What Bandsaw 41/2 to 6 inch

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What Bandsaw 41/2 to 6 inch

This topic has 23 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 15 September 2018 at 19:25 by Richard –.

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10 September 2018 at 14:30 #371189
Richard –
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@richard-3
Can anyone recommend at a sensible price?

Thanks
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10 September 2018 at 14:30 #19071
Richard –
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@richard-3
10 September 2018 at 17:17 #371211
larry phelan 1
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@larryphelan1
Depends whet you want to cut and how much you want to spend. Any saw that will handle 6×4 RSJ OR 5" dia round,has to be worth a couple of hundred pounds,and that will cope with most of what you are likely to be dealing with.

Might not be much difference in price between the smaller one and the bigger one,so,go for the big one. That,s what I did many moons ago and I,m still using it,day in,day out.
10 September 2018 at 17:34 #371214
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
I paid a bit more than the usual Far Eastern imports sell for and got a Femi, very happy with it.
10 September 2018 at 17:57 #371218
michael m
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@michaelm
Yes,I would also recommend the Femi saw. In addition I bought the table sold for it which converts it from a cut-off saw to a bandsaw. Furthermore I found the company in the link to be excellent. I was invited to visit the premises and try it out, took some bits and pieces of materials I tend to use to assess it's suitability, no rush, and came away with one.
10 September 2018 at 18:01 #371219
Richard –
Participant
@richard-3
That Femi looks good but the max stock is a bit small, what Larry said makes sence but the footprint may be a bit big!! Everything is a compromise!!
10 September 2018 at 18:41 #371224
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
They do the Femi in several different sizes, buy the one that fits your needs.
10 September 2018 at 19:47 #371228
Stuart Bridger
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@stuartbridger82290
Has anyone tried the Warco 5" handsaw? Looks to be step up in quality from the entry level saw. About the same money as the small Femi .**LINK**
10 September 2018 at 20:25 #371233
larry phelan 1
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@larryphelan1
I have my saw mounted on wheels,so I just shove it out of the way as required. No really keen on using them in the vertical mode,tables are much too small for that [to my mind,anyway ]

As I said,depends on how much you want to spend. I just wanted to cut stuff,while saving my arms,which are getting a bit worn out by now. Nothing like watching something else doing the work,while you have a cuppa !
10 September 2018 at 20:36 #371236
John Reese
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@johnreese12848
That Warco looks exactly like one Grizzly sells here.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-x-6-Metal-Cutting-Bandsaw-w-Swivel-Head/G9742

I often wondered how many different brand names for that same saw.
10 September 2018 at 20:41 #371237
Clive Foster
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@clivefoster55965
Stuart

I suspect the 5" Warco is the same bow and basic mechanics as the usual 4 1/2" one. If my old Alpine is anything to go by the usual swivel vice arrangement doesn't allow the full capacity of the bow to be utilised. Never actually measured it but an extra 1/2", or maybe more, of capacity from a better vice and swivel arrangement seems perfectly plausible.

The difference in cost between the ordinary one and the swivelling 5" one doesn't seem terribly unreasonable considering the vastly better stand, better vice and all the other extra twiddles. Especially as sales and production volume are probably rather lower.

Looking at the 5" one I think thats what the common 4 1/2" saw should have been in the first place as it looks a much more satisfactory piece of equipment overall. But it would have been too expensive for the main market back then.

Clive.
10 September 2018 at 20:42 #371238
Richard –
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@richard-3
Mounting on wheels sounds like a good idea, the Warco seems value for money, like everything I wonder if it would pay to get a used one of higher quality? Saving my old shoulders is the main reason for the purchase!!
10 September 2018 at 20:56 #371240
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Posted by Richard John 1 on 10/09/2018 14:30:47:

Can anyone recommend at a sensible price?

Like all tools, you get what you pay for, if you want something that will saw stuff, but frustrate the hell out of you, break blades, rarely cut straight and generally need fettling and then coaxing through every cut, buy one at a sensible price………On the other hand if you want a saw that does everything an industrial bandsaw does on a daily basis, only on a smaller scale, dig deep and buy a Femi.
11 September 2018 at 07:25 #371263
Sam Longley 1
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@samlongley1
In 2016 I bought a floor mounted Seally bandsaw for £ 198-00 from our local tool supplier. When I unpacked it, the documentation showed that they had it in stock since 2000, so they were probably glad to shift it. Not sure what the current price is.

I had agro with the wiring because it was nipped in the metal work & shorted out my workshop,( wires went through metal holes with no protection!!) but once I found the problem it has worked well enough & once set up correctly has cut reasonably square & continues to do so without adjustment. However, the largest I have cut to date is 100 * 50 * 4mm steel box section so that may not be a good enough test for the OP. It did cut some square & splay cuts easily enough quite a few times but fairly slowly.

The upright bandsaw mode is pretty much pants though.

Depends on what one wants from them for the price

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 11/09/2018 07:27:23
11 September 2018 at 07:50 #371265
Richard –
Participant
@richard-3
Thanks for the input Sam, I've looking around and I can't find any used good quality saws, there are some industrial but the footprint is just too big.

The 5'' Warco is out of stock, I'll have to keep looking.

Thanks everyone
11 September 2018 at 08:37 #371267
Ron Laden
Participant
@ronladen17547
I,m amazed, I have never looked at this type of bandsaw but seeing the link to the Warco 5 inch machine that seems to me to be a lot of machine complete with stand for under £400. I would have guessed at half as much again and the Femi looks to be a similar price to the Warco, really surprised they look to be great value for money.

Ron
11 September 2018 at 09:23 #371277
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Posted by Richard John 1 on 11/09/2018 07:50

The 5'' Warco is out of stock, I'll have to keep looking.

Thanks everyone

Axminster do the same saw, probably from the same chinese supplier, different colour scheme and a bit more dosh though……..**LINK**
11 September 2018 at 10:23 #371285
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
Posted by Alan Waddington 2 on 11/09/2018 09:23:51

Axminster do the same saw, probably from the same chinese supplier, different colour scheme and a bit more dosh though……..**LINK**

Initially, I thought the extra cost might have been an extra coat of paint (to cover the Warco green). However, they may appear identical, but when one looks at the specs, the Warco speeds are different and the motor is considerably more powerful. There may be other minor differences.
11 September 2018 at 11:05 #371295
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Posted by not done it yet on 11/09/2018 10:23:47:

“ Warco speeds are different and the motor is considerably more powerful”

Warco motor is 550w………Axminster motor is 560w.
11 September 2018 at 11:19 #371297
JohnF
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@johnf59703
Plus 1 for the Femi, I think for the footprint the capacity is amazing at 4" dia or square ! Also cuts very well and nice and square, never regretted my purchase.
11 September 2018 at 11:33 #371301
Richard –
Participant
@richard-3
Just spoke to my local Axminster branch which is about 10 miles away in Cardiff. They have a shop display model, only one in stock, which may have been used on one of their in shop demonstrations, and they wouldn't move a penny from the web price a bit disappointing really!!
11 September 2018 at 11:53 #371303
not done it yet
Participant
@notdoneityet
Are we looking at different machines?

Soreee! I looked at the specs in the manual for this machine – MCB1155HD – and it says 1/3HP. Usual carp manual or carp advertising? One place it says MCB1155HD and in another it says MCB115SHD. Which one is correct? I think I would trust Warco on specifications – they do seem good at that sort of thing!
11 September 2018 at 12:23 #371310
Alan Waddington 2
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@alanwaddington2
Posted by not done it yet on 11/09/2018 11:53:18:

Are we looking at different machines?

Soreee! I looked at the specs in the manual for this machine – MCB1155HD – and it says 1/3HP. Usual carp manual or carp advertising? One place it says MCB1155HD and in another it says MCB115SHD. Which one is correct? I think I would trust Warco on specifications – they do seem good at that sort of thing!

Spec is clear enough, just scroll down the advert page i linked to……..
15 September 2018 at 19:25 #371880
Richard –
Participant
@richard-3
Update, Just picked up a nearly new Axminster MCB115SHD for a good price with a stock roller support.

A couple of hours fettling and it's cutting straight and well. The manual is awful, says nothing about adjusting bow weight. I think that's one of the reasons the chap was getting rid of it, he had never adjusted it and it was fully backed off.

I would have liked the Femi but i'm afraid the budget didn't stretch!!
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