woohoo!!! HF bandsaw for $100

Tippet

Tippet

Joined
Mar 13, 2010
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226
It's as good as new. The guy made a few cuts but then the thing sat in his garage for a couple years. He cut some 1/2" sq stock so I could see it work. The thing is essentially brand new and I don't even have to assemble it.

Craigslist is the knifemaker's friend!

It's a lot heavier than I expected, the saw body is cast iron. The whole thing weighs about 130 lbs.

It sure took it a while to get through that piece of 1/2" stock, but it'll do me fine. I'm sure it's currently fitted with the oem blade, so I guess putting a good bimetal blade on there will help with that.

I have a couple questions- I can change speed by choosing from 3 pulley ratios. I can choose 80, 120, or 200 fpm. My gut says run it at 80 fpm, what's best?

Also, what tpi blades should I get, and is there a brand or two of bimetal bandsaw blade that stand out as superior? I plan on cutting a variety of steels, like AEB-L, D2, S30V, ATS-34, etc. as well as damasteel and pattern-welded damascus.

One last request: Please post links to threads or other info about modifying this tool! I gather it's one of the most popular items for knifemakers, and people do all sorts of things by way of improving it.
 
When you are figuring TPI you always want at least 2 teeth in whatever you are cutting, anything less and you knock teeth off. Hope you enjoy your new saw, watch your fingers and keep some coolant on the blade and they last a lot longer.
 
Maybe squirt a little oil on there every so often? Or rig up a reservoir, pump, and nozzle? That could be a PIA.
 
Use a good bi-metal blade,lennox diemaster II is a good one.14-18 veri-tooth and I cut everythhing from .040 ti to 1/4" 1080.
Good score on the saw.
Stan
 
There is a yahoo group called "4x6bandsaw" that has some really good information. In the files section, there is a PDF called "basic blade adjustment and tracking" which will help you tune the saw to keep it running and cutting square. There are dimensioned drawings for a 6"x6" table that can stay attached to the saw in the horizontal and vertical positions (the stock one is garbage and has to be taken on and off). And there are numerous examples of how to add a recirculating coolant/cutting fluid system, various stock holding accessories, and methods to stiffen the frame.

Check it out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4x6bandsaw/
 
CanFire said:
There is a yahoo group called "4x6bandsaw" that has some really good information.

In the files section, there is a PDF called "basic blade adjustment and tracking"

,,,which will help you tune the saw to keep it running and cutting square.
There are dimensioned drawings for a 6"x6" table that can stay attached to the saw in the horizontal and vertical positions (

the stock one is garbage and has to be taken on and off). And there are numerous examples of how to add a recirculating coolant/cutting fluid system, various stock holding accessories, and methods to stiffen the frame.

Check it out:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4x6bandsaw/
Click to expand...

Could you post those files here?

I'd like to have it, but don't want to have to sign up to that group for just those ...
 
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Thanks guys! Any opinions about blade fpm speed?
 
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I usually run mine on 120,the middle pulley,It's a little harder on blades but much quicker.
Stan
 
12345678910 said:
Could you post those files here?

I'd like to have it, but don't want to have to sign up to that group for just those ...
Click to expand...

I don't think I can attach files in these forums. PM me with your email address though and I'll mail you copies of the PDF's. One is 63kb and the other is 27kb.
 
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