HARBOR FREIGHT HORIZONTAL BAND SAW

[SSage]

I picked up an older mint green, maybe light blueish colored version at a Pawn Shop for a steal. It came with a coolant system and a custom stand, finnally started using it wet and the blade life increased by triple or more when cutting mild steel. Has a Baldor motor on it too. Gave up on cheap blades, the name brand ones work better for me. Haven't broken a blade in a long time, sure beats using a porta band as my main steel cutter.

 

[RIMSPOKE]

What mods were you thinking about doing?

FIRST JOB WITH THE SAW IS TO BUILD SOME SMALL TRAILER HITCHES .
THE CROSS BRACES GET CUT AS A 45° ANGLE .

I FOUND THAT THE SOLID VISE JAW WOULD MOVE A BIT EACH TIME I CLAMPED IT DOWN
AND MY ANGLE WAS WALKING . I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS WITH THE KIPP HANDLE , BUT HERE WE ARE .

THE EASY FIX WAS TO DRILL A HOLE AND PUT A 1/4" AIRCRAFT PIN THROUGH THE VISE & FRAME .
I DRILLED A SECOND HOLE FOR QUICK 90° ALIGNMENT WHILE I WAS AT IT .

I USED A GAUGE TO SET THE ALIGNMENT . LIKE TO SEE IT WALK OFF NOW !

 

[RIMSPOKE]

I WENT BACK TO HARBOR FREIGHT FOR THE NEXT UPGRADE .
I BOUGHT SOME OF THEIR 4" URETHANE WHEELS . 2 SOLIDS & TWO SWIVELS WITH BRAKES .

THE COST WAS UNDER $20 WITH A DISCOUNT COUPON . I HAD THE REST OF THE MATERIALS ON HAND .
I MADE A FRAME OF 1/8" THICK ANGLE IRON , CUT ON THE SAW OF COURSE .

THE WHEELS WERE WELDED TO THE CROSS PIECES AND THE FRAME WELDED TO THE EXISTING BOLT HEADS .
THIS DID WONDERS TO STIFFEN UP THE FLIMSY STAND THAT PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT .

NEXT I CUT SOME ALUMINUM SHEET TO MAKE A FULL SHELF AT THE BOTTOM FOR TOOLS & BLADES .

THE SAW NOW ROLLS AROUND EASILY AND CAN BE LOCKED IN PLACE .
SPACE IS SO TIGHT IN THE SHOP THAT I HAVE TO MOVE THE SAW OUTSIDE TO CUT ANYTHING LONG .
THIS IS SO MUCH EASIER & SAFER WITH 4 WHEELS AND A STIFFER STAND HOLDING IT UP .

THIS UPGRADE WASN'T EXPENSIVE OR INVOLVED BUT IT WORKS SO WELL THAT I WILL THANK MYSELF
FOR DOING IT EVERY TIME I HAVE TO MOVE THE SAW .

 

[gman10259]

Nice mods to your HF Saw. I just picked one up yesterday with their 25% off coupon. I saved a couple hundred bucks when compared to the same saw sold by grizzly plus shipping.
Now I have to put it together

 

[RIMSPOKE]

HARBOR FREIGHT SAYS THESE SAWS CAN CUT 4 1/2" ROUND STOCK
BUT HERE IS MINE CUTTING THROUGH A 5" HUNK OF ALUMINUM .

OK , THE SAW DOES NOT HAVE THE DEPTH TO FINISH THE CUT
YOU CAN SEE IN THE 2nd PICTURE WHERE IT BOTTOMS OUT .

SO I TURN IT 90° AND FINISH THE CUT . STILL WORKS .

 

[ddickey]

How ling did that take?

 

[RIMSPOKE]

How ling did that take?

ABOUT AN HOUR BUT I HAD IT RUNNING ON THE SLOWEST SPEED .
I WAS DOING ANOTHER PROJECT ON THE LATHE WHILE IT WAS RUNNING .
I CUT OFF TWO PIECES THIS WAY .

 

[RIMSPOKE]

MY NEXT EASE OF USE ITEM FOR THE SAW IS A PAIR OF LATCHES THAT SECURE THE BLADE COVER .

THE STOCK COVER IS SECURED BY A SINGLE CENTRAL SCREW .
IT IS DIFFICULT TO SQUEEZE THE COVER TIGHT WITH ONE HAND WHILE YOU GET
THE SCREW IN PLACE AND STARTED WITH THE OTHER

THE SPRING LATCHES MAKE THIS PROCEDURE MUCH EASIER & IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT TOOLS .

THESE LATCHES WERE MADE FROM OLD VW AIR CLEANER PARTS AND FABBED BASES & HOOKS .
I JUST PUT A NEW BI-METAL BLADE ON THE SAW NOW SO I PROBABLY WON'T BE USING THESE FOR AWHILE .

 

[D1005]

Mine is a General brand from Home Depot (let's not get into how Horror Fraught changed dates on coupons and ripped me off, local check out staff balk at taking any coupons, etc., therefore I don't shop there anymore) for very little more than the Horror Fraught version. Too bad too, as they just recently opened a store within a reasonable driving distance from me.

I really like some of these mods, though some require tools beyond what I have. Might be able to make do though, as some of these modifications are definitely desired, it not outright required.

I also like the one with the closed in cabinet underneath. That will definitely be part of the added base I have planned to get that sucker up so I can use it. In the stock form, it's so low I can't make the bend down to reach it, not to mention my roller stands to hold longer stock won't go that low. Currently it's spaced up on 2x4's, yeah, that works, sorta.

The best part is, it cuts dead straight, imagine that!

 

[TheGreyGoose]

What mods were you thinking about doing?

HERE IS ANOTHER . I HATE THE WIMPY LITTLE CRANK THEY GIVE YOU TO CLOSE THE VISE .
YEARS OF RUNNING A BIG KALAMAZOO SAW SPOILED ME . IT HAD A HAND WHEEL .

SO HERE IS MY HAND WHEEL . IT STARTED OUT ON AN ENCO ARBOR PRESS .
I UPGRADED THE PRESS WITH A MUCH LARGER WHEEL & THIS LITTLE ONE WAS LEFT OVER .
SIMPLE LATE JOB TO MAKE UP AN ADAPTER FOR THE SAW .

IT GIVES ME MORE TORQUE AND IS ALWAYS IN THE RIGHT POSITION .
BEST OF ALL , THE ROTATING MASS MAKES IT EASY TO "SPIN" THE VISE OPEN OR CLOSED .
IT ALSO ADDS SOME NEEDED WEIGHT TO THE LIGHT END OF THE SAW .
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Rimspoke, Can you please tell me the diameter of the wheel you used (8" ??) and the Kipp handle to look for. I see that you got an M10 but did it include the bolt? Im trying to determine what bolt length is needed as most handles come pre-equipped with the bolt. Thank you.