Which type/brand bandsaw say ye' good folks?

M

manny767

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Aug 27, 2012
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I have been looking to get a metal cutting bandsaw to profile knives with and have been back and forth trying to decide which model/type to get. So far...

Pros of a 4x6,
- I can cut horizontally for other stuff other than making knives, big plus
- it's bigger, I love big power tools! (not really a big factor, but hey)
- nice throat depth to cut stock in the vertical position, no problems here

Cons of the 4x6,
- They're all cheap chinese monkey made machines
- I hear the vertical position is bad since the metal dust and grit drops down and gets stuck inside the blade area
- how long will it really last?

Pros of a portaband,
- quality machines, will last

Cons of a portaband,
- throat depth, I plan on making knives that may be bigger than some, this could pose problems and I'm afraid of not beeing able to cut what I need on bigger blades
- no fixed horizontal cutting
- almost the same, if not More expensive than a 4x6

And this is of course assumed I will be using the portaband in a vertical mounted position with a table.

With all of that said, I really want a 4x6. I do want a quality tool though that will last and not need replaced all the time. Blades of course, but not new motors, parts, etc or the tool alltogether.

What are all of you makers suggestions on this subject? Brands of 4x6's I have been looking at is harbor freight (always TRY to avoid, but it would save a lot of money if it will hold up), enco, and a busy bee.
The busy bee costs $700 just for shipping here to the states though! Big NO. So I was leaning to enco but if harbor freight will hold up just as well, thats a good chunk of money for blades. Harbor freight I fear quality control and tolerances not up to spec, badly tempered parts breaking, short life motors, and so on. What do all of you use? I hear good on the jet model but is it worth the extra $$$$ that I don't have?
I have also looked around for a good used american made but cannot find any.

I don't mind setting the blade and cleaning the gearbox if I Have to, but I want whatever I get to last.
Now I've been told the 4x6s are not good for cutting vertically, though all I hear of knifemakers usually using is a 4x6 in the vertical position. So that's what im looking to do
Input appreciated, I know there has to be some difference in quality of the brands..
 
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I use hf portaband and it's been fine so far. Just use some bi-metal blades. I hear the hf 4x6 are pretty bad, but I don't own one so I don't really know.
 
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Manny, since you didn't fill out your profile with a location, I can't tell if you're close to an area with a decent Craigslist population. If you can get your hands on a Taiwanese-made 4x6, it's probably worth your while. I bought my Jet off of C-list in exceptional condition for $100, and I'm very happy with it.
-Mark
 
el0147 said:
I use hf portaband and it's been fine so far. Just use some bi-metal blades. I hear the hf 4x6 i pretty bad, but I don't own one.
Click to expand...

That's what I keep hearing on their 4x6 and is what I'm afraid of.

Polish avenger, I live in st. Louis, MO. Have looked everywhere, craigs included and cannot find any for sale.
 
I have one of the HF 4X6 band saw and have been using it for 6 years.No real problems and I use Starrett di-master blades.
It works well as long as you don't try to over feed it.
Stan
 
I have one of the HF 4x6 saws and am happy as well. I have cut everything from kydex to 5/16" 3V without a hitch. I get good quality Bi-Metal blades just like anyone else will say. I do not feel it was a bad investment at all.
 
I have been using a HF 4 X6 for over 10 years. I love it.
You may have to tinker with it to get it right, but the same is true of any of the 4 X 6s.
 
All you folks happy with the harbor freight 4x6 are you using the older green model or the newer red one?

Polish avenger,
I seen them but was unsure of the buffalo name if it was good or bad. And also don't want a used peice of junk, I'm probably not the best decision maker on determining the condition of these peices of machinery. I'd probably think it was fine get it home and it fall apart. LOl
 
Usually, folks will let you test them out to your satisfaction. The Buffalo name is just that, a name. These things are cranked out in factories overseas and painted and badged for whoever wants to pay for them. Look for cracks in the castings and listen for overly-loud gearboxes or bearings. These things are so slow that there's really not too much that can go wrong as long as they've remained upright on their stands.
-Mark
 
I used on of the imports -green- for over 19 years when the gearbox went South.
I replaced it with a Jet that came on sale and have been very happy. I took the small plate off and put on a 8 inch by 12 inch 1/4 inch plate.
 
I have a 36" Dake-Johnson vertical band.....only cost me as much as a new car.

...joking, I use a grizzly 4x6 and no real complaints. Decent tool for the money. If you want anything much better you'll pay much more.
 
I use a Buffalo 4x6 from 1987, and it is still running strong. I only payed $60 for it, and I was using a hacksawed before, so I am very satisfied. I could definetely tell that mine was built a little more heavy duty than a HF.

Jack
 
I use a jet 4x6, with a nice seat from a motor cycle to sit on, and a big plate to work off. However ive had the pleasure of using a Powermatic.
 
I've used a Grizzly 4x6 full time for 22 years, with never a problem.

With HF you might get a decent one, or might not. Quality control is all over the scale.

Jet used to be the Best of the cheap imports and I'm pretty sure they still are.
 
Jet can really vary in quality, depending on when and where it was made. The older stuff, used to all be Taiwain, and it was very high quality. Much of the newer isn't, and can be hit or miss.

I've got a 1979 Vintage Jet (Taiwan) 36" vertical metal cutting bandsaw that's very similar to the old DoAlls, they look nearly identical, and while the Jet isn't quite as heavy, it's pretty close.

Also, fwiw, I only paid what it would cost to buy two HF 4x6's for it.

Awesome industrial grade equipment is rampant and cheap at the moment, if you have the space, aren't afraid to haul it, and can supply the power it needs. It's the small, "I'm cramped for space" hobby shop sized tools, good or crap, that command the biggest premiums, and give the least performance for your dollar.

For instance, I know where 3 or 4 no 1 or 2 sized surface grinders are for under $1,000 (and negotiable) right now, but I've come to just presume nobody but me is interested in anything over a few hundred lbs.

Woops, sorry, that got long winded.
 
Thanks for the responses from everyone, I took all of your advice into consideration. After some thought I got in touch with the guy in Polish Avengers first link and am meeting with him wednesday to see the bandsaw. Hopefully everything checks out and I can go home happy.
I figure it's a better quality machine I keep hearing good on over these newer chinese imports, it's a good price point that allows me to pick up some more blades instead of spending $500 on a jet or $300+ for an enco...and even less money than a HF w/coupon.

Thanks again everyone and polish avenger for throwing that link to me again.
 
manny767 said:
Thanks for the responses from everyone, I took all of your advice into consideration. After some thought I got in touch with the guy in Polish Avengers first link and am meeting with him wednesday to see the bandsaw. Hopefully everything checks out and I can go home happy.
I figure it's a better quality machine I keep hearing good on over these newer chinese imports, it's a good price point that allows me to pick up some more blades instead of spending $500 on a jet or $300+ for an enco...and even less money than a HF w/coupon.

Thanks again everyone and polish avenger for throwing that link to me again.
Click to expand...

I think you might be pleasantly surprised with that old saw in the link. I have an older Dayton 4 x 6 that I got from an old sheet metal shop. It was covered in grease and dust, not pretty at all, but I put a new link belt on it, cleaned and re greased the gear box and use quality Lenox blades and it's been purring like a kitten for a couple years now. I wouldn't be too concerned about using it to cut steel in the upright position. Yes, debris falls down into the blade compartment but it's not going to hurt anything. Every once in a while get the shop vac, open up the blade cover and suck it up. No worries.

Hope that saw works out for ya!
 
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