HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
I am thinking of buying a HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good? Does it cut straight? Any issues that i should know of? What are the best blades to use? What TPI for cutting mild steel? Whats the best brand blade?
Last edited by Need Advice; 09-17-2021 at 06:45 PM.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
I had a Baleigh 4x6 first and I couldn't make the thing cut straight to save my life. I bought it used and it was just too used abused. I then bought a new one from Harbor Freight with a coupon and it cost me a shade over $200. I LOVE IT. It needed some blade guide bearing adjustment right out of the box, and the blade tension needed adjustment, but other than that, it cuts pretty darned straight. You have to use the correct blade for the job (correct teeth per inch) and you have to change blades when it gets dull or it won't cut straight at all. But using the Harbor Freight brand blades I have been really satisfied. YMMV, but for me it has worked out well.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by Louie1961
I had a Baleigh 4x6 first and I couldn't make the thing cut straight to save my life. I bought it used and it was just too used abused. I then bought a new one from Harbor Freight with a coupon and it cost me a shade over $200. I LOVE IT. It needed some blade guide bearing adjustment right out of the box, and the blade tension needed adjustment, but other than that, it cuts pretty darned straight. You have to use the correct blade for the job (correct teeth per inch) and you have to change blades when it gets dull or it won't cut straight at all. But using the Harbor Freight brand blades I have been really satisfied. YMMV, but for me it has worked out well.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
I use one and also love it. Make angle jigs for clamping, and get a good blade after you wear out the stock blade.
It's not the fastest (unless doing gang cuts) but it cuts relatively quiet, fast, and clean, and cuts very accurately. All the chips end up in a nice little area ready to be cleaned up.
It's hard to beat a vertical bandsaw for detail metal cutting and fast little adjustments. I use my portaband in a simple stand (handles fit into hooks on the stand), but same idea.
Set it and forget it - you can basically start the cut and walk away.
Used to be a REALLY good deal with the right coupons, but might still be the best deal in town.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by SlowBlues
I use one and also love it. Make angle jigs for clamping, and get a good blade after you wear out the stock blade.
It's not the fastest (unless doing gang cuts) but it cuts relatively quiet, fast, and clean, and cuts very accurately. All the chips end up in a nice little area ready to be cleaned up.
It's hard to beat a vertical bandsaw for detail metal cutting and fast little adjustments. I use my portaband in a simple stand (handles fit into hooks on the stand), but same idea.
Set it and forget it - you can basically start the cut and walk away.
Used to be a REALLY good deal with the right coupons, but might still be the best deal in town.
Yes i was thinking about turning my handheld bandsaw into a vertical bandsaw.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
It great small band saw.
I have own 3 over 40 years
I have one for small shop today I purchased in 2005.
Dave
Originally Posted by Need Advice
I am thinking of buying a HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good? Does it cut straight? Any issues that i should know of? What are the best blades to use? What TPI for cutting mild steel? Whats the best brand blade?
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
From your other thread, I believe this is a good solution for you. I had a used one I used for 4-5 years and was very satisfied. I sold it for more than I paid when I bought an old Kalamazoo saw.
The factory stand is a little light so I built a heavy duty one. Put a good bimetal blade on it and look up ways to tune and true it. You will be happy that it is quiet and clean. Pick a blade that has 3-4 teeth in the cut based on what you are cutting. I leave a 10-14 blade on mine.
Burt
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Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
From your other thread, I believe this is a good solution for you
It may be a BETTER solution than using a template and any other method of cutting. IMHO you don't want all your roses looking the same. So freehand cutting them on a vertical band saw may add just enough uniqueness to each piece. I would bet you will get pretty fast at cutting these freehand as well. You can cut down sheet steel into appropriate sized squares with a circular saw and a metal cutting blade, then free hand these on the band saw. Maybe even your current hand held band saw converted for vertical use with one of these SWAG off-road portaband tables. https://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V10...ble-_p_64.html
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
I posted about my HF saw in your other post.
Mine is still cutting well and was definitely worth the money.
If you search, you'll see posts about bandsaw.
This Femi saw is popular because of its mitering head. It's $600.00 but it should be considered.
Many power tools are costly but it's an investment too.
I bought an ELLIS 1600 finally, after debating on it for a couple years. That waiting cost me hundreds and now it's a lot more money.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by wb4rt
From your other thread, I believe this is a good solution for you. I had a used one I used for 4-5 years and was very satisfied. I sold it for more than I paid when I bought an old Kalamazoo saw.
The factory stand is a little light so I built a heavy duty one. Put a good bimetal blade on it and look up ways to tune and true it. You will be happy that it is quiet and clean. Pick a blade that has 3-4 teeth in the cut based on what you are cutting. I leave a 10-14 blade on mine.
Thanks, i agree. I found some YouTube videos on adjusting this saw.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by Louie1961
It may be a BETTER solution than using a template and any other method of cutting. IMHO you don't want all your roses looking the same. So freehand cutting them on a vertical band saw may add just enough uniqueness to each piece. I would bet you will get pretty fast at cutting these freehand as well. You can cut down sheet steel into appropriate sized squares with a circular saw and a metal cutting blade, then free hand these on the band saw. Maybe even your current hand held band saw converted for vertical use with one of these SWAG off-road portaband tables. https://www.swagoffroad.com/SWAG-V10...ble-_p_64.html
I saw that Swag bandsaw stand, i may get it or make my own. I was thinking also about using a bandsaw to cut out those rose blanks but i wasn't sure if it could cut the curves or not.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by BD1
I posted about my HF saw in your other post.
Mine is still cutting well and was definitely worth the money.
If you search, you'll see posts about bandsaw.
This Femi saw is popular because of its mitering head. It's $600.00 but it should be considered.
Many power tools are costly but it's an investment too.
I bought an ELLIS 1600 finally, after debating on it for a couple years. That waiting cost me hundreds and now it's a lot more money.
HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by Need Advice
I saw that Swag bandsaw stand, i may get it or make my own. I was thinking also about using a bandsaw to cut out those rose blanks but i wasn't sure if it could cut the curves or not.
I would definitely make my own stand for portaband. There's lots of members post with there version.
Here's some posts.
That's what I would do before buying a porta band and the table. I still have my homemade stand with a Milwaukee saw but it's very limited. I picked up a 14" Rockwell band saw and it's night and day compared to the porta band on a stand. Much larger table and cutting depth is the biggest difference. Another huge factor is on the Rockwell, I can lower the upper guide just over the work. Not only is having the kind close, much safer it's also much easier to maintain blade accuracy. Mine is the wood and metal cutting model but doing the low speed conversion is pretty easy to do and not overly expensive. With a new portable band saw and the swag table I'm guessing you would have 450-500$ or so in it. I know I could get a used 14" saw and purchase a new gear reducer and put it together for less than the 500$ and have a much more useful tool. With that being said, it's not a replacement for a good working horizontal band saw .
I actually have a wood bandsaw i thought about converting to metal cutting. I have a variable speed motor i was going to use for that purpose or a belt grinder/sander. I think the belt grinder might be the best use of that motor because a big belt grinder is expensive and i can build my own for about $200 to $300 dollars. Thanks for the links, i'll check them out.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by M J D
That's what I would do before buying a porta band and the table. I still have my homemade stand with a Milwaukee saw but it's very limited. I picked up a 14" Rockwell band saw and it's night and day compared to the porta band on a stand. Much larger table and cutting depth is the biggest difference. Another huge factor is on the Rockwell, I can lower the upper guide just over the work. Not only is having the kind close, much safer it's also much easier to maintain blade accuracy. Mine is the wood and metal cutting model but doing the low speed conversion is pretty easy to do and not overly expensive. With a new portable band saw and the swag table I'm guessing you would have 450-500$ or so in it. I know I could get a used 14" saw and purchase a new gear reducer and put it together for less than the 500$ and have a much more useful tool. With that being said, it's not a replacement for a good working horizontal band saw .
I already have a porta band. I like the idea of having a small saw because my shop is small, but a large saw with a big table would be real nice.
Re: HF 4 in. x 6 in. Horizontal/Vertical Metal Cutting Band Saw. Is it any good?
Originally Posted by Need Advice
I have a variable speed motor i was going to use for that purpose or a belt grinder/sander. I think the belt grinder might be the best use of that motor because a big belt grinder is expensive and i can build my own for about $200 to $300 dollars. Thanks for the links, i'll check them out.
I’m curious to know what variable speed motor you have.
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Originally Posted by Louie1961
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