I'd like to add that I also have the HF red cart with the top inverted.? Works great!? My saw is sitting on two sections of closed-off 2" square tubing, which gives plenty of room underneath for the chip tray.? If you do get a red cart, get the heavier of the two; the light one is pretty flimsy.? I also moved the wheels out as close to the sides as I could- better stability.
-Dave
On Thursday, January 7, 2021, 02:37:10 AM PST, WHEELER GREEN <sparco505@...> wrote:
I have the "Green" version from HF. I'm just a hobbyist. I've had it since 2003. I've cut brass, steel, angle, 8" channel (I had to flip for the last 1-1/2") stainless, PVC, and wood,? etc. Cutting PVC is messy as plastic shavings cling to everything and wood generates a lot of very fine dust. I use a chip brush to keep the guides/rollers free of material. After the setup, three major things I did.
First: replaced the blade with a quality one. I'm currently using a bi-metal Lennox blade.
Second: I got rid of the stand. It's too low for my height (6'3"). I placed the saw on a three tier cart (HF) with the top shelf installed upside down. Gives you a flat surface to mount the saw.
Third: I use a magnetic light to light the cutting area. Great for seeing the material you're cutting to align with the blade.
Other additions: added a magnetic tray, ended up bolting the tray to the cart. Great for keeping incidentals (pencil, tape measure, deburrer, wrenches, etc.).
Have an extension rod to swap out with the existing material stop when cutting multiple longer pieces.
Trimmed the top of the saw blade (thin sheet metal) guard down about a 1/2" or so. This effective gives another 3/4" to 1" of depth. The blade is still covered. I did not cut on the saw's frame
Added a power strip for the light and saw. Easier to plug the power strip cord instead of running a gang extension cord.
I use roller stands to support longer material.
There are a lot of other mods owners have done with the saw. I'll eventually do some that works with my needs at the time.
I'm still running the original motor. Yes, it gets very hot when cutting large material such as the channel I mentioned or many multiple cuts.
The tension knob is awkward. I can't seem to get a good grip to tighten as the knob is small. I have a metal replacement wheel to swap out as a to do project.
Using it in a vertical position can be a challenge. I've only cut in the vertical position a handful of times. I've seen other mods that owners did to use the saw more effectively in that position.
Overall I'm pleased with the HF saw. I can't believe I didn't buy one sooner. If I'm not mistaken these saws are all made in Asia from the same factory. You're paying for the level of "final finish." If you think of the HF saw as a kit and don't mind tinkering/tweaking to set it up you'll do fine.?
If you need pics, let me know. Hope this helps.
Wheeler Green.
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
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Hi Wheeler
Although they 'look' the same, I have never seen identical saws from different manufacturers.
Some manufacturers, like Rong Fu, make 'house' brands for different re-sellers and, yes, then they're the same, but otherwise, no.
All you need to do is look at the arrow on the sawframe casting.? If the arrow is different then they were cast from different molds, so not the same manufacturer. Some have got handles on the sawframe others haven't, fins on the gearbox casting or not, etc.
There is a simple fix for the tension knob being difficult to turn and better than making a bigger knob: Replace the knob&tension rod with a 5-6" length of 3/8 x16 UNC all-thread with a nut to lock it to the tension mechanism per the photo, then use a nut and ring-spanner to tension the blade. Much easier to turn.
However the real issue with the tension mechanism is the fact that the edge of the sawframe casting still has the tapered 'draw' on it that is used to free the pattern from the sand when they make the mold. (see Side elevation photo)? ?This angle is what makes the knob hard to turn, as its only bearing on one edge.? Also causes the plastic knobs to split. The saw in the picture has a 6.6 degree taper though I've measured others down to 3.5 degrees.? Make a tapered washer to fit in between the casting and the nut, but you'll need to measure your own casting to find the right angle.?
I cut shallow tapered pieces like this at precise angles by tipping up the infeed end of the workpiece with the nearest size drill, placed 4" from the edge of the table next to the blade (see photo).? Work out the drill size by trigonometry: Drill diameter = 4x(Tangent of angle). Most cellphones have a calculator with Tangents on it, if you turn them sideways.? The method is not mathematically exact but at these small angles it makes no difference.
The other thing that makes it easier still, is to use a needle-roller thrust washer in between the tapered washer and the nut.? Not strictly necessary as ordinary flat washers with plenty of grease work too, but it is nice. No point in using a needle-roller thrust washer if you don't correct the taper on the edge of the casting though - jv
?
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HF isn't my favorite place to go right now.? I have been struggling with the idea of buying Chinese stuff for a while opting to buy used whenever I can.? I am a member of the Insider Track Club so I get those coupons.? Last weekend I used the 25% coupon for a trolley for an overhead lift in my shop.? While I was there I saw they sell replacement pumps for compressors.? My compressor died last week.? I asked the cashier if the coupon would apply to a replacement compressor pump and she said yes.? The coupon says compressors are excluded but doesn't say anything about compressor parts.? I wasn't ready to purchase since I wanted to compare the specs of my dead shop compressor to what they had.? The coupon says it is only good for 1 purchase per day.? The cashier confirmed that I could come back the next day and purchase the pump and receive the 25% discount.? So on Sunday I altered my schedule and went back to purchase the pump and some other items.? When I checked out the cashier did not apply the discount to anything even though he had my Insider Track info.? I pointed this out and he reluctantly applied the discount to a low price item.? Again I told him it should be applied to the higher priced pump.? He refused saying it wasn't covered under the coupon.? I told him about what I had been told the day before and he still wouldn't budge and in fact?was growing more surly?by the moment.? Without the discount I did not complete the transaction.? When I got home I called HF customer service and explained the situation.? I was told the district manager would call me to make it right.? He has not called.
The bottom line is I have been struggling with the whole concept of continuing buying Chinese junk which is contrary to the interests of the US for quite some time.? HF actions last weekend made stopping (at least minimizing) buying Chinese stuff a lot easier.
On Thu, Jan 7, 2021 at 9:58 AM Larry Hoelscher < lgh1330@...> wrote: Just last weekend HF had a 25% off coupon.? Keep looking, friends and family coupons come around often. Larry
I have had good luck with the HF saw. I got it for a good deal ($250), last summer on sale.? If you¡¯re willing to wait it will probably go on sale again at some point. I think the saw is a good hobby saw.? I have my saw adjusted to cut ?within .002¡± with a Lenox blade, which is amazing for a cheap saw.? I¡¯m not sure if all the other manufacturers are the same saw but they all sure seem to look the same.The castings and motors look the same.
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I had the Harbor Freight one for a while - it was ok, but needed a lot of tweaking - and that was one that I had purchased 10 years ago.? I understand they need even more tweaking now.? I needed another one and went with the Klutch.? The fit and finish is superior to the HF.? I may have gotten lucky, but I feel like the few extra dollars was definitely worth it for the one that I got.
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Just last weekend HF had a 25% off coupon.? Keep looking, friends and family coupons come around often. Larry
I have had good luck with the HF saw. I got it for a good deal ($250), last summer on sale.? If you¡¯re willing to wait it will probably go on sale again at some point. I think the saw is a good hobby saw.? I have my saw adjusted to cut ?within .002¡± with a Lenox blade, which is amazing for a cheap saw.? I¡¯m not sure if all the other manufacturers are the same saw but they all sure seem to look the same.The castings and motors look the same.
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I have had good luck with the HF saw. I got it for a good deal ($250), last summer on sale. ?If you¡¯re willing to wait it will probably go on sale again at some point. I think the saw is a good hobby saw. ?I have my saw adjusted to cut ?within .002¡± with a Lenox blade, which is amazing for a cheap saw. ?I¡¯m not sure if all the other manufacturers are the same saw but they all sure seem to look the same.The castings and motors look the same.
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The article you liked was really helpful thank you.? I had seen reference to articles in this group and looked, but was unable to find them.? I wonder if my account was not confirmed yet.? I'll have to look again.? The article gives good pointers for trying to find a used one.? I'm almost tempted to forgo a used one if It's basic as the prices folks want are really not that much less than new unless I find a really good deal.? However, if I can find a swivel one that might be worth looking at as these start at about $800 and are out of my price range for the moment.? I'd either need to forgo and save or find a used one to stay in budget.? I can see the benefit and I'm wondering if it would be worth waiting.
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These saws have been around since at least 1965. I think the first one was the Dayton model 3Z093A saw from Dayton Electric Mfg of Chicago Ill, then quite a few American made copies and improvements like Wilton in 70's. They were overtaken (read 'made cheaper') by Taiwanese saws in the 80's and then the move to Chinese manufacturers in 2000's,? I believe HF is Chinese made but Jet is still made in Taiwan by?Rong Fu.? Wilton, sadly, is no more (part of the Jet brand now?). I'd like to think that Taiwanese saws would be better than Chinese, certainly they've had longer to get it right. Of all the saws I've seen (admittedly most in posts/pictures from other members) I think the old US-made saws were probably better than anything from the Far East. The early Chinese saws from mid-2000's had lots of faults reported here, but they're 15yrs better now and they are quick learners. Given that you say you want a general purpose saw, not for super accuracy, I'd say you can get that from any saw regardless of price.? With the
exception of a few manufacturing defects, any saw can be made to perform.? All should be treated as a 'kit-of-parts' that you need to work on to get the best?out of. Plenty of articles in the forums Files section on what to do. This article? /g/4x6bandsaw/files/Buying%20a%20Used%204x6%20Bandsaw%20v4.pdf tells you what to look for in buying a saw.? What you need to avoid is buying a mis-manufactured saw, as wear shouldn't be a problem. Bit out -of-date in that there is now a fix for the 'vice table surface out-of parallel with the pivot shaft in front elevation' problem, but I still wouldn't buy one with this fault if you can get one that measures up.? Buying new, it comes down to whether you trust the seller and if they'll stand behind their product with replacement parts, or even replacement saws if there is a real problem (which is not unheard?of).? HF and Grizzly actually supply spare parts and from what people say on the forum, these 2 at least stand by their products. There is also the basic choice of standard 'cross-cut' style or 'swivel-base'. Swivel base does angle cutting much easier (but cost more). The standard will cut angles but its a pain to set and re-set?square again afterward. If you plan on cutting lots of thin tube (like exhaust tube) then a swivel base with hydraulic downfeed is the way to go - jv
Hello all, I'm looking for some help here.? I'm interested in a horizontal bandsaw for hobby use.? I would like it to be able to cut precisely, but I'm looking more just for general fab not anything that would require super precise cuts.? There are several brands and many of the ones referenced do not appear to be made anymore, and prices have definitely gone up.? I haven't had much luck sourcing a used version so I might end up getting new.? The HF version is about $300, then about $360 for Wen which appears to have a slightly better stand.? The Northern Tool Klutch or General International version are about $400 and the Klutch looks similar to Wen while the GI appears similar to HF.? Grizzly is probably a bit better, but is also $460, and then Jet is $600.? Is it really worth the added expense for a Wen, Grizzly, or Jet? Or would that money be better spent on other items or mods on the HF?
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I have the "Green" version from HF. I'm just a hobbyist. I've had it since 2003. I've cut brass, steel, angle, 8" channel (I had to flip for the last 1-1/2") stainless, PVC, and wood,? etc. Cutting PVC is messy as plastic shavings cling to everything and wood generates a lot of very fine dust. I use a chip brush to keep the guides/rollers free of material. After the setup, three major things I did.
First: replaced the blade with a quality one. I'm currently using a bi-metal Lennox blade.
Second: I got rid of the stand. It's too low for my height (6'3"). I placed the saw on a three tier cart (HF) with the top shelf installed upside down. Gives you a flat surface to mount the saw.
Third: I use a magnetic light to light the cutting area. Great for seeing the material you're cutting to align with the blade.
Other additions: added a magnetic tray, ended up bolting the tray to the cart. Great for keeping incidentals (pencil, tape measure, deburrer, wrenches, etc.).
Have an extension rod to swap out with the existing material stop when cutting multiple longer pieces.
Trimmed the top of the saw blade (thin sheet metal) guard down about a 1/2" or so. This effective gives another 3/4" to 1" of depth. The blade is still covered. I did not cut on the saw's frame
Added a power strip for the light and saw. Easier to plug the power strip cord instead of running a gang extension cord.
I use roller stands to support longer material.
There are a lot of other mods owners have done with the saw. I'll eventually do some that works with my needs at the time.
I'm still running the original motor. Yes, it gets very hot when cutting large material such as the channel I mentioned or many multiple cuts.
The tension knob is awkward. I can't seem to get a good grip to tighten as the knob is small. I have a metal replacement wheel to swap out as a to do project.
Using it in a vertical position can be a challenge. I've only cut in the vertical position a handful of times. I've seen other mods that owners did to use the saw more effectively in that position.
Overall I'm pleased with the HF saw. I can't believe I didn't buy one sooner. If I'm not mistaken these saws are all made in Asia from the same factory. You're paying for the level of "final finish." If you think of the HF saw as a kit and don't mind tinkering/tweaking to set it up you'll do fine.?
If you need pics, let me know. Hope this helps.
Wheeler Green.
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S7 edge, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone
|
Hello all, I'm looking for some help here.? I'm interested in a horizontal bandsaw for hobby use.? I would like it to be able to cut precisely, but I'm looking more just for general fab not anything that would require super precise cuts.? There are several brands and many of the ones referenced do not appear to be made anymore, and prices have definitely gone up.? I haven't had much luck sourcing a used version so I might end up getting new.? The HF version is about $300, then about $360 for Wen which appears to have a slightly better stand.? The Northern Tool Klutch or General International version are about $400 and the Klutch looks similar to Wen while the GI appears similar to HF.? Grizzly is probably a bit better, but is also $460, and then Jet is $600.? Is it really worth the added expense for a Wen, Grizzly, or Jet? Or would that money be better spent on other items or mods on the HF?
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Re: lubrication of worm gear box
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On Dec 23, 2020, at 12:20 PM, Steven Greenfield AE7HD via groups.io <alienrelics@...> wrote:
?So is there a consensus on if either is better, or roughly the same?
--
Steven J Greenfield?
AE7HD
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Re: lubrication of worm gear box
Howdy, I bought some Redline MT-90 and put it in my gear box.? ?The only issue is that the stuff is much less viscous than the GL5-90-140Wt oil I had in there before so the seal around the gear box lid leaks.? ?I'm going to have to put some permatex gasket sealer on it tonight. I also added a 1/8" NPT plug in my gear box so I could fill it with 7 oz of MT-90 when the saw is in the vertical saw configuration. Dave 
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Okay. I just sent you $10.00 through PayPal. I really like the group & maybe we can keep my red HF machine in top shape.
Thank you Bill for taking care of the group.??
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Sent something to help keep the information going
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Hi Bill,
?Another $5.00 on its way!?
Merry Xmas & have a great New Year!
Cheers Kerrin
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That's great I'd just leave it in PayPal. You should also include the PayPal link in your Signature so it is always available. Ralph
On Thu, Dec 24, 2020 at 12:47 PM Bill in OKC too via <wmrmeyers= [email protected]> wrote: It did. I'm up to my shoelaces (head-first) in SWMBO's honey-do list, and trying to deal with health & housing issues. I'm also waiting for the money to stop coming in. I have enough now to pay for next year as well. Once I have the time to do it, I will be doing a group "Thank You" post.
Bill in OKC
William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders,
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight
efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
LAZARUS LONG (Robert A. Heinlein)
On Thursday, December 24, 2020, 11:27:17 AM CST, Carl Hollopeter < chollo@...> wrote:
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It did. I'm up to my shoelaces (head-first) in SWMBO's honey-do list, and trying to deal with health & housing issues. I'm also waiting for the money to stop coming in. I have enough now to pay for next year as well. Once I have the time to do it, I will be doing a group "Thank You" post.
Bill in OKC
William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.)
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders,
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight
efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
LAZARUS LONG (Robert A. Heinlein)
On Thursday, December 24, 2020, 11:27:17 AM CST, Carl Hollopeter <chollo@...> wrote:
?
Bill Meyers,
I sent $$ and an email stating that, but my email
apparently didn¡¯t make it, wanted to verify that the $$ did make it if you have
time to check.?
Carl Hollopeter SMSgt USAF
(Ret)
?
?
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Bill, ? Thank you.? I blindly copied from your previous email and wasn¡¯t paying attention.? On it¡¯s way. ? George ?
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill in OKC too via groups.io
Sent: Wednesday, December 23, 2020 3:17 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [4x6bandsaw] Upgraded the Group.? Should be a dot/period before the N in net.? I have almost enough in the paypal account for next year, too. I know a lot of folks are a little short, and if you're one of them, hopefully things will be better this time next year. If you still want to send $$, that's fine, and if you really shouldn't, that's fine, too. William R. Meyers, MSgt, USAF(Ret.) A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion,
butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance
accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders,
give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new
problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight
efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
LAZARUS LONG (Robert A. Heinlein) ? On Wednesday, December 23, 2020, 02:00:45 PM CST, George Taylor, IV <gtaylor@...> wrote: Bill, ? I¡¯m in for $10 but paypal can¡¯t find wmrmeyers@sbcglobalnet? I¡¯ll keep trying but I can use a mobile phone (so they tell me) ? George Taylor ? ? Sent $15 ? $5 from me. ? $5 for the guy that promises and "forgets" ? $5 for the guy that wants to go to Facebook ? Have? Merry Christmas and stay safe. ? gary ? ? ? ? I was dumb enough to accept when Joe offered to make me an owner of the group. ;) Enough people have said they'd kick in $5 to keep the group going, and have more space, that I've gone ahead and upgraded. I fronted the $220 (not $200 as I thought it was) for the upgrade. Once my payment processes, we'll have 20gb of space for documents, photos, and attachments. If you want to help me out, my PayPal address is wmrmeyers@...?I can afford to pay $5, myself, so I need 43 donations of $5 via PayPal Friends and Family, or enough to cover the fees they charge if you don't want to do F&F. This gives us a year we don't have to worry too much about this, at least!
Bill in OKC
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On 12/23/2020 10:27 PM, Larry Hoelscher wrote: Snag:
Can you please describe the process of using Paypal to send a donation? Where do/did you find this friends/family link to use?
Thanks so much, be safe and well!
Larry
After logging in , click the "send" button , near the top /center of the page . You'll get a page asking for the info on who to send it to . Enter that and click next - basically follow the prompts , you'll get to a page that lets you choose family & friends . -- Snag
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John Vreede
Patrick Lambert
Bill in OKC too