Metal Bandsaw – quality?

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Metal Bandsaw – quality?

This topic has 28 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 13 July 2020 at 20:34 by Bill Phinn.

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7 January 2018 at 10:22 #335668
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
Hi,

Has anyone any comments on this bandsaw.?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMA1140-Portable-Metal-Cutting-Band-Saw-1500W-Motor-Swivel-Base/272875290995?hash=item3f88a28173:g:kzYAAOSwt5tZ1kff

I'm looking for something compact and this seems to fit the bill. Just not sure of the quality.

Matt
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7 January 2018 at 10:22 #18799
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
7 January 2018 at 10:32 #335671
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
It's an Amadeal machine. You will get it £25 cheaper direct from their site *** Amadeal *** cannot comment on quality though. Similar style to the Femi model which will set you back a few more quid but is reported to be very good.

John
7 January 2018 at 10:40 #335672
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
Thanks John, That is useful to know.

Hopefully someone may have bought one and can comment.

Matt
7 January 2018 at 12:01 #335684
nigel jones 5
Participant
@nigeljones5
Ive not got that one but ive got a similar small one somewhere in the workshop. Mine wont cut in a straight line to save its life, ive tried every adjustment on the planet to no avail. Also beware the blades are prone to snapping due to the very tight radius of the guide wheels, having said that if its Amadeal its probably a ton better than the one ive got and having dealt direct with the chaps at Amadeal I can vouch for their brilliant service.
7 January 2018 at 12:07 #335685
KWIL
Participant
@kwil
Of course its cheaper direct from Amadale, ebay want their share.
7 January 2018 at 13:12 #335694
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
You will also have to pay a an additional delivery charge if buying Direct

I went for a Femi 782, cuts as straight as a die.
7 January 2018 at 13:26 #335698
Journeyman
Participant
@journeyman
Not at the moment apparently, this from Amadeals site:-

FREE UK POSTAGE FREE UK POSTAGE FREE UK POSTAGE!!
(Excluding Islands, Scottish Highlands and Northern Ireland)
UK postage is now free except for the following postcodes BT, IM, JE, GY. HS, PA20 +, PH16 +, ZE, IV 1-29 and IV34 +, and KW
Shipping to the Highlands / Islands and Northern Ireland is an additional £6.50 up to 25kg

John
7 January 2018 at 15:43 #335717
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
Unless I'm missing something, the Femi 782 is almost double the price!

THanks for the vote of confidence on Amadeal service.

Matt
7 January 2018 at 15:46 #335720
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Maybe that is what it costs to get one that will cut straight
7 January 2018 at 15:58 #335722
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
Ha! I hope not!

Matt
7 January 2018 at 16:14 #335728
Michael Briggs
Participant
@michaelbriggs82422
I have been considering buying a bandsaw for some time. After a near miss last week with a slitting disk I took the plunge and bought a Femi from Stakesy's. It cut straight without adjustment, wish I had bought one earlier. Whatever you go for check the price and availability of replacement blades.
7 January 2018 at 16:27 #335729
Matt Harrington
Participant
@mattharrington87221
Michael, thats quite a bit cheaper.

What blade tpi do people recomment for general purpose sawing of FCMS etc

Matt
7 January 2018 at 18:00 #335764
MK_Chris
Participant
@mk_chris
@ Michael.

+1 from me for my 782XL saw, and for the supplier, and also for “the wish that I had bought earlier”. I also bought the vertical table accessory – the main use so far. Being able to lift it and move it about for convenience was also a plus. Happy with the blade as supplied.

Until I talked to the supplier I had not realised that the 782XL was a hand feed machine: not auto.
Planning to try an adjustable bar and weight on the head when larger cuts are required.

When it comes to any significant purchase my long held philosophy is :-

I have never regretted my extravagances but I have often regretted my economies. So yet one more for the “no regrets” column.

Chris.

Edited By MK_Chris on 07/01/2018 18:01:40
7 January 2018 at 19:17 #335779
Michael Briggs
Participant
@michaelbriggs82422
Hello Chris,

I have never regretted spending probably more than I should for a quality piece of kit. On the other hand buying cheap and buying twice has been a bitter experience on more than one occasion in the past. I would explain but I am trying to forget those mistakes. Michael.
7 January 2018 at 22:34 #335807
Robbo
Participant
@robbo
You could also consider the lower spec Femi 780 XL (2-speed as against the variable electronic of the 782) on Amazon for about £300 delivered. LINK **LINK**

Not much more than the Amadeal. I would want to check the angle cutting of the Amadeal, the geometry looks wrong and there is no picture. Maybe just the picture angle.
8 January 2018 at 12:24 #335875
Robbo
Participant
@robbo
Posted by Matt Harrington on 07/01/2018 16:27:40:

What blade tpi do people recomment for general purpose sawing of FCMS etc

Matt

As usual with bandsaws the thicker the material the coarser the blade pitch that can be used. But for everyday on mild steel I manage with 14 tpi, going to 24 tpi for thin sheet. Both these are commonly available.

Notice that the Femi saws run faster than the Chinese imports, the 2-speed offering 60 or 80 metres per min, whereas my Chinese offers 20 (Stainless,Bronze, & other hard stuff), 30 (the usual mild steel), or 50 (Ally,Brass,Copper) mpm
8 January 2018 at 12:48 #335879
ega
Participant
@ega
Am I right in thinking that the Femi blade runs in the opposite direction to the conventional 6 x 4 convertible machine?

At first sight this seems unlikely if it means that the blade cuts upwards and away from the accessory table but no doubt a user can enlighten me.
8 January 2018 at 12:54 #335882
jimmy b
Participant
@jimmyb
I too went a quest for a compact bandsaw, a few years ago. I ended up buying one of these **LINK** worth every penny.

Not regretted it

jim
8 January 2018 at 13:09 #335884
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Femi blade travels towards the pivot point same as other bandsaws and will therefore cut downwards when used with a table.

Femi come with Vari pitch blades and mine is still goingstrong after 14months though I did buy a spare just in case.
8 January 2018 at 14:22 #335893
Spurry
Participant
@spurry
I've had the Femi 2 speed for many years. I first saw it demo'ed at one of the ME shows at Ali Pally. The vendor was cutting 1mm slices from a circular bar of 50mm steel….

Pete
8 January 2018 at 15:19 #335909
ega
Participant
@ega
JasonB:

Thank you for putting me right; I had speculated that the supposed difference might be to do with the handfed versus gravity fed point.

There is a video on this page:

https://www.stakesys.co.uk/femi-782xl-swivel-head-portable-bandsaw-230-volt

which seems to show a direction of travel arrow on the saw frame pointing the "wrong" way (I coudn't detect from the demo which way the blade was actually moving but it seemed to be depositing the bulk of the chips on the operator side.
8 January 2018 at 16:10 #335921
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
EGA, I think you are right, some of the bigger saws do cut the opposite way, the NG series seem to be the ones, this video shows it better.

But the 780 and 782 which most of us seem to have cut the usual way
8 January 2018 at 16:10 #335922
Michael Briggs
Participant
@michaelbriggs82422
Ega:

The video is of a NG120 which runs in the opposite direction to the 782xl, Femi claim it cuts 60% faster. It may be faster but you lose the option of vertical operation with a table.

Jason replied while I was typing ….

Edited By Michael Briggs on 08/01/2018 16:12:24
8 January 2018 at 16:33 #335928
ega
Participant
@ega
JasonB and Michael Briggs:

Thank you – yet more points for the intending purchaser to think about!

The NG120 is obviously a bigger, more powerful machine but presumably the reversed direction also plays some part in its faster cut. The difference between Western and Japanese handsaws comes to mind but I don't think this is the answer.

In either case, the speed of cut is impressive but I shall be sticking to my ancient 6 x 4 and the associated cup of tea!
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