Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: hammerstone on November 17, 2023, 11:25:35 am
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Anyone tried or using the Central Machinery 14" bandsaw from Harbor freight?
My old craftsman was worn out and finding parts got next to impossible.
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Don’t know but Grizzly makes a good one. You will have some assembly required on all of them. You can get used ones also pretty reasonable if you have a little time.
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I bought an old delta 14” bandsaw from a high school years ago for 300$. I just upgraded to the roller bearing blade guides as it came with bearing blocks which were not great. It transformed my saw! I also got a magnetic fence too. I have no experience with the harbour freight one though.
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I’ve tried a number of band saws and nothing has compared to a 1990 Delta 14” I got second hand. It needed new tires, new blade, new blocks and some rust removal. I believe it’s the best-selling bandsaw in history so they’re easy to find, and parts are plentiful and cheap. Total investment was around $250. It outperforms the $1700 Rikon 14” it replaced in every way. Sold the Rikon almost immediately. My experience with bandsaws leads me to believe you shouldn’t touch the harbor freight one with an 10 foot pole.
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I’ve tried a number of band saws and nothing has compared to a 1990 Delta 14” I got second hand. It needed new tires, new blade, new blocks and some rust removal. I believe it’s the best-selling bandsaw in history so they’re easy to find, and parts are plentiful and cheap. Total investment was around $250. It outperforms the $1700 Rikon 14” it replaced in every way. Sold the Rikon almost immediately. My experience with bandsaws leads me to believe you shouldn’t touch the harbor freight one with an 10 foot pole.
Sounds like you and I have the same bandsaw! 😁
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I have a Porter Cable that I paid way to much for at lowes. It sucks. take the advise above.
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I’m a fan of the grizzly I’ve got. Equally importantly though is getting the right blade and taking the time to tune it properly.
As far as Harbor Freight goes, I wouldn’t recommend anything that is more than a very occasional use item. I’ve had less than solid luck with their products and the joke is that they sell pre-broken tools.
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Can't afford Jet, Delta or grizz. Only need it to cut out front profile close to the lines and possibly hog off some belly wood on occasion.
For the price I thought the one from Harbor freight might be good enough
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Watch craigslist for a Delta, or other American-made saw that is at least 20 years old. They seldom need parts and they can be found on eBay and through a classified ad on the Old Woodworking Machines forum. (Worth joining just for the fun, let alone the help.) https://owwm.org/index.php (https://owwm.org/index.php)
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I just looked up the Central Machinery 14” from Harbor Freight and they’re $479.
You could get a pristine used Delta for less than that.
Buy once, cry once with a bandsaw. You’ve got a half dozen experienced people telling you it’s a bad idea, but do what you want.
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I find the most bandsaws for sale on the Facebook Marketplace, I just checked, there were 3 local 12" craftsman saws listed in the $100 range and one Porter Cable 14" for $275 plus dozens of other higher priced saws.
Craig's list had one local craftsman 12" that looked like new for $275.
I used a Craftsman 12" for 20 years, with a 3TPI blade it did just fine for bow making, I did add roller blade guides to it. I stepped up to a big Griz when I built my shop.
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Not sure about the Harbor band saws but I bought a meat saw and it was junk, I have a 12 in craftsman that I have had for years and done many bows on it, only use it for light work now, I have a 14 inch Craftsman, and older one when they still made them out of steel and it works great, I would look for an older used saw if it were me and I think it would be cheaper and am convinced they were better. :) JMO.
Pappy
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Pappy , can you still find parts for your Craftsman? I took have an old steel craftsman that I got back in the 80s. Every time I look up parts they saw no longer available
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I am pretty sure all the parts except the motor are standard parts, wheel bearings, tires, drive belt and the like and can be found in aftermarket offerings. I am pretty sure I put new tires on mine and got them from a place that specialized in bandsaw tires from OEM to high dollar silicone ones. Google what you need and it is probably out there from an after-market dealer.
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Yes, most parts of 12" Craftsman band saws of the all metal era are available from after-market sources. Most all blade suppliers offer 80" blades, which fit these saws. All bowyers and woodworkers should check out and join the Old Woodworking Machines forums. A wealth of knowledge and resources available there.
https://owwm.org/index.php?sid=8ea9c1e2a0e0e3e795697925838ec209 (https://owwm.org/index.php?sid=8ea9c1e2a0e0e3e795697925838ec209)
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I agree with trying to find a used Delta, but the Craftsman 12" is quite useful and a lot less money. I used mine until the motor burned up (probably my fault for trying to resaw with it...). My old 14" Delta is much nicer though - after stalking Craigslist for a long time, I finally found a good one with lots of bells and whistles added by the original owner (bigger motor, riser block). Harbor Freight is OK for tools with no moving parts that you won't use often (dead blow mallets, for example) or trailer hitches. I haven't used their bandsaw but imagine it might not stay in adjustment well.
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My personal experience with a Harbor Freight 9" band saw.
I bought one back in 2013 for something like $120, (20% coupon....lol) when I first got into making lam bows and it still works today. Yes it's underpowered and sometimes gets stuck but I go slow with it. I've used it to cut bow forms, bow profiles, risers, laminations, including IPE wood which is hard as a rock. The most important thing that I found was that you need to buy a really good blade. I've used a half inch 3 teeth per inch Timberwolf (costs about $60) but it cuts real good. Attaching some pics with things I cut.