need advice on a band saw

[whensparksfly]

hi all need advice on a band saw been looking at this one http://www.stakesys.co.uk/product/sta103_swivel_head_metal_cutting_bandsaw/ I need it for work I mainly work on cars will be used every week but not every day. What do you all think of the saw and its design.
thanks for any help

 

[Spark plug]

It looks quite good for the price. Swivel head is Much more use full when cutting angles.

It's not a industrial saw but neither is the price , should be ok for intermittent use.

 

[whensparksfly]

emailed them they don't do them any more.

 

[scott0031]

Take a look at axminster, chester tools, and warco those saws are pretty generic and just sold under different brand names.
I
have a big axminster branch near me and i have to say, Im pretty impressed with the build quality for price point. I don't see how you can go wrong with some of the modern equipment. For me to say its not bad............... Is something!



Kind regards,


Scott

 

[printcom]

I've had one of these for the past 3 years, works great and the price is reasonable. I have got to class it as one of my best buys.

 

[whensparksfly]

thanks everyone for the reply's.

printcom what sizes can it cut when cutting angles it doesn't seam to say on the website please tell as much as you can about the saw thanks

 

[Mick - Ford Focus]

Go To The "Additional Information" Tab On printcom's Link.

M

 

[printcom]

thanks everyone for the reply's.

printcom what sizes can it cut when cutting angles it doesn't seam to say on the website please tell as much as you can about the saw thanks

You can download the manual with all the info you reqiure with this link. Mine gets used almost daily and my only complaint is that I should have brought a bigger saw as I am doing mainly agri repairs - but for the money I cant fault it. And I am pretty sure they now come with a 3 year warranty.
I do suggest you replace the supplied blade which is naff with a decent bi-metal one, the Excalibur ones Axminster sell aren't bad and are reasonably priced.

Sorry, as a footnote the belt adjuster is a PITA to get a spanner into lock it, not enough to put you off buying one but you can see where they saved some money.

 

[Wallace]

That's a bit of an improvement over the generic 6x4 saw it's based on.

 

[hareng]

Its got the same head assembly complete as my over priced £330 Sealey SM5 bought in 97. Link is also same machine as the Axminster £150 cheaper.
Blades 64 1/2"x1/2 available in numerous pitches and bimetal vari pitch.

Bearings will go in no time with above average diy use using cheap off the shelf bearings.
The vertical band saw part is pretty useless with such a small footprint and two csk screws holding the plate to rear guide never tighten up or work loose.
4" round aluminium looking 20 mins to cut through, cant leave it to run steel you can.

If it were me I would opt for the cheapy was £170 and a chop saw.

 

[printcom]

Its got the same head assembly complete as my over priced £330 Sealey SM5 bought in 97. Link is also same machine as the Axminster £150 cheaper.
Blades 64 1/2"x1/2 available in numerous pitches and bimetal vari pitch.

Bearings will go in no time with above average diy use using cheap off the shelf bearings.
The vertical band saw part is pretty useless with such a small footprint and two csk screws holding the plate to rear guide never tighten up or work loose.
4" round aluminium looking 20 mins to cut through, cant leave it to run steel you can.

If it were me I would opt for the cheapy was £170 and a chop saw.

Sorry Hareng I dont follow your post, I paid £293 for mine in June 2011 and over the past 3 years it hasn't missed a beat, its one of those bits of kit that just works. Yes, its not as fast as a £2000 bandsaw but it cuts thru 50mm EN8 in about 3 minutes (not having actually timed it). I leave it to finish the cut on all stock except heavy flats (100 x 15 +) as occasionally the belts slips. As for bearings, I would think my use is a bit more than most DIYers and after three years there still going strong. Put it this way I have worn out 11 blades and non have snapped.
I think some of us are still tainted by the rubbish the Chinese put out 15 years ago, in my experience some of their newer stuff is actually quite good.

 

[hareng]

Glad you have an exceptional one and only a little extra over the basic.
Seen the price hike on these they used to be £170 up to three years ago, bought one £95 new 8 years ago. http://www.chesterhobbystore.com/hv128-bandsaw-4100-p.asp Same head.

Sealey are dearer for exactly the same product, just paying for the brand name choose another dealer ie Warco, Chester, axminster and so on and expect 2/3 the price.

Depends upon the blade that's in bimetal cut quicker, faster and last a lot longer but still prone to breakage like the carbon. Think I am on 20TPI 2" round MS would take around 4 to 5 mins barely getting warm, aluminium 6082 at least 10 mins standing over it ready to pounce for either blade breakage, lock up or coming off the two wheels. Alum swarf is carried with the blade on to the wheels coolant or not!

I buy tooling based on how much use its going to get, nothing lasts for ever.
Some chinese areas have drastically improved but you need top brass standing over them ie like the several VW plants and the like. Currently with one producer I am going through same problems we thought we cured 4 years ago amongst several other quality issues that have kept slipping. Mrs is in a different field has a full time job attempting to rectify the that'll do attitude, not uncommon to scrap several containers work because it s cheaper than returning.
Whats it mean for non precision items, pot luck.

 

[Wallace]

I have two of the Clarke 6x4 bandsaws, one I bought new on a Vat free day and the other is for a conversion to upright. Knowing now what I do about the 6x4 saw merits and failures, if I had to buy a replacement in that price range tomorrow I would be looking for one similar to/or the Axminster one as the swivel head is better to work with in a confined space than a mitre vice. Also, the better feed control and stand would be worth the extra money over a full price 6x4 from another N.E.Other supplier in my book. (Especially the green and yellow ones!)

PS The Stakesy's one is well overpriced at £499 when the Axminster is £150 cheaper.