Another "Father's" Day

[ksouers]

Sort of.

My wife and I don't have any kids. We were way too old when we go married. However, we do have some pets. A saltwater aquarium and a parakeet (budgie). It seems they collaborated (connived? Schemed?) to get me a gift for "Father's" Day.

So, this afternoon my wife said, "Lets go to Home Despot. I need to return those shelves I got." Ok. Works for me. However, we didn't go directly to HD, she drove right passed it and stopped at Harbor Fright first. "The kids are buying you a Father's Day present, the bandsaw you've wanted", she says.

TOOLS! Yippee! :big:

This thing weighs over a 120 pounds (box is marked 63 kilos). The young kid had it on a lift cart, brought it right up to the van and slid it it. Wife said, "You need one of those carts." I said, "I need one of these strapping young guys to do all my heavy lifting for me!" She said, "Ooh! I want a young guy, too!" Sheesh :

Any way, got it home and assembled it.

First cut: 1/4x1 1/2 steel.

Found out it needed some adjusting, naturally. So, 20 minutes later the cut is finished.

I've used horizontal bandsaws before, but it's been a long time. What a treat that is to just drop the saw and carry on with the rest of my business.

By the way, we did stop by HD afterwards to return the shelves. I also picked up a replacement blade and while I was at it got a new blade for the old Black & Decker vertical bandsaw to reward it's many years of service. I didn't realize it at the time but the old blade hadn't been replaced in over 2 years.

Bogs, I agree. The old B&D saw has been a faithful servant. But I've often asked it to do too much. When it finally does give up the ghost it is to be buried with honors. So for now it will get lighter duty, just aluminum and brass. I'll give all the heavy work to the young guy.

 

[chuck foster]

i have one of those saws and they are great!!!!
they are small enough to fit in my tiny shop yet big enough to handle some good size material.
mine was a gift from me to me about 4 years ago...... ;D

i hope it serves you well.

chuck

 

[Brass_Machine]

Awesome. Now go and pull the HF blade and throw it in a spare parts box and us the HD blade. I assume it is a Rigid brand blade? It will cut much faster, smoother etc...

Have fun with it. Mine has paid for itself many many times over!

Eric

 

[ksouers]

Thanks Chuck. Yeah, I do like it's compact size. I can tuck it out of the way real easy.

Eric,
Yes, the new blade is a Rigid brand, 24 TPI. I think the HF blade is 18 TPI. I was surprised how well it cut the steel. Of course, it should. It's a new blade. But I've been leery of some of the stuff that HF carries. Some is pretty good, but a lot of it is just plain junk. I've seen a lot of web sites and most of the guys seem to have this saw. Maybe not HF, but the same manufacturer. I haven't heard anything really bad about them yet.

I've been avoiding starting any projects simply because it was such a chore to cut steel on the B&D. With a fresh blade it's great, but that only lasts a couple cuts. After that it takes forever to cut through 3/4 inch round stock. It'll take 2 days to cut through 1/4 inch x 2 inch hot rolled. And after cutting steel it's no good for aluminum. The blade is just too fast even on the lowest speed.

I guess now I have no more excuses...

 

[Brass_Machine]

I guess now I have no more excuses...

Those rigid blades lasts me a little while... I cut a lot of steel and aluminum. Somewhere on this board you will find some good tips for it. I ended up ditching the flimsy stand it comes with and mounting it differently. Got the idea from here... bought a HF 3 shelf cart, flipped the top shelf... cut some steel square tub and mounted it to that. Brought it up in height. I also took 2 of the wheels of the cart off and mounted a flat surface (stacked and bolted 2x4s) instead to stabilize the cart and prevent it from rolling.

If I get off of my butt... there are a few more I am going to do. I have the aluminum to make a different table to use in the vertical position. I saw a stop in HSM that I am going to make... easier to go back to 0 degrees after an angle cut.

Eric

 

[Tin Falcon]

looks like your pets do well our four cats did not even get me a card LOL.
I got my band saw years ago do not even know what brand .American made I think. picked it up at an industrial yard sale at a place i worked took 4 guys to lift it into the back of the station wagon. My wife and I had to unload it . My son was only 8 or 9 at the time. It will cut a 3 inch cast iron bar though.
Good luck with your saw.
Tin

 

[rake60]

You know Kevin I recently gave a saw just like that away.
It just wasn't doing the daily job for me so I gave it to a guy
who would only be using it occasionally.

The fact that it was made in 1989 and had been worked pretty hard
for almost 20 years may have contributed to it's slowing down.

I went out and bought new one JUST LIKE IT!

You'll be happy with that!

Rick

 

[Tin Falcon]

The young kid had it on a lift cart, brought it right up to the van and slid it it. Wife said, "You need one of those carts." I said, "I need one of these strapping young guys to do all my heavy lifting for me!"

I'll tell you they do come in handy my son is 18 . he was very helpful getting the shaper in the basement a while back.
Tin

 

[ksouers]

Thanks for the recommendations, guys. I haven't read anything bad about them, it's nice to hear they do hold up well.

Tin, you know, thirty years ago I could have tossed this thing around like it was just a heavy sack. They must be making them heavier now a'days...

 

[rake60]

Here are mine.

The Old One:

And The New One:

Mine was purchased at a different store so the paint is another color, but
it's the same saw...

It's the import 4 X 6 bandsaw sold by Harbor Freight, Grizzly, Enco and Tractor Supply.

Same saw just different paint. I guess that paint is more expensive for some vendors...


Rick

 

[ksouers]

Not any difference at all between them, is there.

Yeah, I don't understand the difference in the cost of the paint, either. I'd been thinking about the Grizzly version for about a year, but for $235 plus shipping I thought it was a little steep. Then this weekend I saw HF had the exact same saw for $160 and no shipping. When wife wanted to go to HD I was all for it since HF is right next door in another building on the same property. It really surprised me when she went straight to HF!!

 

[rake60]

You need to learn to speak "Woman"

The Jet saw at HD is $339 The SAME saw at HF is $210
A woman didn't spend $210 she SAVED $129!

I hate it when my wife come home and wants to tell me
how much she saved on a shopping trip!

Rick

 

[ksouers]

Rick,
My wife does the same thing. The one that really got me was her coming home from the casino, telling me she lost $200, and brought home two "free" sandwiches. Ya know, the $5 reuben at the deli across from my office tastes better than the $100 reuben from the casino!

At least I finally got her to admit the sandwiches are pre-paid!

Actually, she doesn't mind spending money on tools. She is one of the very rare women who believes in getting the right tool for the job.

 

[nkalbrr]

I went to the local flea market for my FATHERS DAY excursion. Purchased a cigar box of taps,1 die and handle and a Starrett dial indicator set (1922 patent date) for $30. But the best deal I got was a card from my wife,son and a bunch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

 

[rake60]

I went to the local flea market for my FATHERS DAY excursion. Purchased a cigar box of taps,1 die and handle and a Starrett dial indicator set (1922 patent date) for $30. But the best deal I got was a card from my wife,son and a bunch of oatmeal raisin cookies.

Oatmeal raisin cookies?
Would it be out of line for me to ask for that lady's phone number?

Glad to hear your day was a great one!

Rick