Harbor freight portable band saw

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picked one up at a garage sale for $25.00 and have to admit it cuts real good, it appeared to be new and never used. I don't buy HF tools but if it holds up well I'm going to have to think about buying one for my work shop. I built a stand for it and have been using it a lot in the shop, so far no problems. The blade that came with it was pretty bad so replaced it with a 18TPI blade and it's holding up well so far.Anyone else have any experience with these band saws they want to share.http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...saw-47840.html
Reply:Cross posting is not permitted in WW, FYI.  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=518621Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:I have one of those saws, and never used the original blade. Replaced it with a Lennox 18 TPI right off the bat. It has cut everything I have put the blade to, metal and wood. It's a little louder than the Porter Cable porta-band at work. I think I may need to check the gear case and change the grease in it to make it quieter and last longer, but that's about it. It cuts straight, as long as I can hold it straight and follow my marks. I'm thinking about making a stand for it, just haven't done it yet. Somebody on here made one that all you had to do was loosen a knob to remove it for hand held operation or put it back and tighten the knob for use in the stand. I may have to find that thread and build one like it.
Reply:I would check the gear case grease, HF is notorious for adding the least amount (if any) of crap grease they can find.
Reply:I have one too. I see to have a Milwuakee and wish I never sold it. I will have to say, I needed one to do a job and bought the Habor Freight one and have been fairly impressed so far. I was in a friends shop helping him rebuild a gate on dirt bucket and we tried it to see how hard an old pin was. It went to town on the pin. We got out an older pin that was famous dirt pan pin material....Caterpillar D8 track pin, fairly hard, it cut that just as good! My friend then showed me the sticker on it claiming the blade was for "wood only". It probably will not last long and might be dangerous even, but it flat out cut those pins. Sorry for contributing to misplaced thread Southpaw.SA-250 TMDSquarewave 200Thunderbolt AC/DC1951 G.E. welder
Reply:I picked up a 47840 HF red portable band saw as well and want to build a stand to use it as a bench band saw. Do you leave the cover on when use it in vertical position with a stand? Do I need to concern chip accumulation if leaving the cover on? The band saw I picked up does not come with a blade guide, made one myself from sheet metal!Last edited by HankC; 01-08-2016 at 08:13 PM.
Reply:I have it. Built a stand for it to slide into and a larger table. Works great but it's LOUDI heard swag off road finally made a table for the harbor freight sawTorchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbpicked one up at a garage sale for $25.00 and have to admit it cuts real good, it appeared to be new and never used. I don't buy HF tools but if it holds up well I'm going to have to think about buying one for my work shop. I built a stand for it and have been using it a lot in the shop, so far no problems. The blade that came with it was pretty bad so replaced it with a 18TPI blade and it's holding up well so far.Anyone else have any experience with these band saws they want to share.http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...saw-47840.html
Reply:I just bought one after Christmas with gift cards and I'm happy with it. I bought the Morse blades but all my store had was 10/14 tooth blades and I was cutting a bunch of tubing under an 1/8" and the blades didn't last long. Took the teeth right off them! I knew it wasn't the saws fault. Went to Fastenal and got some Lenox 18 tooth blades and it made a world of difference. How hard is it to change the grease in the gear box in these saws? I haven't looked in the book that came with it and was just wondering how hard it is to do from someone that has done it.
Reply:Originally Posted by vpd66I just bought one after Christmas with gift cards and I'm happy with it. I bought the Morse blades but all my store had was 10/14 tooth blades and I was cutting a bunch of tubing under an 1/8" and the blades didn't last long. Took the teeth right off them! I knew it wasn't the saws fault. Went to Fastenal and got some Lenox 18 tooth blades and it made a world of difference. How hard is it to change the grease in the gear box in these saws? I haven't looked in the book that came with it and was just wondering how hard it is to do from someone that has done it.
Reply:Originally Posted by vpd66... I bought the Morse blades but all my store had was 10/14 tooth blades and I was cutting a bunch of tubing under an 1/8" and the blades didn't last long. Took the teeth right off them! ....