Look at a Femi or copy, only need about 1ft width of bench and are light enough to pick up one handed and tucked away if you want the benchtop space. A search for Femi will bring up several posts.

This is mine, 120mm x 120mm capacity and will do your 50×50 in under 2mins.

Edited By JasonB on 09/05/2020 10:11:17

Some thought this one when Aldi was selling it was OK, whether the differences are worth the extra 100 is up for debate.

The Chester HV80 is a good example of bottom of the range Chinese engineering. I got mine free when I bought a mill from Chester a couple of years ago. Despite its rough edges I would not want to be without it. After some fettling it now cuts remarkably square and true. Note that it doesn't come with an auto switch off like it says on the website. I added a switch and a hydraulic down feed adjuster to make something a bit bit better than a sows ear but definitely no silk purse.

Like you I don't have much room but if I was buying another I would certainly consider going up to the very popular 6 x 4 size. Having said that the HV80 has been big enough for everything I have need to cut.

Peter

I have a 6×4" model from Chester, which just eats the work, hacksaw has an easy life these days.

No use to you, I know, but just for the record.

Oven man, I would love to fit a hydraulic down feed, any info on that ?

Try Tuff saws. They are happy to advise & have informative website

I have the 782XL details here, was going to get the 780 but they were doing an offer on the 782XL which meant it was only about £10 more so why not. Looks like I gave slightly the wrong size but I have cut bigger than quoted size with a bit of jiggling about.

Edited By JasonB on 09/05/2020 16:05:15

I bought the Aldi one that Dave H refers to above and have been pleased with it. Some reported problems with the vice but mine has been fine. It is small and light enough to move off the bench if it's in the way. It's not as powerful as the 6 X 4 it replaced but it takes up much less space. Mine has a trigger switch, with no hold on feature so I have to stand over it while it is cutting, but for smallish sections that's no problem. It's a bit like a bandsaw version of a cut off saw, and the mechanical layout has some resemblance to an angle grinder. The conversion from hand held to use on the stand is fiddly and awkward but I generally only use it on the stand. .I have bought spare blades from Tuffsaws but, so far, the original blade is still going strong. I would be interested to see details if anyone has fitted a hold on switch and/or a down feed adjuster. I would have preferred a Fermi but for £150.00, including post and 3 year warrenty, the Aldi one is fine.

Rod

My bandsaw,,an old Warco 4.5" is too big for your space. After some fettling it is now a decent machine for its job.

If you want one for the future.

My experience with two samples of a small bandsaw, (chosen for just the reasons Jason mentioned ) were not good.

Maybe, I was unlucky.

If you want blades for a hacksaw, you could do worse than Eclipse, (if still available ) or Sandvik.

Howard

Think Howard and I have the last "Eclipse" brand blades left. Recently cut some 38mm sq. with the bar resting on the garden wall without a vice, by cutting 3mm deep and rotating bar to ensure square cut. Do same with round bar.

Sorry, things have deteriorated since the introduction of Bi-metal blades. Many years ago, helped to section parts of a DH Goblin using a Phillips Junior but even those are now garbage.

Regards Ian.

Posted by larry phelan 1 on 09/05/2020 14:32:13:

I have a 6×4" model from Chester, which just eats the work, hacksaw has an easy life these days.

No use to you, I know, but just for the record.

Oven man, I would love to fit a hydraulic down feed, any info on that ?

Hello Larry. Here are some pictures of the hydraulic downfeed fitted to the Chester HV80. The cylinder and piston bit is based on the design by Mike Cox with the top and bottom bits custom made to suit the HV80. Nothing is square or vertical so the rod end joints work well. Mikes design was for a 4 x 6 model so you could use that without any major modification. You can find all the the details on Mikes Workshop website.

Hope this helps

Peter