Power metal saws

I guess its "to each his own" I think everyone has a no can do list, one of my biggies is I absoulty do
not get along with 2 cyc anythings weed wackers chain saws including any kind of band saws, they
just dont like me. Yes I have had them in the past blades seem to croke in the middle of a job, then
to hunt down an expensive blade. So I vote for power hack saw they cut straight shut them selfs off
cheap blades. I find blades last way longer than band saws. The good ones are the old USA early
iron over built ones. Mine has the hydraulic lift and oil coolant. Of course its a 50% machine by
cutting only on the back stroke, who cares I can be doing something else. For example a 4x4" will be
about a half an hour and the blade is still good. Many times I will leave hardware store run, come back
part is cut machine is off. No babysitting no blade tracking .
 
All the power hacksaws I have seen have been antiques. If you like refurb projects, keep an eye out for one. They are pretty cool.
Personally, I have been looking for 8 or 10 years and have laid eyes on two only. One if probably available but the owner is never home.

I'll +1 on the Asian 4x6. I have owned a HF version and now a Jet. The Jet is twice the price new, but I think it may be worth it. The stand is SO much better you don't have to build anything. I think the Enco is also a superior version.
 
Brought home my new HF 4x6 bandsaw. After coupon and sale price it came to $216.00 including the egregious California sales tax of $16.00.

I set it on my workbench gave it a mineral spirits rubdown, clamped in a piece of 2" mild steel bar and let her rip. Quiet and smooth as silk and this with the ChiCom blade. The finish was not much worse than what I'm able to do facing on my lathe. I didn't time it but it was less than 10 minutes on low speed. I'm impressed and that machine has found a home.

I'm not even going to mess with the stand, it's going in the scrap box. I'll make one.
 
Matt,
There is a thread on the 4X6 Yahoo site that shows a 2 drawer file cabinet made into a rolling stand with coolant pump and resevoir in top drawer and spare blades and tools in bottom. They put a fairly cheap set of rubber tread wheels under it and a big ole brick in the bottom drawer for counter ballance it it does great. If you have any difficulty finding the thread holler and I will ask if I can copy it from their site for you and the other members who may be interested. I just happened to have a spare 2 drawwer that needed a job, so it's on the project list for mine as soon as I can get out in the shop and do some work. Lately I am so worn out from the walk I sit down, catch my breath and go back in the house. Sucks being sick...
Bob
 
$1000 buys a pretty nice horizontal bandsaw brand new. Look at the current Enco hot deals.
$500 buys a good used US-made horizontal in the 7x12 range

But the 4x6 will cut 95% of the stock I need to cut.
 
I used to make lots of steel spinning chucks with only a 4x6 saw available. With a good blade,I've made plenty of reasonably accurate 6" diameter cutoffs by rotating the stock. Even did an 8" one I believe.

We once bought a 10' bar of 5" bronze that weighed a LOT. To cut this into manageable lengths,we took the legs off of the 4x6 and set it down on the floor. Then,me and my assistant only had to lift the bar a few inches to get it under the blade with pry bars and blocks of wood.

At the time,we did have a Roll In bandsaw,but preferred to not have to lift the very heavy bar over 3' to get it onto the table,AND to have to catch the heavy cutoffs over 2' long!
 
I obtained a Keller HD5 power hacksaw for a song, and it is a wonderful saw, especially when cutting thick bars. Just set it and let it go, it shuts off when the cut is complete. Blades seem to last forever! It does not work so well for small stock, as it seems that a smaller saw would be a bit more efficient. Being large and heavy, it stays out in the garage and gets used more for cutting stock for welding projects, but I am considering building a small benchtop sized power hacksaw that uses regular hacksaw blades. A small saw like that would work nicely in my basement shop.

As for cutting speed, yes, bandsaws are faster, but waiting for the saw to complete a cut is the perfect time to stop and enjoy some coffee, especially while watching the hacksaw do its thing. It action is rather theraputic! Oh, and of course everyone that stops by and sees it work thinks it's just cool.
 
terrywerm said:
I obtained a Keller HD5 power hacksaw for a song, and it is a wonderful saw, especially when cutting thick bars. Just set it and let it go, it shuts off when the cut is complete. Blades seem to last forever! It does not work so well for small stock, as it seems that a smaller saw would be a bit more efficient. Being large and heavy, it stays out in the garage and gets used more for cutting stock for welding projects, but I am considering building a small benchtop sized power hacksaw that uses regular hacksaw blades. A small saw like that would work nicely in my basement shop.

As for cutting speed, yes, bandsaws are faster, but waiting for the saw to complete a cut is the perfect time to stop and enjoy some coffee, especially while watching the hacksaw do its thing. It action is rather theraputic! Oh, and of course everyone that stops by and sees it work thinks it's just cool.
Click to expand...

I agree, reciprocal machinery of all types, from horizontal pumps, to power hacksaws, to shapers are usually found fascinating and hypnotic by both men and women.........and probably for a fairly obvious Freudian reason. ;)


M
 
I also have a Keller power hacksaw...truely amazing how hypnotising it is. They come here in NY quite a bit on Craigslist, pretty cheap 100-250.
 
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