Review - Harbor Freight Horizontal/Vertical Bandsaw

After three years of use, we pause to properly review the 4x6 horizontal/vertical bandsaw from Harbor Freight. I have used this saw on a weekly basis since its purchase, and it has been kept outside, tarped when it rains, since new. When running in horizontal mode, I only use coolant when dealing with large solid stock, such as 4" diameter aluminum bar. It makes a noticeable difference in speed and blade longevity. Similarly, when cutting 1/2" aluminum or 1/4" steel in the vertical format, I also use coolant/lubicant, and that really speeds things up.

Too Many Parts aims to provide viewers with brief reviews and how to demos presenting tools and machines of interest to the home machinist, mechanic and hobbyist. The demonstrations and opinions are based on equipment and machinery we bought and use in our home garage workshop to restore cars, build electric vehicles (EVs) and do general machining of metals (steel, aluminum and brass) and plastics (including urethane). We try to show you the good and bad features and present the pros and cons so that you can make an informed decision about what brand or model to buy and where to get it, hopefully at the best price.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 93762
• band
• saw
• bandsaw
• horizontal
• vertical
• horizontle
• verticle
• aluminum
• best
• buy
• buying
• cast
• cheap
• cheapest
• Chinese
• choice
• choose
• choosing
• cost
• demo
• demonstrate
• discount
• diy
• equipment
• freight
• garage
• get
• harbor
• hf
• home
• how
• how-to
• howto
• import
• inexpensive
• machine
• machinery
• machining
• machinist
• make
• metal
• model
• models
• pick
• picking
• purchase
• review
• reviews
• screw
• screws
• see
• shop
• show
• small
• stainless
• steel
• test
• thread
• threading
• threads
• to
• tool
• tooling
• tools
• use
• using
• want
• what
• where
• which
• workshop

[jsrnf]

Set it and forget it is not a great idea, I've seen blades jam and motors burn up.

[jfbrink]

@jsrnf - Sure, but I'm never so far away that I can't hear the sound of a jam. It's happened a couple times, and I got over to the saw before any damage occurred.

[huckleberryhillfarm]

What were you cutting 2x2 1/8"? Seemed a little slow, is that a new blade?

[jfbrink]

@huckleberryhillfarm - The blade is not so new in this video, although I am still using it happily 3 months later. This is at maximum speed and maximum feed. These saws are not fast, but the argument is that their set-it-and-forget-it quality makes up for that a little. I definitely set up my workflow so I have something to do on the side as it cuts.

[fall22123]

I was surprised to hear you keep it outside. Whatever works, I guess.

[jfbrink]

@fall22123 - Yeah, it was never intentional, but I just don't have anywhere to keep it inside. I live in Southern California, though, so it's not too harsh an environment. I throw a tarp on it when the rains start.