Harbor Freight 17" Bandsaw

[jessrice]

Just saw this folliwing up on the post of the 8" jointer for 399.00

Is this a steel city/grizzly clone? It is 799.00 but with a 20% off could be only 640.00

heres a linky

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...do?itemid=3179

anyone see one in person anywhere?

Jesse

[eddy merckx]

I think the thing that keeps most of us from buying big ticket HF machines is the lack of customer support. For instance, if you want to call the technical line to ask about how to adjust the guides, there isn't one. Also, parts can take a very long time to arrive, if at all. I personally waited almost a year to get a riser block for my HF band saw.

If you could verify that it is the same saw sold by someone else, at least you'd know where to turn for parts. Problem is that you can't look at one at a showroom.

Not saying the HF isn't a good saw. I haven't seen it and it is probably fine. Just kind of a gamble whereas you could get something like a Grizz for a few bucks more but you get plenty of support.

My 2 cents

Eddy

[Uncle Cracker]

Ditto what Eddy says. I recently got a Rikon saw (and love it), and have had a couple small issues to deal with, and their Customer Service was quick and more than fair. I would have been sunk if it had been an HF.

[messmaker]

I think this is "internet only". That will not allow you to use most of the coupons that i see since they can only be used at a retail store. You might check a retail store and see if they will order it for you. That would at least save you on shipping. I know very little about this saw.

[drumpriest]

I think the thing that bugs me most is that they don't tell you much about the saw. No idea what kind of guides it has, for instance. And for the price, you can get a griz for 850$, and the Rikon is on sale for 1000$ at the moment.

[JR]

I think the thing that bugs me most is that they don't tell you much about the saw. No idea what kind of guides it has, for instance.

The user's manual can be found here: http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/3000-3999/3179.pdf

Having found it, I'm still not sure what kind of guides it has!

[gwyneth]

Until the end of the year, the Grizzly 17" heavy duty model (G0513) is on sale for $750, kind of strange because that's less than the $825 sale price for the 14" Industrial Resaw (G0457). Even if they were the same price, I can't imagine who'd choose the latter over the former, which has twice as much hp, and 12" cutting capacity instead of 10".

At that price, it might be hard to choose between the Grizzly 17" and the Rikon that Uncle Cracker got.

But IMO, either would be well worth spending the extra $110 over the HF sale price.

[Pappy]

FWIW, the fence and rails look like the same ones on my Grizzly G0555.

[drumpriest]

There appears to be a lower thrust bearing from the photos....but then it has a photo of euro guides as well with a face thrust bearing.....hmm....

Gwyneth, were do you see that sale? It's listed at 850$ on the site.

[gwyneth]

There appears to be a lower thrust bearing from the photos....but then it has a photo of euro guides as well with a face thrust bearing.....hmm....

Gwyneth, were do you see that sale? It's listed at 850$ on the site.

Ad, inside front cover, December Popular Woodworking (media code POP0712).

The Rikon Uncle Cracker got is the super-duper 14", normal price $750, unbelievable resaw (?11 or 12"?) right out of box.

[drumpriest]

I think that Rikon is actually 13" resaw, yeah, that's right, I've shopped lately. ;-)

[gwyneth]

The Rikon Uncle Cracker got is the super-duper 14", normal price $750, unbelievable resaw (?11 or 12"?) right out of box.

I think that Rikon is actually 13" resaw, yeah, that's right, I've shopped lately. ;-)

I actually typed 13" first, but it seemed...unbelievable.

Casual readers should be aware that Rikon makes two 14" bandsaws, and while I can never remember whether the name of this one is the Plus, the Super, the Megadestroyer, or whatever, I do remember a) it's much better than the other; and b) it's got a lamp.

[drumpriest]

So, do you all think that 13" resaw is realistic given a 1.5 hp motor? I would think it'd be ok for some woods and certainly not some others. Every really resaw purpleheart? Stuff is tough to resaw.

[John Williams]

17" bandsaw

For the money you can get a name brand bandsaw. I have a Harborfreight 14" bandsaw and think it is worth the money. I paid 239.00n on sale.

John