4x6 bandsaw

[shepherd]

Came across a saw a guy's asking 70 bucks for...is there really anything that I should be checking out thoroughly on this before snapping it up?

[vincemulhollon]

Pure unobtanium

Came across a saw a guy's asking 70 bucks for...is there really anything that I should be checking out thoroughly on this before snapping it up?

The worm gears between the motor and the wheel are pure unobtanium, and are traditionally shipped from China in a sand and oil bath. Sometimes the oil leaks out. Sometimes the sand leaks out. I'd take a look in there. Worms can survive a lot of wear and still "kinda" work, but eventually its toast and the saw gets junked. A pity.

Everything else can be replaced.

Some of the motors were known to catch fire and rumored to have false UL listings (burst into flame while running, etc). I'd give it a sniff and make sure it actually runs under load. Supposedly easy to swap in a new / real motor, I donno. Theoretically it'll shut itself off at the end of a cut, although given flaming motor stories I would never run it unattended (as in, standing in front of it, ready to pull plug from wall when it catches fire)

Traditionally the tension knob breaks off but its easy to rig something up, and kind of visually obvious if its not there. If it doesn't look like cheap chinese plastic, someone has probably already replaced that knob.

The stand is beyond useless and just kind of barely holds it upright on perfectly flat ground IF you never move it even one inch, although it will be flimsy and wobble under use. You can cut some plywood trapezoids and screw the flimsy sheet angle iron "legs" into the plywood making it taller, sturdier, and louder (the plywood resonates...). If you think you'll haul it into the pickup truck bed on the as manufactured wheeled stand ... you'll shortly be picking it up off the ground. Its heavy enough to leave quite a mark when it lands. So be careful, also look around the perimeter of the saw for evidence of previous "rough landings". Not kidding, you literally cannot wheel it around the shop without tipping, unless you're very careful. (Try not to tip the guy's saw over before agreeing to buy it)

All that said, for the price, a good saw. I think I only paid $150 for it on sale, don't know if only 50% off is a good deal or not for used chicom. Unless there's a "story" (like only used twice by a little old lady on sunday) I'm thinking in a market where genuine great condition us made starrett mics might only get 25% used, a chicom saw is pushing it to ask more than $50, but only you and the seller can decide what it's really worth.

Plan on buying a new blade. The one that comes with the saw is not all that great, and nothing cuts better than a new blade anyway.

[SGW]

That sums it up better than I ever could. One other thing that I don't think was mentioned. Unless it's already been done, the vise could likely use a bit of improvment. Or deep-six the supplied vise and mount a decent one.

As long as you view it as a semi-finished kit of parts you won't be disappointed.

[Evan]

There is a very wide range in quality among all the similar looking 4x6 saws available. A good clue to the quality is the quality of the castings. If they are well made and deburred with a good finish then it is likely the rest of the saw is also well made. Another clue is the size of the motor. Not the HP rating but the actual physical size. The bigger the better.

Mine is well made and there was no sand in the gearbox. The motor is large for its rating which is a good sign.



There are a lot of saws out there that I wouldn't take as a gift.

[Black_Moons]

Mine came without sand in the gearbox so I had to order some in. Did come with oil, but I ended up replacing it anyway. (ended up buying maybe the wrong oil.. should double check in there and see how it is..)

And yea, 4x6 bandsaws are the #1 item id tell ANY shop to buy. You'll go from thinking "Its moderately easy to cut this with my angle grinder and a cutoff disk" to "How can I fit this really ackward, oversized peice into my bandsaw, Even though an angle grinder could likey cut it pertty easy"

[ahidley]

Mine doesnt have a square hanging off of it, nor does it have a vairable voltage rat killer mounted to the back LOL

The unit also comes with a sheetmetal table that replaces the little tin cover. This is used when the saw is mounted vertically. Make sure that comes with it.

[saltmine]

No sand in my gearbox. Do you have correct part numbers for the sand?

I've been using mine for about a year-and-a-half, after wrestling it into the trunk of my car at Horror Fright. Had to beat the dings out of the belt cover, twice. Once when I got it home, and again when I grabbed the saw, without the locking pin installed, and went ass-over-teakettle across the back yard with it. Once the saw assembly starts moving, its best to let go of it.
I've worn out two blades, and it still cuts steel nicely (way better than a hacksaw or a sawzall). The biggest problem I had with it was the guy who partially assembled it, at the store. He bent up the motor mount plate something awful, and completely ruined the belt tensioner. I made a new tensioner and plate, so everything works fine, now.

[dfw5914]

At $80 the only deal killer would be the drive gears.
Mine came with the flaming motor option, and no sand or oil in the gear box. With a new motor and proper lube in the gear box (plus a fair amount of tinkering) it's a handy little saw.

[ahidley]

Mine doesnt have a square hanging off of it, nor does it have a vairable voltage rat killer mounted to the back LOL

The unit also comes with a sheetmetal table that replaces the little tin cover. This is used when the saw is mounted vertically. Make sure that comes with it.

[Evan]

On lubrication of the worm gears: Do not use regular differential lube. Extreme pressure lubricants contain chemicals that will corrode yellow metals such as brass and bronze. You need to buy plain differential lube without the extreme pressure additives. If you can't buy it at the auto parts store it will be available anywhere that sells lube for farm equipment.

[plunger]

Not much you cant fix on these saws .Mine came with the sand in the gearbox option plus i chose to take the turbo flaming motor option with the electric shock as you touch the frame as an acsessory. However in hindsight I shouldnt have gone for it as it burnt out on the first day and all my fun was over in half an hour. Never leave these machines to run without supervision. My worm and wheel wore out and the new ones cost more to have made than the whole bandsaw cost. So out of necessity I had to make one. After getting banned from the OTHER site for asking dumb questions on chineese machines I asked the question here and I didnt just get an answer I got a cad drawing as well From sir john.Now I am ashamed to say that I still dont understand the maths involved but I managed to make a cutter as well as a wheel and worm. It only took me four days but I was back in business Here I am pre gashing the wheel with the same acme threading tool I ground to turn the cutter and worm. I say you should go for it.You can buy a worm and wheel for it on e bay. sorry I havent learnt how to put the picture where I want it

[macona]

Mine is still kicking too. No sand, but someone did toast my motor, they left it unattended when I told them specifically not to. Now I have a GE motor on it. Little big, think it is 3/4hp.

[sasquatch]

Got mine in a trade for a pair of cast iron legs from an old lathe. It had been sitting for quite a few years it appears to be one of the early ones from Taiwan, at least the Po had had it for years.
No sand either but did the oil change and washed out the gearbox, had to completely adjust everything as it was way out of wack and replace the top wheel bushing.
With a new blade it,s the handiest piece of equipment, i put an american made 1/3hp motor on it, rewired it, it,s very reliable,, these saws are a great deal for the money.

[Ohio Mike]

Since someone brought up lubrication. Jets recommendation for their 5x6 saw is MOBIL SHC 634 which is a fully synthetic SAE 140 gear lube. Its pricey at $20 a quart, but the saw only uses 1/2 pint. An alternate would be Mobilgear® 600 XP 460.

[torchroadster]

Check to be sure it cuts square in the vertical plane. That's one thing that is very tough to fix. When I bought my used 4x6 (after returning two to Harbor Freight) I took a small block of Aluminum and my square. Took a test cut and inspected the result.

FWIW I paid $90 for a used Sears Craftsman version and am very satisfied.