What is anyone thoughts on this bandsaw http://www.lathemaster.com/Benchtop%20Bandsaw.htm for cutting steel and alumiunm? Any other options out there?

Hi Paul,
Check out the review from Dan Kautz at http://www.tedatum.com/thms/index.html
"the Hobbyist's Machine Shop"
This site has much to offer..Look under the "workshop" tab...third one down.
He has used it (with pictures) for some of his projects ... the PennsyA3 for one ....slicing the steel wheels off a hefty rod before turning.
there's also a video (at the end of the review)

I'm impressed and have this saw in mind when my coffers become full enough .

Can't comment - didn't see any specs on the page. HP, speeds, size capabilities would be good to know for starters.

plm

What is anyone thoughts on this bandsaw http://www.lathemaster.com/Benchtop%20Bandsaw.htm for cutting steel and alumiunm? Any other options out there?

It should be okay...if you want to stand around and apply pressure to the head while cutting.

I bought the Harbor Freight Horizontal/Vertical Metal bandsaw....$169.00 and got a one year warranty for $1.90 after the 18% discount at the local grandopening. it uses the weight of the head assembly to apply the cutting pressure (cantilevered approach with counter spring).

I have a Grizzley two spd. 14" wood bandsaw that I use occasionally for steel w/ a metal blade. It works fine, but cost $375.00. I have an abrasive chopsaw that was only 80.00 and its nice, but messy. For aluminum use a table saw or mitre saw w/ a non ferrous blade. They make perfect cuts with no effort and can be had cheap or use an existing wood saw. ( change blades). The only reason I would buy a horizontal bandsaw would be for cutting lots of stock, like bar, round, tube, etc. The only thing that doesent require cleaning up with an end mill is a table or miter saw with the right blade

I have the same one viperTX has, but I put a 6-10tpi variable pitch bimetal blade on mine and it cuts 20x faster than the stock blade. It also cuts wood nicely:)

Jon

It should be okay...if you want to stand around and apply pressure to the head while cutting.

I bought the Harbor Freight Horizontal/Vertical Metal bandsaw....$169.00 and got a one year warranty for $1.90 after the 18% discount at the local grandopening. it uses the weight of the head assembly to apply the cutting pressure (cantilevered approach with counter spring).


ViperTX, I was looking at one of these HF bandsaws for my shop. Can you tell me if your saw will also work well for wood if the band is switched out?

The HF looks great BUT for me I have no room for it, I need something that will sit on a bench top- this one also looks OK- http://www.ares-server.com/Ares/Ares.asp?MerchantID=RET01229&Action=Catalog&Type=Product&ID=82563
Might be to lightweight though?

ViperTX, I was looking at one of these HF bandsaws for my shop. Can you tell me if your saw will also work well for wood if the band is switched out?

I haven't tried it on wood as I also have a wood bandsaw....I suspect that it will cut wood, but very slowly....speed is much slower....though haven't really measured it.

Trilect, I posted above that I use mine often for wood, mostly just chopping 2x4s and 4x4s and stuff, the first copule cuts get gross because of the oil and metal shavings, but after that it does a good job.
I have the 6-10tpi blade from grizzly and it works very well all around.

CNCadmin, by the looks of that saw, you gotta opperate it the whole time, If you get something like 2+inches in diameter or thick stock, youll get awefully bored with it very fast. I got a rather small shop, with a huge workbench, big workbench for the mill, and my bandsaw in it, its like 12x12'


Jon

I know in the uk we can buy a small 4" capacity horiz b/s for about £ 100 chineeeze
or tiawan built so you amuricanz should be able to get one for less
btw paul g toys "r" us (tm) might have an issue with you publishing pics of their
stuff on this site.
mike

btw paul g toys "r" us (tm) might have an issue with you publishing pics of their stuff on this site.
mike

Their is no water mark on the pic and it's not trade marked so as far as I can see their is nothing wrong with it.

COPYRIGHTED OR TRADEMARKED MATERIAL:
It is illegal to post any content that is copyrighted or trademarked, unless you hold the copyright or trademark. Any material protected by copyright may not be posted in the message boards without the expressed permission of the author or owner of the copyright on that material. This includes reproducing the full text of news stories, articles, etc. It is acceptable to provide a link to copyrighted material, to post brief excerpts, or to paraphrase other works, though we do strongly encourage you to cite the original source whenever possible.

A dry sense of humour methinks.

A dry sense of humour methinks.


Yes I've been told that :)

I bought one of Lathemaster's bandsaws a little over a year ago, and it's a great piece of equipment. It cuts through stainless and cold rolled with ease using the 18 TPI blade that comes with it. Aluminum needs a 14 TPI blade, but the saw makes quick work of that too.

I had a project last summer in which I needed to cut several dozen 4x4 fir into 4" blocks. The little bandsaw handled it without complaint.

The only drawback is that it it has a cover over the wheels/blade which keeps in the cuttings. There are many holes in it, but the cuttings don't expel fast enough. This tends to clog it after about four cuts in 1" material. I simply removed the cover--- problem eliminated.

One of the nice features of it is the blades are available just about anywhere, and they're inexpensive. Yes, it's manual, and you have to tend it (all machine tools should be tended while in use) but I heartily recommend it.

Larry
New Orleans

It is no bargain, but I couldn't resist posting it:

http://www.metalsdepot.com/KAMA.phtml

You can purschase a nice 7x12 for what they are asking for this unit, but you did say you wanted a small benchtop size saw.

Chris

Ouch!! $$$$$$

Never mind, Im confused.

After reading this thread, and given my severe space constraints, I decided to order one of these G5010 bandsaws online from lathemaster.com. I was very excited to get delivery last night. My excitement turned to disappointment right away however.

I can't even get far enough to see it cut as it appears to have nasty tracking problem. Within very few seconds of operation the blade rides off the wheels and binds against the guard. The manual (such as it is) makes no mention of a tracking adjustment.

Do any of you lathemaster bandsaw owners out there know how to get this puppy to behave? Is there an adjustment I can make?

Thanks
Jim

... This guy does a pretty good review of the saw as he sets it up and "tweaks" it. I had this URL in one of the first posts here but in case you missed it:
http://www.tedatum.com/thms/index.html

Oh! This poor guy has some sorry pics there now..... His neighbor accidentally hit the accelerator and smashed into his shop litterally upturning all his machinery!

I have one of the harbor freight band saws and have been happy with it. about a year ago I bought a hydraulic speed control for it and that accessory has turned the saw into a really nice machine for what it is. I bought this on ebay and cannot find it right now.

Bill

Thanks for the information. I need something a little bigger than the ones posted so far.

A friend has a Grizzly horizontal bandsaw and is happy with it. Unfortunately, Grizzly is out of stock. He has this one.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0561

This one looks nice, but is more than I want to pay.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G9743

Does anyone have this one from Harbor Freight? I don't need the vertical portion of this saw. If a horizontal version of this is available, please let me know.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=34272

Does anyone have knowledge of Wilton saws? Shipping is $217 !
http://www.amazon.com/Wilton-3410-Cutting-Horizontal-Bandsaw/dp/B0007M6FZ0/sr=1-1/qid=1160114516/ref=sr_1_1/104-1451524-7604768?ie=UTF8&s=hi

I'll cut all normal shop steels with it. However, 75% of the cuts will be aluminum.

Thanks in advance.