Thread: 4x6 horizontal bandsaw

What would you guys reccomend for a good metal cutting bandsaw in the $50 range?

I meant $500

just getting into metal working.

Hi Rag, this is a bit of an Australian forum so what available here isn't quite the same as the cornucopia of used stuff avaìlable to you. For $500USD you can absolutely buy a decent new import bandsaw, probably a good swiveling one. You might even get something used thats US made like a marvel. If i were you I would start scoping out Craigslist.

Gday Rag9836

First of all welcome to the forum.
If you buy an import bandsaw you will find you have to some fettling to get it to run OK.

The saws can be brought up to a good standard if you know what you are doing.
Each of them will have a different fault to the next one.

I don't know what $500 will buy but Grizzly as a name brand seems to pop up more that enough. They are a company that seems to sell pretty fair machine tools.

Harbor freight is cheap but don't expect a lot of help. You know what comes with cheap.

Some potential issues
Wheels not concentric
Blade tracking mechanism need s adjust
Wheels, not co planar-means edges are all in the same plane.
Bearings rough,
Stock clamping vice needs to be adjusted to square to the blade alignment.
Blade guides need to be adjusted so blade cuts perpendicular square to the deck.

Cut with the blade tensioned high-There are u tubes on how to do this.

Buy a new M2 bi metal grade and follow the run in guide carefully.You can ruin a good blade in moments if there is no run in procedure. Asian Factory blade is poop! Dump it after saw is tuned.

For your new blade, select the right TPI teeth per inch to suit what you will be cutting predominantly count.Take TPI advice from blade sales people/manuafcturer
My saw was a piece of poo when I got it but with advice from the net I have got it cutting spot on.
Will post some pics tomorrow .

Grahame

Hi Rag,
Here ya go mate!

Here s the Grizzly base model 6 x 4 bandsaw.

4" x 6" Metal-Cutting Bandsaw | Grizzly Industrial

You may well be close to a grizzly dealer and might be able to have a look in person.The Grizzly people can explain in person how to set it up.

Any any case, get the bi metal blade and run it in according to instruction.Once the saw is set up properly and the blade run in.

I cannot emphasise those points heavily enough. Square up the vice , adjust the blade guides square to the deck, correct saw teeth per inch to suit metal thickness to be cut and run in the new blade to instructions.


It will cut nearly, forever without trouble.

For example, my generic 6 x4 bandsaw is the dead spit of the one pictured (different paint though) and it has cut an average of 1 cut per day for 15 months without trouble.

The saw takes a table to used in the blade vertical position and works well when care is used.

God luck and tell us all, how you went.

Grahame

When I was looking for a B/saw, the members here recommend me to get 200 x 125 mm (8" x 8" x 5") B/saw
I am happy with it.

https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/B003

Here is one at bottom of page, that looks close to mine in grizzly catalogue.