What Bandsaw Do I Buy?

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I've been bangin' my head around trying to find a good quality horizontal bandsaw in the $300-$400 range.  I've seen Shop Fox, Grizzly, Jet, Black Bull, etc. I figure most all of these are imported but I want to know what's a good one to get.  Most of what I see are in the 1/2 hp and 3/4 hp class and most of my use will be angle, tube, etc. from 14 ga to 3/16th.Are these adequate for my use?  I don't want to buy a POS. What's good guys?StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrI've been bangin' my head around trying to find a good quality horizontal bandsaw in the $300-$400 range.  I've seen Shop Fox, Grizzly, Jet, Black Bull, etc. I figure most all of these are imported but I want to know what's a good one to get.  Most of what I see are in the 1/2 hp and 3/4 hp class and most of my use will be angle, tube, etc. from 14 ga to 3/16th.Are these adequate for my use?  I don't want to buy a POS. What's good guys?
Reply:Almost all of em are made in the same factory in china, they are for the most part made by Rong-Fu and vary slightly by paint color and vendor.  The Jets come from Taiwan and seem to be a better fit and finish, but not for the large difference in cost.  The 4X6 has a large group on Yahoo that has a clean, adjust and true procedure that will make it cut as close to perfect as you can get after replacing the cheesy blade they come with of course.  HF has em on sale for about 165.00 and they are one of the not bad tools from that vendor.  Since I do a variety of metals I use a variable 10-14 tooth blade in the Bi-metal flavor and get really good results and good blade life.  Hope this helps.BobLast edited by Rbeckett; 01-04-2011 at 02:02 AM.Reason: spellingI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:We have a kalamazo band saw at work that is older then the hills but is unkillable I have hundreds of hours on that machine and it keeps going. We also have a newer jet machine but have not used it enough to say anything about its longievity. Just make sure you get one with a wet line makes the blades last alot longer.Vantage 300 kubota ,miller 304 xmt ,lincoln ln 25 pro , ranger 305 G, plenty of other tools of the trade to make the sparks fly.
Reply:I have a little 4x6 that cuts accurately.  As Rbeckett said, it needs a bit of massaging to get them to cut well.  There is a member here (Larwyn) who made several modifications to a 4x6 and turned a pigs ear into a silk purse.  If you decide on a 4x6, which will probably be the most affordable choice if you purchase new, then a new base should be your first order of business.  The yahoo 4x6 group will give you some good modification ideas.If I had a do over, I would buy a bigger saw probably with a swivel base.  However, they cost almost 10 times more.  Used would also be an option.
Reply:Ellis Bandsaws
Reply:Bear in mind that I'm a bit bandsaw retarded so what is being refered to as a 4x6? Yahoo 4x6?StephenMillermatic 251Miller Syncrowave 200Miller 30A SpoolgunHypertherm Powermax 30Etc., etc., etc.............Cancer Sucks!
Reply:Ooops.  Double post.Last edited by joedirt1966; 01-04-2011 at 12:53 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrBear in mind that I'm a bit bandsaw retarded so what is being refered to as a 4x6? Yahoo 4x6?
Reply:go with a grizzle g9742 $395.00 + $69.00 shippingand buy some bi metal blades with it g5111 $24.95 eachcutting oil primrose plus grizzly pn #h8256 there customer service is the best
Reply:lil typo there ed thats 495 unless you've got some super secret insider pricing in that case im all ears since i plan on getting the same saw 350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:I'd definitely consider the used market.  Some really nice older saws with a lot higher capacity are going in your price range at foreclosure auctions.  Some are 3-phase, but some are single phase too.
Reply:Originally Posted by umahunterlil typo there ed thats 495 unless you've got some super secret insider pricing in that case im all ears since i plan on getting the same saw
Reply:hmm my 2010 has it for 495 aswell maybe you got a different one then me i would love to pay 395 maybe yours has a different pricing code then mine350P 30A spool gun cut master 51  syncro 250 other stuff " take a dog off the street and make him prosper and he will not bite you sad the same cannot be said for man" i didnt use punctuation just to piss you off
Reply:Originally Posted by goinssrI've been bangin' my head around trying to find a good quality horizontal bandsaw in the $300-$400 range.  I've seen Shop Fox, Grizzly, Jet, Black Bull, etc. I figure most all of these are imported but I want to know what's a good one to get.  Most of what I see are in the 1/2 hp and 3/4 hp class and most of my use will be angle, tube, etc. from 14 ga to 3/16th.Are these adequate for my use?  I don't want to buy a POS. What's good guys?