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Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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Posted by iamjim (My Page) on Sun, Jul 23, 06 at 20:42
| Hello! I came across a used 14" 1HP for $40 and I can't find reviews on it. I heard that CM and HF were the same brand and chinese knock-offs that are unreliable with parts that are hard to find. I am looking for a band saw for working with hardwood for furniture making. Veneers and resawing would be involved. I don't think it would be a good purchase but I am looking for someone who might be more familiar with the quality of the product.
Thanks!
Jim |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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I have one. Junk.
Not the same exact brand name. but the same saw none the less.
Excessive vibration is the biggest problem. Then again, maybe it is just the saw I got.
It has been in storage now for quite some time.
I'm gonna get it out and see if I can do anything with it.
I do remember I hated the thing.
Maybe I was just spoiled after using the PowerMatic saw at work.
I got it cause it was all I could afford at the time. Pooh Bear |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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| A friend of mine bought one new. For rough sawing of small pieces it can be made to work, but for furniture, veneers, resawing, etc.... no frickity-frackin' way. |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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| There were about 200 of those saws sold to members of WoodNet.net. They have all changed the blades and probably the tires and maybe made some other minor modifications---like installing a riser block---I believe a Rigid riser works with a tiny bit of modification. There are several varieties of resaw fences folks use to get good results iwhen resawing. These were new saws---sold about 3 years ago when the saws went on sale new for $119. The major problems have been a couple of burnt out motors. If you would like more information about the saws than you really want, go to www.WoodNet.net, join(free) and post a question in the Powertools forum. Make the post title something like this----HF BS questions, (Mac sent me) Then ask the questions you did here. The (Mac sent me) should get real answers and just a few jokers---I am Mac and am a Moderator over there. |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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Yep, I had to replace the motor in mine once.
The original motor just quit altogether. I have a jointer made by the same company and I love it.
Only problem I have had out of it was the on/off switch went bad.
That was a simple matter to change out and no problems since. Pooh Bear |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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I'm going to give this saw another try.
I found out that HF has roller guides for it.
Called them today to see if they had them in the local store.
Said they had been marked down to $7 so I am getting a set.
Also I found my new bandsaw tire and installed it.
And I'm getting a 4tpi 1/2inch skip tooth blade for it. I'm missing two of the set screws that hold the guides in place.
Wonder where I can get these. Are they metric or standard. I'll know soon if I wasted my money in fixing up this machine.
I'm hoping the roller guides really help. Oh, and the brand name on mine is Continental Industries. Pooh Bear |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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Well, I set it all up.
I actually found the new bandsaw tire I had bought for it.
I started sawing a 3 inch circle out of a piece of 2x4.
It sawed wonderfully, until the other tire came off.
Now I gotta order another bandsaw tire. Ouch. I would recommend those roller guides I linked to above.
They worked wonders for the short time I was sawing. Pooh Bear |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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| I inherited a CM/HF MODEL725 PIECE OF CR--. MY TIRES ARE ROTTEN, MY GUIDES ARE ROTTEN , BUT WORST OF ALL I CAN NOT FIND A SOURCE FOR THE DRIVE BAND. BUYER BEWARE! THERE IS NO HELP FROM CM OR HF.THANKS TO THE BROTHERHOOD OF WOODWORKERS.ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHERE I CAN FIND DRIVE BANDS PLEASE CONTACT ME AT robertm@themcdougalgroup.com |
RE: Band Saw Review - Harbor Freight/Central Machinery
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| "CAN NOT FIND A SOURCE FOR THE DRIVE BAND" What is a "drive band"? A v-belt? All you need to know is the size & type and just about anything is available of you look. |
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