Thread: Bandsaw

Hi guys, does anyone have any experience with the cheaper Hafco horizontal bandsaws, for example this one https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/Pr...tockCode=B002#

I'm looking for something to cut SHS/RHS, small bar stock I may need for the lathe, and small pieces of plate to use as small gussets etc. I'm just sick and tired of hacksawing things!

I probably won't use it a huge amount but can imagine it would still be a mighty handy thing to have, and everyone I know who has a bandsaw swears by them. Capacity is probably much less important than a small footprint, hence why I'm looking at the smallest sold by H&F, by the same token I don't want to buy a POS.

Pete

Hi
I have the Chinese made cheapo put out under the Toolex brand. I must admit that I have not done too much with it at this stage,except for cutting bar up to 75mm in both aluminium and steel.I do this because I have had little success with parting in the lathe.I have to say that I am impressed with the accuracy of the cuts as there would not be more than 5 thou of runout in a 50mm bar and about 10 in a 75mm solid( sorry to mix Imperial and Metric). I would not be without it but always remember that the blade has to be really tight (hand adjuster) to prevent it coming off--there is an article online where a guy goes to the trouble of buying a "blade tensioner" measuring device and he finds that he is almost not strong anough to achieve the required balde tension.
Go ahead and buy--Barryh

they would go alright, I dont have one but if only doing small stuff here and there it would do the job.
correct blade pitch and tension, tracking of the blade and adjustment of the guides go a long way to making it work well.
the machine itself looks ok, a little light for any serious repetitive work all day long.
It would be chinese or taiwanese most likely but they probably sell heaps of them.
No coolant is a negative, coolant helps to prolong blade life as it keeps it cool (obviously) but also provides lubrication and helps to clear swarf as it cuts. You could use a spray bottle though to help with this or ft a catch tray and setup your own coolant system on it, but it probably isnt entirely necessary if you are only using it for the odd job here and there.
thtas my two cents worth

I have that exact one. It works a treat and should do fine for what you need as I use it for the same type of cutting. You will need to ditch the blade that comes with it and get a good bi-metal one as the stock blade sucks..

Ok thanks guys, I'll get a new blade at the same time. Yes I think they are from China (isn't everything these days) so I'm expecting the usual "kit" to arrive where nothing is lined up or tracking correctly. As I recall when I looked in to this before H&F's delivery charge was outrageous so it could be a case of buying one through ebay or similar but think they're all "same same ... but different"

I bought the Taiwanese built Gasweld 'Toolex' one. Of note this version has a 3/4 hp motor compared to the 1/2 of the H&F BS-4A, it also has the larger cutting size of 115mm over the BS-4A's 100mm. It is slightly more expensive than the H&F but not when the delivery cost is taken into account.

Surprisingly it cut dead on square out of the box. The 'frame' if you could call it that is atrocious, all the supplied bolts are of the type that fits into a square hole so you don't need to hold both sides when tightening BUT the square protusion is enough that a tight nut doesn't clamp the steel frame. No big deal though as the bed is cast iron this doesn't affect rigidity.

The stock blade is also atrocious, seems to be made from some sort of hardened butter product and the teeth will fall off shortly. Blades are $11 for Starret carbon steel from H&F or $22.50 for the SAME item locally... I bought a 10tpi as cutting barstock is more common for me.

Great purchase and very recommended for any home workshop.

I have had the Toolex Taiwan ( 3/4 hp) version for close on 20 years, by far the most used tool in the workshop. I am about to buy a new one ( on the swivel base - maybe)

Take the time to adjust it cut square ( if needed) and buy good blades. I find the starret ones from H&F are the best for life span versus cost etc. All the brands that I have tried all fatigue as the wheels are small and hence flex the blade. Just be prepared to use them and throw them. At $11 each etc they sure beat doing it by hand.

I also get wood blades made to suit mine and use it as a drop saw.
Over the years it has cut almost everything from 250 high steelRSJ'''s to house extension frames ( hard and softwood) and picture frames and moulding, pvc pipes. let them take their time and get the right feed rate.

While I don't like suggesting what tools people should buy, these bandsaws have got to be one of the most versatile, useful tools for the money.

PS, while you can run coolant on the blade, generally I just use them dry.

Originally Posted by BenM78

I bought the Taiwanese built Gasweld 'Toolex' one. Of note this version has a 3/4 hp motor compared to the 1/2 of the H&F BS-4A.

Same as BenM78 I bought the Toolex 3/4hp version and It's been great. I wouldn't be without it now but it is Taiwanese so expect to do some tweaking. My drive belt tensioning screw was binding and needed some work on it. The set screw on the lock wheel keeps coming loose. I also replaced the setscrew on the adjustable fence with a thumbwheel type screw.
I was using my saw the other week and there was smoke coming from around the blade. It was cold outside so I thought it was just the WD40 I'd sprayed on it smoking until I realised the cutout swith was what was causing the smoke. Turns out they bent the contacts over when they installed the switch and this was arcing onto the plastic cover. Not too good.
Another issue I found with these saws is that the swarf can foul the blade guide bearings. Mine seized because of this and it took ages to clean all the crap out of them. I found that using too much WD40 floods the swarf into the bearings. Now I generally just use a candle that I occassionally hold against the blade to provide a bit of lubrication.

I can't find any bandsaws on the Gasweld site marked as Toolex but there looks to be 2 versions here I guess you guys are talking about https://ishop.gasweld.com.au/ishop/s...&search=Search

The Chinese and Taiwanese versions seem to have identical specs, you think there's much difference in quality or keep the $60 bucks price difference and spend it on getting either of the kits working as advertised?

Pete

This page has some handy mods that can be done to these types of bandsaws that increases their functionality

http://www.mini-lathe.com/Bandsaw/Bandsaw.htm

Go for it you wont be dissapointed.I found mine,a Workcraft (china)100x150 3/4 horse at a garage sale for $100 about 9yrs ago, after I bought it I wondered why I hadn't got one sooner,(instead of using the 9inch grinder) they save so much time and energy as you can do other things in the shop while it's cutting and just keep an ear out for it.About 2yrs ago I added a simple coolant setup because I use mine alot and it has made the blades last a lot longer.It has been about year since I bought 10 blades but Hare and Forbes had a deal going for years that if you bought 10 blades of the same size of any pitch (even wood blades) they through in one free,not sure if it's still going after the price rise, but ask while you are there.If your cutting thin stuff make sure you get a fine tooth blade.I have cut 150 x 75 I beam on mine with no problems.
Dave

The China one has a better switch, the only thing I see with the Taiwain one is it has knobs on the blade guide adjusters.I would just go for the China one and buy extra blades with the $60 difference.
Dave

I went in to buy mine unsure of which one to get but was leaning towards the Tiawainese one because of the larger motor. After looking at the two of them I think the Tiawainese one had the stronger frame too and that's saying something because it's not too strong. I bought mine from Gasweld (Toolex brand) a couple of years ago and the one they have there looks slightly different to mine around the frame.
I'd suggest you have a look at the two of them in the flesh and make your mind up from there. I think the specs apart from the motor are the same. As Dave J says 'You won't regret it'.

Ok, well hopefully my order has been received without difficulty with Gasweld for the Chinese bandsaw, a new Abbott and Ashby 200 mm grinder (have one of these already and already need 2), and a 50 mm multitool linisher. As it turned out H&F delivery charge was only $45 which I thought was ok, and so it was a bit of decision as both came out about the same price. In the end I went with the Gasweld one as it has supposedly a larger motor. I say supposedly as I understand the plates on the Chinese motors are more a work of fiction that any statement of fact, but never mind.

Pete

Originally Posted by Pete F

Ok, well hopefully my order has been received without difficulty with Gasweld for the Chinese bandsaw, a new Abbott and Ashby 200 mm grinder (have one of these already and already need 2), and a 50 mm multitool linisher. As it turned out H&F delivery charge was only $45 which I thought was ok, and so it was a bit of decision as both came out about the same price. In the end I went with the Gasweld one as it has supposedly a larger motor. I say supposedly as I understand the plates on the Chinese motors are more a work of fiction that any statement of fact, but never mind.

Pete

Don't be too concerned mate I bought an expensive Hare & Forbes lathe and its a piece of garbage " Dave J " bought a gasweld lathe at half the price of mine and its a better lathe than mine.