Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

[calharkins]

I am considering a horizontal/vertical bandsaw like harbor freight's or grizzly's.
Anyone have any experience good or bad with either one of these?
Anyone got any other recommendations?
Thanks

 

[murphda2]

They work great. Just throw away the supplied blade and purchase a quality one.

 

[mike miller]

Murph is right. The first one was similar to the Grizzly and only lasted 19 years. Good blades are the key.

 

[LRB]

Buy bi-metal blades for it.

 

[calharkins]

Thanks guys!

 

[Jeff Pearce]

You can always buy a Wilton band saw like the one on the left here. it has 8 speeds so it will cut metal or wood. just change the speeds and blades.

 

[calharkins]

What TPI bi-metal blade would you use to cut steel with? I am ignorant on this.
Thanks

 

[12345678910]

What TPI bi-metal blade would you use to cut steel with? I am ignorant on this.
Thanks

The rule of thumb is to keep 3 teeth in the work.

On very thin blade stock, it is difficult to keep to that.

1/4 inch stock 3teeth / .25 = 12tpi

1/8 3 teeth / .125 = 24 tpi

24 tpi is the most common fine blade, 32tpi is available but expensive and too fine to work quickly.

some people use a 14 - 18 variable tooth blade

 

[12345678910]

I am considering a horizontal/vertical bandsaw like harbor freight's or grizzly's.
Anyone have any experience good or bad with either one of these?
Anyone got any other recommendations?
Thanks

They have problems with blades coming off if not setup correctly.

You need the wheel tracking tilt setup correctly and LOTS of tension on the blade. If you google blades coming off...you will find lots of info about that.

I had one I couldn't keep a blade on, threw it out in frustration and the next one was fine.

 

[Cliff Fendley]

I've had one of the little saws for years and it's been a good saw. Mine came from one of the traveling tools salesmen that come around and doesn't have a name brand on it but it was made in Taiwan. A friend of mine has one from Grizzly and can't keep blades on it among other problems. If you can still get them made in Taiwan I'd go that route before a China machine. Jet did offer them and most of their stuff if not all is (or was) Taiwan so even if you pay a little more it may be worth it.