FieryFurnace Posted May 26, 2012 Share Posted May 26, 2012 Well I needed SOMETHING to spend my money on! LOL No really I think this is something that will be a great asset to my shop. My current bandsaw is a standard jet with a 4x6 inch cutting capacity. I've fought with it a lot trying to get it to cut square. It is old and has seen service in more than one full time blacksmith shop. I've had the need to cut larger stock several times in the past and either have to cut it from different directions on my saw, or use the torch and grind. I found a deal on craigslist, checked the saw out through the manufacturer, and decided to buy. I went today and picked it up! It's got an 8x14 cutting capacity and runs $3500 new, (according to the manufacturer.) I got it for $850. It was manufactured in the '80s but the guy that bought it only used it to square log ends when building his house. It is still on the factory crate base. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Judson Yaggy Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Dave, you are going to love that saw if you are accustomed to a Jet. Get some Starret or Lennox Diemaster blades and you are off to the races. By the way, did you know that you have a tail light out? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Dean Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Judson, he was probably so excited about the deal on the saw that he has totally missed seeing that the tail light is out! :D That is a great saw and will most likely last you the rest of your working years. Good on ya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knots Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Those are nice saws. I had one my shop for 2-3 years. The only concern that I had with the saw was that it was a lot bigger than I needed on a regular basis and the effort it took to raise the saw for multiple small cuts got to be be a drag. I however solved that problem by fabricating a counter balance fixture that interchanged with the adjustable leg provided for the vertical operating position. This fixture, consisted of a round bar sized to hold a couple of small weights from a weight lifting set. The bar was welded to a piece of stock that fit into the leg socket. I used motor shalt collars as adjustable stops to hold the weights in the sweet spot for whatever size stock I was cutting. It didn't take much weight but made a huge difference in the effort expended using the saw. Before I built that fixture I experimented by hanging stuff off of the leg. Good luck and happy sawing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted May 27, 2012 Author Share Posted May 27, 2012 Tail lights have a tendency to go out after being impacted by a Camaro at 40 MPH. (Ice is SLICK!) We need a new bed, but our truck is hard to find a bed for, and they are REALLY expensive! Good point about the weight. I always band a bunch of rods together when I need to cut a lot of one thing. That allows me to work on other things before having to tend the saw again. Like anything, tweak it to fit you. Good idea though and I'll keep it tucked away in my "useful information file" in case it is needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWHII Posted May 27, 2012 Share Posted May 27, 2012 Looks like a very nice saw Dave! Becareful it won't be long and you will be thinking, ( Now where am I going to put this? :unsure: ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted May 28, 2012 Author Share Posted May 28, 2012 LOL already got a spot figured out for it. It's going where the old saw is now. The old saw will eventually get a new heavy duty stand and some infeed and outfeed roller stands, and then get put up for sale probably. Some good infeed/outfeed rollers for the new saw are in order as well, but that's on down the line. I've got custom jobs to get going and stock to build up for an upcoming show. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted May 29, 2012 Author Share Posted May 29, 2012 talk about missing the forest for the trees! you are a blacksmith now dummy build a new bed for it, nice flat bed would do great I bet You want to try to talk my dad into that....go right ahead.....I couldn't convince him! LOL It's my dad's truck. I don't own a vehicle........uhhhh yes I'm 19 and I've never owned a vehicle. No it's not because I'm a reckless driver and dad doesn't want me to have one. I wouldn't have the shop I have now if I spent my money on a vehicle. I'm saving and working toward getting one next year. I'm in no hurry! Oh and although it was recked on a trip I planned, I was not driving. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KYBOY Posted June 3, 2012 Share Posted June 3, 2012 Nice saw, great score...I know what you mean about the 4x6 saws..Some of them can be a real pain and wont cut straight for love or money..We have been using a dewalt porta band(10amp) and a chop saw to cut everything....Ive cut up to 2 5/16" round on our chopsaw before..You just gotta be real patient :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyGeorge Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 Dave, that saw look just like the one that my steel supplier has in his shop. He's had it for a lot of years and said that he has never had any problems with it. It should last you a LONG time. Good score. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JNewman Posted June 4, 2012 Share Posted June 4, 2012 If you have the room I would keep the 4x6 saw. I had to sell mine because I didn't have the room, but I miss it every now and again. You won't get much for it because they sell so cheap. They can be really handy for cutting smaller stock. Also if you have to cut a forged piece and are concerned about it being hard or your clamping is a little sketchy it is nicer to do in the little saw because if you mess up a blade on the little saw it is $20 the big saw is $40-50. I might be inclined to lock the arm up and set it up with a decent table so you have a vertical saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted June 5, 2012 Author Share Posted June 5, 2012 If you have the room I would keep the 4x6 saw. I had to sell mine because I didn't have the room, but I miss it every now and again. You won't get much for it because they sell so cheap. They can be really handy for cutting smaller stock. Also if you have to cut a forged piece and are concerned about it being hard or your clamping is a little sketchy it is nicer to do in the little saw because if you mess up a blade on the little saw it is $20 the big saw is $40-50. I might be inclined to lock the arm up and set it up with a decent table so you have a vertical saw. Yeah I was kinda thinking the same thing! The stand on the small one is falling apart so I was going to build a new heavy duty one (which would make it worth more,) but I did figure it might be nice to keep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clinton Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 The guy was using it to cut logs? Out here we use whats called a "chainsaw" on logs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Sells Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 good point about the shop investment and borrowing a truck for a while. It will pay for a nice truck at the rate you have been progressing, I also recomend Lennox blades. I agree that was a good deal on the saw too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted June 5, 2012 Share Posted June 5, 2012 That's a nice saw alright Dave, it'll do yeoman work for decades with a little upkeep. Don't get rid of the Jet though, cutting off square is a simple matter to correct. Is the cut curved? If so the blade is dulled a bit on one side. If the cuts are straight but at an angle the guide rollers need adjusting, there are three, two hold the blade straight and vertical, one keeps it from skipping out of the cut. They have a lock nut and an allen screw, make small adjustments and test a cut. There is a chance one of the rollers or eccentric screws is worn out but they're easy to replace and not expensive at all. Is your Jet a horizontal/vertical? I LOVE my horizontal/vertical Jet, I use it all the time. Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MagGeorge Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 It’s a good deal you got! Wise idea to forego of the vehicle and went for the machine instead. Invest also in quality blades like Lennox, Amada and Starret. You might want to check www.sawblades.com for good quality blades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FieryFurnace Posted June 14, 2012 Author Share Posted June 14, 2012 Thanks for the blade suggestions! My jet is a horizontal/vertical too. So Yeah, I'll stick it in the vertical position, build a table for it, and be ready to cut anything that comes my way. The guy said he wanted something to cut the logs off perfectly square. After watching my dad do some chainsaw work, I think I know why the guy didn't try to cut square with a chainsaw! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOblacksmith0530 Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Okay sparky I can see you are a fan of Jet saws. I have a real nice used 7 by 13 jet I will trade you even up for that Carolina......... No? oh well had to ask. Nice saw and the thought about keeping the 6 inch for a vertical only has a lot of merit. That is my next big purchase a vertical so I don't have to keep swaping mine around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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