Thread: Experience with the Jet 18VS Bandsaw?

What are the flaws with the EB?

If you need to cut metal with a bandsaw then a dedicated horizontal metal cutting bandsaw is usually much more useful than a vertical cutting BS. These days such a small machine can be had for as little as $350. I picked up a second hand one for $100 and I now wish I had bought one much sooner.

I use the bandsaw to cut curves in metal and plastic at times. So a horizontal bandsaw doesn't really fit that bill.

I would love to use the saw for cutting knife blanks - but haven't really played with it at that end of the scale. I only realised relatively recently that it could do steel as everyone told me that it was incredibly unlikely that I would have a bandsaw that could cut steel and wood - but I do. )

So, onto the flaws...

The table is aluminium and bends
The trunion is cast aluminium - although seems pretty solid.
The wheels are certainly not heavy (like a lot that are advertised these days).
The guides are very close to the bottom of the table (a good thing) but so close that you can't adjust them easily (a bad thing).
The guides use blocks rather than bearings - which makes the difficulty of bottom adjustment even worse.
When doing resawing I have stalled the motor quite often - this may be user error though? Also possibly a weak motor?
It doesn't have a tension gauge (and I am GUESSING that the tension is about right).
I was away for a few years and the saw was probably a bit neglected while I was away and screams a little now. Probably just a bearing issue though.
The guide post is not as solid as I would like.
The dust collection is not great - bottom port only.

Other than those things it is an awesome saw...

Seriously, though, it has served me really well, but I am sick of taking forever to adjust the bottom guides (which involves taking off the table).

If I were to look at a refit I would probably need to:

1. Give the motor a decent overhaul
2. Recheck and possibly replace a number of bearings
3. Look at fitting some kind of stablisation of the table - maybe even fitting a completely new table made from MDF or something? This may need a welded frame under it?
4. Look at ways to make the bottom bearings more easily accessible. Possibly done by raising the table slightly.
5. Tap a new hole or two to lock down the top guide more accurately.
6. Install some kind of DC near the bottom guide.
7. Consider adding some weight to the top wheel to act as a flywheel - maybe an MDF wheel?
8. Make a tension gauge rig up.

Cheers

Cam

Most small metal cutting bandsaws can be stood upright so they can be used like a conventional bandsaw. Admittedly only a small table can be used but it would be more than enough to cut out knife blanks.

Regarding a tension meter - I heard about someone using a smartphone app to measure the frequency of a fixed length of blade under tension. I need to explore this a bit more.

Thanks again Bob,

When I look at it, the price difference ($1000 or so) justifies the purchase of an independent tool such as this: B003 | BS-5S Swivel Head Metal Cutting Band Saw | machineryhouse.com.au

However, can you run a thin blade on these machines for cutting around corners?

I know nothing about these metal bandsaws unfortunately.

The other thing is that I may well use it for a fair bit of plastic work too...

Cheers

Cam
(Still dreaming)

How about this little machine?


https://www.woodworkforums.com/f253/l...andsaw-148039/

Looks like a nice saw... But also probably a bit out of my league in terms of tidying it up and getting it operational.

Also, I don't have three phase...

Cheers

Cam

Originally Posted by CameronPotter

Thanks again Bob,

When I look at it, the price difference ($1000 or so) justifies the purchase of an independent tool such as this: B003 | BS-5S Swivel Head Metal Cutting Band Saw | machineryhouse.com.au

The only difference between that and the one above is that it swivels the head for angled cutting. Provided one has the room, for $200 less one can just as easily reposition the base of the saw on the floor of the shed. I always move mine to the shed doorway as the metal stock I buy is usually 6 or 7.5 m long and the only way I can accommodate these lengths is by having most of the stock outside.

However, can you run a thin blade on these machines for cutting around corners?

I cannot see why not but I have not seen any available narrower than 12.5 mm.

The other thing is that I may well use it for a fair bit of plastic work too...

A conventional WW BS will cut most plastic - whenever I have the need to cut plastic I never use the slower speed metal BS - I just do it on the WW BS.

The plastic that I am thinking of is kind of like fibreglass - only uses fabric instead of glass. It is VERY hard. But it might be ok.

This also then raises the question of which wood bandsaw would be best.

The Jet 16x is about $2000 I have seen the Jet in person and the build quality is very impressive.

The Carbatec 19" saw is about the same price and has a number of additional features, but I have not seen one in person and other (generic) saws that I have looked at wouldn't really fix my issues with the rigidity of the saw.

Anyone who has compared these two saws directly and have some input would be most appreciated. I think that they are both newish models so the old reviews probably don't help much...

Cheers

Cam

HI CAM,
We have a jet 18 inch bandsaw at the community shed in deloraine had it for about 6 years never had a spot bother, it has done a lot of work in that time we use 25mm +12+6+3mm blades .
john.

Thanks John,

That says a lot for the durability of a JET. I don't suppose that you know the model number?

Is it this one? Gregoy Machinery - Bandsaws - Jet JWBS14CE

That one is another $300 again and so we are creeping up in price again.

Cheers

Cam

I looked hard at the Jet 18'' single speed saw and was very impressed with the rigidity of the triangular frame member, the guide system, smooth racking system for height adjustment and the de- tensioning mechanism. The clones didn't have the quality, but that's reflected in the price.
The competion, and my ultimate puchase was the Hammer, but that partly related to the co-purchase of a Felder combination machine, but I liked the general feel of the Hammer, and its power.
I don't think you will regret the Jet, if that's your choice, it is really a good machine and will do the job well for years, and you will enjoy using it - isn't that what it's all about?

Originally Posted by CameronPotter

Anyone who has compared these two saws directly and have some input would be most appreciated. I think that they are both newish models so the old reviews probably don't help much...

I looked at a number of BS including the Jet models when I bought the 19" CT and found I could not justify the price differences for comparable size models. The Jet is better finished but I don't thinks that justifies the price difference. Other than the finish I don't think there is much else in it - they all still have plastic handles and crappy DC collection like on most basic BS.

I work my 19" CT pretty hard ripping hardwood boards and while it would be nice to have a bit more HP and variable speed, my plan to solve these is to upgrade to a 3HP/3PH and stick a VSD on it.

HI CAM
No i don't no the model ,no it dosn't have the quick tenison realese so it must be an older verison but works just fine to cut my larger bandsaw boxes
john.