small SIP bandsaw

[Thrashsmith]

Hi folks, I'm in the market for a small single phase bandsaw for my blacksmithing business & was wondering if anyone has any experience of this SIP machine, or other brands of similar spec? I don't want to buy 2nd hand.

I want a saw that it's got a swivel arm (not swivel vice) that'll cut 100mm with minimal drift & isn't a constant faff with adjusting/maintenance. Needless to say I want something more robust than the cheapy Clarke 6x4 saws.

I mainly work on solid bar up to 20mm diameter which after cutting gets heated up & bashed so in those cases 100% precision isn't critical but I'd still need a reliable machine for the bread and butter gates/rails jobs that require precise fabrication.

Cheers

http://www.parkertools.co.uk/Product/0946850/SIP+07288+Trade+6"+Swivel#

 

[julianthegypsy]

I have the axminster equivalent of the one in your link. They're pretty much all the same at that size. I use mine all the time for chopping up all sorts of bits of steel, from 20mm round to 5x50 flat and all sorts of others. It is quite reliable though I daren't use it to cut 4" pipe for example as I can't make it cut square, and I've not used it for doing mitre cuts, though I've no reason to suppose it won't. All in all, a useful addition to the shop. I bought mine second hand off a member here and its paid for itself many times over. One thing I have done to improve it is to replace the trombone with a longer bit of steel as otherwise it would only go up to about eight inches and I don't often want to cut multiple bits shorter than that!

 

[magnet]

I have the Axminster saw also its a great little machine well worth the money

 

[Thrashsmith]

Cheers. I guessed they'd all be much of a muchness. The small amount of reviews on the Axminster site aren't too encouraging...how bad is the cut drift across 50mm for example? Most of my workshop equipment is made from 40mm box and it'd be nice to know I can cut that without reaching for a grinder every 5 seconds.

 

[darren.a.roberts]

I have a Draper version of the generic Clarke one.....good little tool but I did make a custom stand for mine out of 3mm x 25mm x 25mm box as the sheet steel standard one was useless. I put swivel castors on one to make it easy to move around the workshop.....

 

[julianthegypsy]

Cheers. I guessed they'd all be much of a muchness. The small amount of reviews on the Axminster site aren't too encouraging...how bad is the cut drift across 50mm for example? Most of my workshop equipment is made from 40mm box and it'd be nice to know I can cut that without reaching for a grinder every 5 seconds.

Mines not very good, but I haven't spent any time fettling it. I'm sure there are ways of improving it, doubtless someone will be along to point us at a thread which shows how shortly

 

[Thrashsmith]

Hmm. I know that all types of saws have their pros and cons but £400 is £400 whichever way you look at it...and for that sort of money I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a saw to cut straight without spending an age rebuilding the tool & maybe ruining the warranty.

 

[julianthegypsy]

Hmm. I know that all types of saws have their pros and cons but £400 is £400 whichever way you look at it...and for that sort of money I don't think it's unreasonable to expect a saw to cut straight without spending an age rebuilding the tool & maybe ruining the warranty.

True, but you can pick up a good second hand one for about £120. And yes, a new one probably ought to cut true, but it probably won't!

 

[Paul G]

A blunt blade will veer off, and that applies to any band saw.
Bi-metal blades are better than carbon steel, again on any band saw.

The bearings that twist the blade to square are the most common "out of adjustment."
They should almost nip the blade tight.

I did have a Sealey version of the generic 1/2" blade type but they are slow and have no hydraulic feed.

I have since moved on to a larger saw with hydraulics and coolant that takes a 90" x 3/4" blade.

Both were adjusted to cut square.

Paul G