Thoughts on this horizontal bandsaw

[mpats]

Hi Folks,

Was in our local everything emporium today and in the tools department they had something which caught my eye.

Now to be quite honest I would never have considered it at that price, especially as there's not really any space for it at the moment.
However....

Being down to that price, with a fixed clamp and movable bow, does make it considerably more appealing.
Has anyone had any experience with a draper bandsaw, is it worth it at that price? Doesn't have a gas strut on it, but that wouldn't be to hard to retrofit.
Should mention, it's one of those tools I've been thinking it would be nice to have once the garage is done.

 

[dobbslc]

I've got a very old one made in the early 70's I think that's been very abused but I've got it running quite well now. It's got heavy castings made of cast iron, not sure if they've downgraded the spec now but I'd say that's not a bad price..
I paid £17.50 for mine......

 

[mpats]

I've got a very old one made in the early 70's I think that's been very abused but I've got it running quite well now. It's got heavy castings made of cast iron, not sure if they've downgraded the spec now but I'd say that's not a bad price..
I paid £17.50 for mine......

If it was 17.50 It would be taking up space that doesn't exist in the garage right now!
The casting for the saw did look pretty good, but I wondered if it had just had a decent coat of paint? Might go back tomorrow and see if i can pull it out from under the shelf where it is to have a good look round it.
Good to hear that you've not had issues with yours, hopefully it'll do the sort of stuff I'll need it for. Not much in the way of big stuff, but accurate cuts would be nice.

 

[daleyd]

I think they are the same as pretty much all the other 6x4 saws - the only difference seems to be the badge.

 

[mpats]

I think they are the same as pretty much all the other 6x4 saws - the only difference seems to be the badge.

That's what I was thinking, so at a good price it's probably worth a go and rework any bits as required.

 

[daleyd]

That's what I was thinking, so at a good price it's probably worth a go and rework any bits as required.

They'll all have the same little niggles, whether Clarke/draper/sealed so if the price is right, come on down!!!

 

[BarrieJ]

Looks pretty similar to this Sealey one currently on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-sw...466997?hash=item489e005435:g:8TMAAOSwfRdZM89X . 3 days 15 hrs to go and two bids at £53. Seller based in Aylesbury, Bucks. Casting looks identical to the usual 6" x 4" jobbies but the stand looks a bit more substantial than the usual Chinese bean can versions on wheels

 

[mpats]

Looks pretty similar to this Sealey one currently on eBay: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-sw...466997?hash=item489e005435:g:8TMAAOSwfRdZM89X . 3 days 15 hrs to go and two bids at £53. Seller based in Aylesbury, Bucks. Casting looks identical to the usual 6" x 4" jobbies but the stand looks a bit more substantial than the usual Chinese bean can versions on wheels

View attachment 110948

Yup, looks very similar. It has a similar looking base, the saw looks like it is separate from the base but I would need to have a closer look. At this point I'm pretty much talked into going back in for it tomorrow!

 

[BarrieJ]

This is a Clarke 6" x 4" that was sold on eBay on the 4th June for £85.

 

[daleyd]

I've seen some second hand ones go for over £100 on eBay so £165 seems reasonable for a new one to me?

 

[mpats]

I've seen some second hand ones go for over £100 on eBay so £165 seems reasonable for a new one to me?

That's kind of what I was thinking, hasn't has someone else abusing it yet.

 

[BarrieJ]

Yup, looks very similar. It has a similar looking base, the saw looks like it is separate from the base but I would need to have a closer look. At this point I'm pretty much talked into going back in for it tomorrow!

They're not a bad saw and with a bit of fettling can be made to work pretty well, lots of advice on model engineering forums how to improve them, I've had two of the Clarke/Warco (as above) versions and wasn't disappointed. Obviously the wheels make them easier to manoeuvre around a small workshop but the wider base of the fixed stand probably makes for a better saw

 

[hareng]

Its exactly the same as any other Asian made, only difference is colour and name on it.

Same as my red Sealey from 1997 with quick release vice. Payed £310 for mine when the ones with built in flimsy stand were £170 and selling at that 20 yrs on worn out.
Heads are the same across two other cheaper models.
Downside bar size is limited to the vice, needs to be moved forward but cant as it swings round for clearance. Have cut many 4 1/2" diameter round 6082, takes about 25 mins. 5 1/4" round takes over 40 mins. The other cheaper models have the front jaw closer to the motor.
May need coolant as well for larger stuff, take it easy let its weight do the job. Once confident bimetal vari pitch blades work well and last about 8-10 times the carbon.

When it chews the blades up, 6 new bearings about £4 for 10. Mine was out of action for 13 years after 12 months use.

 

[mpats]

As per the today I acquired thread, went and picked it up this morning. Looking forwards to getting it set up and seeing how it goes.

 

[Screwdriver]

Can't go wrong at that price. Even though you might want to mod it quite extensively, much nicer to be working on a clean new machine...

 

[mpats]

Spent a reasonable few hours sorting this a bit.

Couple of sets of 20quid Aldi workshop shelves and we had some free space

And there she sits. It had all been put together in the shop, I assume for display purposes, the stand doesn't seem right, and needs a bit of fettling anyway which I will get round to. The saw set at 90 cuts pretty much at 90 to the clamp, but vertically it cut at a very slight angle, away from the vice as it came down, but that could be to do with the blade, speed or feed rate.

 

[Richard.]

Do away with the stand. They are floppy flimsy stands. Get a nice solid one made up. First thing I did to mine was give it a set of decent legs to sit on.

 

[Bill Edwards]

A decent buy I would say, given that you know it has zero wear and hasn't been bodged by previous owners.

As to the accuracy, I doubt if Draper will give you brilliant blades but do expect to have to make some adjustments to get the vertical part right, both mine needed tweaking. When I say tweaking, there wasn't actually room to swivel the blade guides so I filed the slots to allow some alteration. It's not hard and it doesn't take much time.

 

[mpats]

Do away with the stand. They are floppy flimsy stands. Get a nice solid one made up. First thing I did to mine was give it a set of decent legs to sit on.

Yeh, even after tightening there's still a wee bit of movement in it, I've got a few bits of steel kicking around that would make reasonable legs and plenty of 25mm box so I probably will have to make up something better. Was looking at putting a top on it to help stiffen it but as you say, I'd be as well putting said top on some better legs.

A decent buy I would say, given that you know it has zero wear and hasn't been bodged by previous owners.

As to the accuracy, I doubt if Draper will give you brilliant blades but do expect to have to make some adjustments to get the vertical part right, both mine needed tweaking. When I say tweaking, there wasn't actually room to swivel the blade guides so I filed the slots to allow some alteration. It's not hard and it doesn't take much time.

Thanks for the tip, it doesn't look like there's any adjustment in the blade guides for vertical alignment so I shall probably do the same as you. Going to order a couple of blades tonight for it. I'll see how I get on with the one thats on it for the moment, it went through the first test piece pretty well and quite quickly to be fair.

 

[Paul.]

The vertical bade alignment can be fine tuned by loosening these bolts slightly and twisting the blade guide mounting a bit, also it need to be adjusted to make sure the bearing is supporting the back of the blade,