Thinking of buying one, would be greatful of anyones opinion. The price seems right but dont want a piece of crap either. I know they offer a $200 one but thats too lightweight.
Thanks again.

Link so that we can see what you are talking about?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34272http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=34272

As a rule of thumb, harbour freight products are crap! I don't have any experience with that band saw, but we had the ~$200 one and it was alright for about a year. Now it won't even cut straight vertically and the motor actually burst into flames the other day. I'm done wasting money...

You can get the Jet version for just a little more and its waaay better.

Here's a Jet on sale. Looks decent.

http://vansantent.com/saws.htm

tell me the difference between the jet and the harbour frieght?

I looked at three different "brand" of bandsaws that were all different colors but idintical castings etc. They were all identical. One was our Princess Auto brand...pretty much the same sorta place as harbour freight, one was House of Tools brand, and the other I think was a JET at an industrial store . I could not tell the difference. I bought a bright red one at house of tools for $899.00 canadian so about $699.00 I have been using it for 2 years now for my business cutting all sorts of stuff, even beams bigger than its rated for. No problems yet. Just do yourself a favour and make reference marks for common angles so you can adjust it quick and get it back square after. Best thing I did was toss the stock blade in the garbage and bought LENOX blades.I have used 3 blades in 2 years, and one was garbaged after a bundle of tubing (8 pieces 1" tube) broke the tack welds holding them from spinning, actually now that I think about both the blades that got changed were due to material moving and breaking teeth off... third blade is still going strong.

Its the craps as a vertical band saw though.....

My brother has the J&L version. As Pook says, they're all bassically the same; same castings, different motors maybe, and different paint...

I LOVE it. It cuts plenty straight enough for an 4x4 sort of work, it has built in coolant supply, hydraulic auto-feed, and auto-shutoff. It's a good reasonably heavy casting, the clamp works nicely, it's heavy enough that it sits still just fine while you load it. It may be typical China crap, I dunno, but you honestly can't beat it for the price. If you're used to a chop saw, it will absolutely blow you away.

I wouldn't hesitate for a second to buy one if I had room in my shop.

Upright mode isn't really anything to write home about... I end up straddling and sitting on the base when in upright mode.

When I first started my business over 3 years ago I wanted an inexpensive bandsaw to get me by. Looked at HF, Jet, store brands and ended up with this one from Northern Tool.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=6970&productId=35155&R=35155

First thing I did was build a new base for it that stood higher and was better built of course. Yanked off the coolant pump and lines to put on my drill press and install a real blade on it. It's worked great over the years, still cuts straight, use the vertical saw with a custom made quick attach bed quite a bit.

Here's a Jet on sale. Looks decent.

http://vansantent.com/saws.htm


There's a Jet and Dake for similar $$$. I thought all the Dake stuff was big $$$ - guess not...

There's a Jet and Dake for similar $$$. I thought all the Dake stuff was big $$$ - guess not...

I think all the big $ companies have started putting their name and stickers on ok import stuff to try and fill a market they were losing sales in. This goes goes pretty much for any industry these days...

As a rule of thumb, harbour freight products are crap! I don't have any experience with that band saw, but we had the ~$200 one and it was alright for about a year. Now it won't even cut straight vertically and the motor actually burst into flames the other day. I'm done wasting money...

yes I had that one to. I messed around with that POS for three months. Finally my motor also caught fire. I took it back and got my money. The funny thing is they asked me if I wanted a new one. I would rather use my grinder and cutoff wheels, then that POS.:mad3:

On the other hand that bigger one does look pretty sweet. Way better quality then the smaller one.

Get the Jet and you won't be sorry

hey pakman you close to lodi california:D if so i have some tubing to test out that bandsaw:D

I don't know if it's the same casting and design or not but Iv'e got as buddy with the grizzly 7x12 bandsaw in his shop. Ever since we swaped out the factory blade for a better one (don't remember the brand) it's worked fine for us. If it's the same one it's a good saw...I love to get one but I just don't have the space.

I don't know if it's the same casting and design or not but Iv'e got as buddy with the grizzly 7x12 bandsaw in his shop. Ever since we swaped out the factory blade for a better one (don't remember the brand) it's worked fine for us. If it's the same one it's a good saw...I love to get one but I just don't have the space.