you can be in business for cutting steel.

If you want to spend a little more and have the skills/equipment to fabricate a small stand, then something like the DeWalt or Milwaukie portaband are a MUCH higher quality saw and quality blades are VERY cheap.

But if you can't make a stand and table for it, then you wouldn't get much use out of it for knives ;)
 
HF's 4x6 is the golden standard for us hobby knifemakers. Every day many of us mount the thing, with butts resting comfortably on the flat surface in the BS' back :) and guide assorted pieces of metal into the bi- metal blades . You can not go wrong with it.

A HF 15% off coupon (rumor has it one's out, google for a scan), a sale and some sweet talking to the manager should get you one for well under $200 outta door.
 
Does anyone have pictures/plans/measurements/details on how to build a vertical stand for a portaband? I am very interested in building this but can't figure out how to mount the saw.
 
I bought a HF 4x6 and hated it. sold it and then needed it. bought a jet 5x6 on sale and simply loved the thing. It cut straight. I never could get the HF to make a straight cut. The blades stayed on the wheels on the jet and constantly came off of the HF. I spent so much time fiddling with the HF trying to get it to cut that it is a wonder that I ever got a knife made. I don't know if I got a pos or not but it sucked. The jet has worked near flawlessly for two years now and I couldn't be happier with it. So what I am trying to say is that if you have the extra 100 bucks to spend get the Jet.
 
what about cutting wood on that jet, how does it set up vertically? do you have to buy a seperate workrest? thanks
 
I cut wood with my hf.
if you have the money id buy the best you can get. Iv been told that jet grizzly and hf are made in the same place.

this is it in the vertical

cleened2.JPG
 
i just went through this also if you compare the jet and the hf the jets parts and pulley system is better its like almost every thing else you get what you pay for. but i also would think the hf would be fine also. everthing comes with the jet to cut vertically also but its flimsy but a simple fix.
 
Take a 12" piece of 2X10 , put a slab of 1" upholstery foam on it, and cover it with anything you have ( cloth, leather, vinyl, etc.). Clamp it in the sliding vise jaw to sit on. An old motorcycle seat can be mounted the same way.(If you have removed the vise, bolt the seat from under the bed.)

Take the POS table that comes with the saw and replace it with a piece of 1/8" to 1/4" steel plate. Cut a slot and drill it to mount where the old one was. It will be much sturdier. Many chaps take the slide vise off the horizontal bed and make the saw vertical only. Moving the power switch up toward the saw make it easier to turn on and off while sitting on the bed. A foot switch is even better for hand cutting on the vertical.
Stacy
 
I agree with paintitred...the Jet is Taiwanese, the HF is Chinese. I know some will see little difference, but the quality, fit and finish appear to be better with the Jet. I was able to pick up a used one locally off of Craigslist for $100 and I don't regret it yet. Definitely buy bi-metal blades!
-Mark
 
The HF and JET bandsaws are not the same at all. The frame on the JET is bigger and most of the parts are sturdier. I have used the JET 4x6 for 2 1/2 years of heavy use and it works great. The blades stay on and it cuts very straight. When I take round stock I have cut over to the lathe all that needs to be faced is the saw marks.

I use either Symonds or Lenox bi-metal blades.
 
Mr. Finnigin or aanybody: what do you mean cut over to the lathe. -you spin it on a lathe and use a hacksaw to make the saw mark?-if i dont have a lathe can i put it in the vise and use a hacksaw to start it? please explain---thank you
 
If a BS is cutting at an angle, to get a true 90 degree "end", you'd need to remove quite a bit of metal to make it true. For round stock, this can be done on a lathe, operation known as facing. And if the particular BS cuts very true, very little facing needs to be done .

I will give a bonus tip here ... on how I hand feed round stock in my BS. May be up to 1" in OD it is much faster to hand cut it and I don't have to remove the vertical table I have mounted most of the time.

Wrong way to do it is to hand hold the round as you feed it in - the blade will turn it in your hands, potentially hurting you in process.

What I do is clamp a tiny vise I have onto the piece, within may be 1/2" of cut point, to where the jaws of the vise are flush with the surface of the piece. Now you can cut it with ease and super fast . Rotating the piece a bit as you cut it helps to cut it faster.
 
I have the jet saw mentioned. It worked great for about 12 years. I've replaced the roller bearing guides a number of times, and little by little it got to the point of not making a straight cut. I moved it from the finish shop to the Blacksmith shop and now use it for non-critical cutting chores. 90% of the time I used it in a vertical position, and sat on the frame when using it. I never did like the flimsy cutting table that came with it, so I made my own out of 3/8" aluminum. Another difficulty I had with this saw is that it's particular about blades. Never could get the combo tooth blades to work well on it. 10-14 toothed blades, or just about any other combo blade would loose teeth rapidly. I finally tried wavy 18 tooth blades and it solved many issues. I know it goes against everything we've been told/learned about blades, but the 18 tooth wavy cuts better and lasts longer on this saw than any other blade I've tried.

I purchased a portaband and set it up on a stand in the finish shop....its the best all around cutting bandsaw I've ever used. I cut metal, wood, G10, and just about everything else on this little saw and love it. After having seen several setups in different people's shops, I think I like the Dewalt Portaband the best....it has a dial speed control, as well as a work light built into the saw....now that's nice.
 
ok i am getting the dewalt portaband now all i need is a picture or a description on how to make a stand. i guess when i actually get it i can see what i need to do, but im thinking i need the whole works--work rest, heavy construction frame, ---the start button seems to be in a odd place -i wonder if i can rewire it to a regular switch? we will see. thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top