Femi 782XL - should I buy one?

[Ubique]

I'm thinking of getting one of these in preference to one of the Chinese clones, I was looking at a Warco 4-1/2" universal as it has a higher capacity, can be left to work on it's own and has a cast rather than pressed base (yes, I know it's one of the generic Chinese bandsaws) Both have the ability to be used as a vertical bandsaw - not sure how much i'd 'need' that capability, but it's there, albeit with a cost penalty with the Femi.
I'm unlikely to need portability but I don't have a lot of free space (planned workshop will be ~3 x 4m but the Mrs wants a wood turning lathe....) a chop saw is an option, not entirely sold on the carbide blade idea and cutting discs don't really like Alu - which will be my main material.
So, thoughts?

 

[KimB]

Yes, yes you should. Nothing more to say. I have the 120 and it's brilliant.

 

[Ubique]

Thanks - what is the cutting accuracy like? - and how do the Femi blades last?

 

[KimB]

Thanks - what is the cutting accuracy like? - and how do the Femi blades last?

Very good. I was cutting 1mm slithers off with mine when setting it up.
The standard one lasted ages. Then I have struggled to find one as good but they still last just as long.

 

[Ubique]

The 120 looks good - little bit pricey but I'm liking the cast base, although the lack of vertical cutting might be an issue - as I said, not sure what I'd use it for, but having the ability is good, right?

 

[Moose McAlpine]

Yes, yes you should.

What Kim said.

 

[KimB]

The 120 looks good - little bit pricey but I'm liking the cast base, although the lack of vertical cutting might be an issue - as I said, not sure what I'd use it for, but having the ability is good, right?

Defo is. I wanted a bigger capacity and I am finding sometimes the 120 isn't big enough for some of the things I've been up to lately but it's mostly okay. Angle cuts are what you want to make sure are big enough.

 

[Mark 2]

Angle cuts are what you want to make sure are big enough.

This

 

[Ubique]

Being realistic, I'm constrained by a few things, space, power supply (single phase - not for the saw but for the welder, 200A will only weld so much....) and money! As things stand, I can't really see me needing anything over 75mm² at any angle. If i do, then I'll be buying in the material pre-cut until the frequency is such that going to a larger saw makes sense. I'm currently cutting stuff with an air saw, which isn't ideal or accurate enough, the 120ABS has caught my eye, probably due to memories of an 'automatic hacksaw' in the engineering classroom at school, at the time, it was always a wonder as to how it knew when to switch itself off....

 

[KimB]

Being realistic, I'm constrained by a few things, space, power supply (single phase - not for the saw but for the welder, 200A will only weld so much....) and money! As things stand, I can't really see me needing anything over 75mm² at any angle. If i do, then I'll be buying in the material pre-cut until the frequency is such that going to a larger saw makes sense. I'm currently cutting stuff with an air saw, which isn't ideal or accurate enough, the 120ABS has caught my eye, probably due to memories of an 'automatic hacksaw' in the engineering classroom at school, at the time, it was always a wonder as to how it knew when to switch itself off....

I was going to buy the ABS model. I was advised against it unless I am cutting billets for machining. The owner (i'm sure) of stakesys was the one that advised against it for that reason.

 

[Ubique]

Other than the cost, any idea why?

 

[Mick Annick]

I’ve got the got the Femi 120ABS - the auto shut off is nice but not essential - I only ended up with one because the supplier sent the wrong one qne and didn’t want it back.

For the size stock you quote it will be fine, but keep an eye on the stops as it will easily go out of square, and the markings on the angle cutting are precise.

 

[Ubique]

Found the 120ABS for £651 at lineonline, only a couple of quid more than the XL version from Stakesys, who want £799 for the ABS version. I'm torn between the convenience of auto shutoff and the ability of the 782XL to convert to a vertical bandsaw, albeit with a pressed steel base.... so many choices! I don't really need either option, which would be the better 'nice to have' though?
Cast base with auto shutoff = better accuracy & convenience
Pressed base with vertical option = more flexibility & lower cost
I need one or the other, I've convinced myself that the Warco & other Chinese clones would be just a stop-gap at best and a waste of money at worst... going to have to sleep on it I think - thanks for the input so far, very helpful!

 

[Tangledfeet]

I had the 784XL... unfortunately I dropped it last year and it landed awkwardly, breaking the main pivot bracket and some of the motor speed control electronics and it was never the same again; I got a replacement bracket but bodged a repair on the motor and sadly left it further irreparable - and it eventually let go the magic smoke a few months ago. As a stop-gap I bought an Evolution S355CPS 355mm TCT on eBay at a good price; it is an absolute beast but isn't very subtle and spits shrapnel all over the place! The Femi was better for working on smaller bits too.

Don't forget that the new forum sponsor sells Femi bandsaws; I may well get in touch with them sometime if I'm feeling flush - can't justify the 784XL again but one of the smaller ones would suffice.

 

[Mark 2]

My experience with ABS was that the offcut needed full, horizontal support or you have the potential for the cut to close in on the blade. You return to find a burnt out motor.
It can work if you're not far away, perhaps sorting out the next thing to cut - you get the picture I'm sure.

 

[Mma man]

I use mine a lot. Had it 3 years now very accurate cuts

 

[Feet 'n Inches]

I bought a Femi 782XL several months ago. It's a great piece of kit, cuts well and pretty accurately, and has a good capacity in terms of steel size. I like the fact that the blade cuts well without the need for coolant and it still has a good edge. Admittedly it takes longer to cut through the steel but the end result is a lot cleaner and, as time is not a factor, I'm not bothered by that.

 

[Mma man]

So much better than my raptor tct aswel zero mess and less noise

 

[Ubique]

Thanks for the comments, I've ordered one of the ABS versions, it was the cast base rather than a pressed steel one that swung it - should be here any day now!

 

[Ubique]

Right, got the machine earlier in the week, other than checking it over and powering it up, I've not really used it until today.
Very pleased with the quality of cut, the angles are adjusted well enough and easy to tweak should they drift as things wear.
The machine feels well made, reassuringly heavy but not too awkward to move around, it comes with a Euro plug & adapter, which will be changed for a 'proper' UK plug. There is one thing I don't like - it's only a small thing but it looks tacky and could have been done so much better - the indicator arrow on the protractor is just a stuck-on label, it probably won't stay on for long once there's a bit of oil & muck around.

I think it would have been better to either have a adjustable plate fitted or cast a marker into where the arrow sticker is and make the protractor adjustable.

The only other niggle is the T-bar on the material vice, it's very easy to leave the bar over to the right, the blade carrier will foul on it and the cut will not complete - took me a few moments to work out what had happened and why it was still cutting after a couple of minutes, I just need to build some 'muscle memory' to move it over to the left every time.

As I said, more than happy with the cut quality and true-ness
5mm steel angle, the smallest of burrs can just be seen

31.7mm steel tube, 3mm wall - the cut was cleaner than the one by the steel merchant.

25mm Alu equal angle, 45deg. mitre - as expected, much larger burr, this was on the 'offcut', not the stock side.

All cuts were with the supplied 14tpi blade, I'm thinking of getting a 18tpi for when I'm cutting a lot of Alu, the blade doesn't look too onerous to swap out.

I'm glad I went with this machine (NG120 ABS) rather than the 782XL, it's handy to be able to set up a cut and be marking out the next one or two (or finishing a tea before it gets too cold!) and I think the cast base will help maintain it's true-ness longer than a pressed steel base would, especially if it's moved around a lot. It's portability puts it ahead of the Warco type stuff and in all honesty, I can't see me needing the ability of a vertical bandsaw and the Evolution cut-off saws seem to only occupy the ASBO end of the market!

Thanks for all the comments above, they were really useful in helping my decision-making process.