Yeah Steve I think you'll like the saw. I will tell you that the blade it comes with is junk and you'll need to replace it sooner than you would have expected ha. Other than that I love mine. In the distant future I plan on replacing it with the $700 HF one because I have seen those in action and they are pure awesomeness as far as a home hobby-type fabricator like myself is concerned.
which band saws for metal fab?
- Thread starter sixstringsteve
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sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
Great info, thanks .
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Thanks for the tips. I'm having a tough time knowing how to adjust the tension and the bearing guides to get it to cut 100% straight. Any tips?
I think you will enjoy that saw Steve, I put mine through a ton of work before any problems happened, hours and hours of cutting with it and has paid for itself many times over. I love being able to clamp the set up and let it run and be able to continue working on other things. Like Chocoflip said, the blade it comes with is junk. I ordered one online that a lot of guys recommend, haven't had the chance to use it since the lennox one I have is still good. Lots of people doing little things to these saws to make them a better set up, do a search about it and you will find a bunch of things people do with them.
sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
I swapped it out for a Made in USA 14t blade from HF. I read good reviews about that blade. Probably not as good as a lenox, but I hear it's tons better than the stock blade.
I initially had it too loose and it popped off the wheels, so I tightened it up quite a bit. i probably do have it too tight. I'm thinking my guide bearings/rollers are off.
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sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
For anyone else following along with the same questions, this video seems to be quite handy.
[video=youtube;oImXgU3ATEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oImXgU3ATEk[/video]
[video=youtube;oImXgU3ATEk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oImXgU3ATEk[/video]
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I spent 2 hours trying to dial it in and get it to cut straight. It turns out my blade tension was too high last night, which ended up cupping the blade. So I tried another new blade, and I can't get it right. I can get it squared up, but then it keeps popping off the wheels, even when I adjust the camber of the top wheel. It shouldn't take this long to dial in. It's going back this weekend.
That being said, I really like the idea of a vertical/horizontal saw. I'm willing to pay a bit more for a decent one, if such a thing exists. If not, I'll try to figure out how Rick modified his band saw, and I'll be going back to the nasty abraisive chop saw for vertical cuts. I sure do like the quiet nature of a horizontal saw though.
That being said, I really like the idea of a vertical/horizontal saw. I'm willing to pay a bit more for a decent one, if such a thing exists. If not, I'll try to figure out how Rick modified his band saw, and I'll be going back to the nasty abraisive chop saw for vertical cuts. I sure do like the quiet nature of a horizontal saw though.
how is the adjustment of the guides? the one that doesn't slide. I was having problems with my blade cutting into the cover and couldn't figure out why it wasn't going all the way on the wheel even with adjusting the wheel it self. My problem was the guide assembly closer to the motor was to low and forcing the blade off the wheel. Just a thought.
sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
both guides actually slide, and adjust quite a bit. Once I get the guides lined up, the pulleys are at too weird of an angle and the blade pops off or stalls out. I think if I could get this thing tuned I could really enjoy it, but it's been a major pain. I either have zero clue how to adjust a band saw, or this thing is a major pain.
sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
Thanks, I'll check out practical machinist. The JET has awesome reviews on Amazon. I'll do some more research. It looks very similar to the HF design, but I'm guessing fit and finish is way better. Thanks.
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sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
Both guides are adjusted as close as possible to the stock. I'm pretty sure the blade is coming off the bottom wheel. And the top wheel is pretty wobbly, even when I tighten the nut on the back.
sixstringsteve
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- Location
- UT
I got it to make some cuts last night without the blade coming off. It's not cutting perpendicular at the moment, but I'm just happy it's cutting.
I found this incredible resource for dialing it in.
http://wiki.artisansasylum.com/images/0/00/Basic_blade_adjustment_and_tracking_-_rev-1.pdf
I'm sick of fiddling with my saw, but it looks like the JET, grizly, and other similar saws are all the exact same thing but rebadged and different colors.
I found this incredible resource for dialing it in.
http://wiki.artisansasylum.com/images/0/00/Basic_blade_adjustment_and_tracking_-_rev-1.pdf
I'm sick of fiddling with my saw, but it looks like the JET, grizly, and other similar saws are all the exact same thing but rebadged and different colors.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
Motors and bearings may be different, but the stand, arms, and main pieces are all identical.
I wouldn't be surprised if JET went through and did some better QC and adjustments.
After reading a lot, I think my top pulley is pressed a bit too far on the shaft. I'll be checking to to make sure it's in line with my drive pulley. Hopefully that fixes it. Anyone know where to get Lenox blades locally?
I wouldn't be surprised if JET went through and did some better QC and adjustments.
After reading a lot, I think my top pulley is pressed a bit too far on the shaft. I'll be checking to to make sure it's in line with my drive pulley. Hopefully that fixes it. Anyone know where to get Lenox blades locally?
I have had good luck with the Home Depot ones, but the HD near me doesn't carry the 64 1/2 blades anymore. The Lowes ones seem to do good, but I don't think they are lenox, at least not the 64 1/2" blades, I know the porta band blades are lenox at lowes. I also have a blade lying around that I recently bought on amazon that a lot of people online swear by, its a Olsen blade, was 10.65 on amazon.
sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
i'm using an olsen hardback right now, but I'd really like to try a bi-metal.
- Location
- Draper, UT
Steve,
No bandsaw, whatever the price, cuts in perfect line with the blade. It's related to kerf of the blade (left-right offset of alternating teeth to create a wider cut to minimize binding). You learn to angle the cut to get a straight line, and the angle will change with the blade.
-Eric
No bandsaw, whatever the price, cuts in perfect line with the blade. It's related to kerf of the blade (left-right offset of alternating teeth to create a wider cut to minimize binding). You learn to angle the cut to get a straight line, and the angle will change with the blade.
-Eric