Opinions: JET Bandsaw vs HF Bandsaw??

R

razorhunter

Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
470
Guys,
First off, can someone tell me what size motor the HF bandsaw has? If you go to the HF website, it shows their metal cutting, horizontal/vertical bandsaw is 1HP, and then when you scroll down, it says 1/3HP. What say?

Also, has anyone got knowledge of this JET bandsaw, and how it compares to the HF bandsaw? I know a lot of guys use the HF, and recommend it, but I would like to know if the JET is considerably better?
http://www.southern-tool.com/store/light_duty_horizontal_vertical_bandsaws.html

Thanks for any help fellas!!
 
I am willing to bet money that the jet's are made in the same chinese factories as the hf saws are just like all the different brand mills. Sure, motors may be different but I change motors on everything anyway. Call my toolman tim. Motors are a dime a dozen at auctions. I have so many I give away anything under a horse and don't even bid on them for 50¢ at auctions. If the jets would happen to be still made in taiwan (which i don't think they are) they would probably be a better quality.
 
Frankly I don't think you can go wrong buying the HF saw. It may take a little tweaking to get it running smoothly but there's lots of experience with that around here. The most important thing is to buy good blades; Lennox bimetal blades are kind of a standard and each one lasts me about two years, or 30-40 knives and related cutting.
 
The HF for the $$$ you can't go wrong. Just make sure you tighten the hell out of the adjustment so the blade doesn't pop off. That was the only problem I had with mine. :D
 
I've had the HF bandsaw for a good while with no problems. The first thing to do is get rid of the blade and replace it with a good bi-metal one. I replaced the table with a 12" x 12" piece of countertop. If it quits tomorrow, I'd get another HF replacement.
 
Like Dave said, they're all the same. You'll just pay more for the Jet, plus freight.

Harbor freight will pay shipping on purchases of $50.00, or more, and that it a considerable saving in itself. But I told you all that on another forum.

I have talked to HF about the 1/3HP on that add. It's a misprint that just got in with the rest of that stuff. Many years ago they did offer two versions of that saw, a 1HP, and a 1/3HP, and it's left over from that. They just can't figure how to get it out of the web page.
 
Thanks guys,
Ordered the HF saw today. Also got a good Lenox coming too. I guess it's time to figure out what all modifications need to be done. I'm not the best at doing things like replacing bandsaw blade tables and stuff. Hope it doesn't take too much time, because as fun as it is to make all kinds of cool modifications to tools, I just don't have time to be working on tools straight out of the box, for hours on end.
I remember seeing a website that showed ALL the necessary modifications to do to the HF bandsaw. Not sure what it was...
I thank you guys for your time.
If anyone feels like chiming in and telling me what all mods really need to be done, to make this saw a good tool, I would appreciate it. Thanks fellas!
 
Ordered the HF saw today. Also got a good Lenox coming too.

:D Way to go! Nothing like getting started right. I consider mine the best $150 I've ever spent (maybe a couple of nights on the town, but those are nothing but fond memory now and my saw is doing its job as fine as it did the day I unpacked it).

As to modifications, you can spend a lot of time on them or none. I, like you, figure my time is better spent making knives so haven't gotten into the mods to my saw at all. Mine came with an 8" square metal table that I bolted to it. I cut a slot into the hole the blade cover bolt goes through so I don't have to unscrew the bolt completely to change blades - or put it back on when it pops off - and that's as far as I've gone with it. Occasionally I retighten all the screws holding the legs on. Someday I'll Locktite em and be done with it... :D
 
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