Harbor Freight 4x6 Bandsaw Mods?

[garagemark]

The stars semi aligned last night and the wife bought me a Horrible Freight 4"x6" bandsaw (the girl's a keeper). Anyway, I'm aware that these little red units need a fair amount of help to do any real (read accurate) work, and I've seen some threads here for modding the things. However, I am having little success with the search function about it. Anyone know what might be some of the buzz words I should be using in the search box?

Thanks,
Mark

[Bill Pace]

There is indeed many mods/improvements for this wonderful little shop tool (probably the best buy in the Chinese tool lineup!)

A good starting point is probably the yahoo site dedicated to them...

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/4x6bandsaw/

But there are many other, try googling, it should add to the list - probably even pick up the posts here on HSM

[dave5605]

The best mod is to use bimetal blades. The regular blade that comes with them is the pits and won't last long.

[loose nut]

At a minimum you need to reinforce the legs or build a new stand. The legs as they come are a bit flimsy but a bit of angle iron along the bottom works wonders.

Remove the spring based lowering gear and replace it with a hydraulic one. I put a small cylinder on mine ($12.00 at the time, surplus, nothing fancy) plus a needle valve and some tubing and fittings. Makes a big difference.

Make sure the ball bearing guides are adjusted properly. If not the blade will always cut a curve and may break the blade. Guides are mounted on eccentric pins so you just loosen, adjust and tighten.

You could mount some kind of cutting oil dispenser but a can of WD 49 works as good, just remember to lubricate as you cut or the work will jam and knock the blade off of the wheels.

These saws are about the best bang for your buck you can get in a home shop

[chucketn]

I second the yahoo 4x6 group. Plans for several stands, a great tuneup/allignment guidde and bunches of other mods.

Chuck

[kc5ezc]

Checkout the Houston Home Metal Shop Club website. Great stand.

[garagemark]

The bi-metallic blade is already in hand. Wouldn't even consider the carbon steel thing it came with. I've been a porta-band user for many years.

If the bearing guides are decent to begin with, I'll be able to tune them in OK

Want to know more about a down feed cylinder. Any references anyone has would help. I can see that the spring deal won't be terribly accurate with feed speeds.

New stand seems to be a universal given. Will start that project tonight.

Bill, thanks. There are indeed many sites devoted to these little saws. I have gotten a few very good, very easy ideas from some of them. It never occurred to me that this machine was so popular.

[loose nut]

I'll post a picture of mine later tonight, it pretty basic.

[The Artful Bodger]

Be careful with your stand modifications as there are so many out there that will easily kick up if you lift the saw quickly into the vertical position.

[loose nut]

Here are couple of pics of a Hydraulic controlled lowering system. Ignore the mess, the saws been getting a work out this week.

A simple cylinder, air actually, valve and tubing. Easy, peasy. The chunk by the top of the cylinder is a tee with a plug in the top for adding the hydraulic oil or trarny/brake fluid. Getting it full is important for it to work right so having a filler hole up high makes it easier. If you want to be able to leave the rate of descent set then a second ball valve can be add in parallel to the needle valve. One hole had to be drilled to mount the semi-fixed end the other end is attached to where the spring mounts on the saw itself.