Hitachi CB13F bandsaw - comments?

[p8ntblr]

Anyone have or use the Hitachi CB13F Bandsaw?? I got one today a Lowes for $90. It was more of an impulse buy as I was really there for the Uni-fence and Router. Was it a good deal? Positives/Negatives of the saw? I had a chance earlier to get a used Ridgid 14" for $175. Did I make a good choice in going with the Hitachi instead? As always thanx for your input.

[PALefty]

Anyone have or use the Hitachi CB13F Bandsaw?? I got one today a Lowes for $90. It was more of an impulse buy as I was really there for the Uni-fence and Router. Was it a good deal? Positives/Negatives of the saw? I had a chance earlier to get a used Ridgid 14" for $175. Did I make a good choice in going with the Hitachi instead? As always thanx for your input.

I think you got a great deal. A number of people (myself included) got one last year on clearance.. in the $130 range if I recall. The one downside I would say is the needle like guides that it comes with. You can buy some after market 'old style sears' cylinder cool blocks for it, but I would prefer the bigger standard cool blocks or some rollers. I am not willing to buy carter guides though...

Look here for some additional info..

[p8ntblr]

I think you got a great deal. A number of people (myself included) got one last year on clearance.. in the $130 range if I recall. The one downside I would say is the needle like guides that it comes with. You can buy some after market 'old style sears' cylinder cool blocks for it, but I would prefer the bigger standard cool blocks or some rollers. I am not willing to buy carter guides though...

Look here for some additional info..

Thanks PALefty. Looks informative. I've never owned a bandsaw before so sorry if I sound like a total noob here, but which "guides" are you referring to.

[LCHIEN]

if you search the archives here and at woodnet a whole bunch of those went out the door at lowes last year January or so when Lowes closed them out.
Fairly good saw, a riser is available if you read the posts.

[p8ntblr]

Anyone know if this will fit a Herc-U-Lift?

[PALefty]

Thanks PALefty. Looks informative. I've never owned a bandsaw before so sorry if I sound like a total noob here, but which "guides" are you referring to.

I believe these are the ones I bought..

They would replace the smaller tapered ones that go on each side of the blade.

[PALefty]

Anyone know if this will fit a Herc-U-Lift?

I have mine on a herc-u-lift. I cannot recall exacly, but I believe I had to leave one of the bars out, so I could mount it inside the base. I intended to redrill the bar, but never got around to it. It has not been a problem though. I think there are some pages on the link I provided earlier which also describe in detail mounting the h-u-l.

[Stan]

Anyone know if this will fit a Herc-U-Lift?

I put one under mine. As mentioned in another post, one of the horizontal frame members needs to be removed in order to access the raise/lower pedal (as shown below). I added a piece of 1" x 1/4" aluminum bar as a support at the bottom of the legs -- also shown below.

[siliconbauhaus]

that was a good buy mate...I paid more for mine

[jziegler]

I got one in the blowout last year as well. Haven't used it too much, but it seems decent. The stock blade isn't so hot, but works for rough work. I did install a herc-u-lift on mine, I put it inside like PALefty did. To mount it inside, I had to drill extra holes in a couple of the h-u-l tubes, as well as remove the cross member on the base like in the picture that Stan posted.

Have fun with it!

Jim

[Tequila]

Like the others, I got mine last year for around $130. It fit on a herc-u-lift without too much a little fiddling - you definitely need to leave off the front bar to make it work.

I did spend some time replacing the guides with some cool blocks I picked up at woodcraft. That combined with some time tuning seemed to make the cuts a little easier.

It's my first bandsaw, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it's been able to do everything I've wanted so far. My only real complaint is that I really need to crank down on the table bolt to prevent it from tilting when I'm running a big piece over it.

[burrellski]

p8ntblr,

Can you post a copy of your receipt? My local Lowes still has 3 of these saws in the box and refuses to go below $250 each! I have taken in copies of the old receipts in the past. Maybe a more current one will help.

Thanks

[THyman]

I also got one for around $130. It has been a good saw. I am looking at removing the legs and building a mobile cart/storage unit (something similar to what some members have done with their table top drill press) to place it on as this will also allow me to raise it up as I am 6' 3".

[LCHIEN]

p8ntblr,

Can you post a copy of your receipt? My local Lowes still has 3 of these saws in the box and refuses to go below $250 each! I have taken in copies of the old receipts in the past. Maybe a more current one will help.

Thanks

Doubt it, that manager's probably got some buggy whips and hula hoops in stock he's hoping not to have to mark down, too.

[p8ntblr]

Here joo go mang....