Thread: New Hafco BP 16A Bandsaw

I have decided to start a new thread instead of following on My New Shed

I purchased a new Hafco BP 16A at the Melbourne WWW show.
2 HP Motor, 16 inch wheels, Cast Iron Table

When i got it home Saturday evening and tried it out on a 200 x 50 mm peice of redgum over the 200mm it drifted at least 25 mm.

I spent the next 2 hours checking and re setting everything, (I even read the instruction book) I adjusted the table for the drift which placed it on an acute angle to the frame.

Then tried to cut pen blanks from a 200mm 1/2 blackwood block about 400 long.

I found when i was cutting over 100mm thick the drift was still more than i adjusted for and when i was cutting the 20mm slabs into blanks the drift was a lot less. I think the blanks will be firewood/kindling - freeehand for a first time user is not pretty.

Frustrated I sent a PM to Djstimber and rang his supplier on Tuesday at 8.15am

C & S Saw Service
17 Stewart St
Mt Waverley VIC 3149
ph: (03) 9802 1040
They recommended the following blades.

(I dont know these people at all they are a commercial supplier that gave me great service)

Came home for lunch on Wednesday and the parcel is delivered in Ballarat containing 3 new blades -
1 inch x 1.1TPI
1/2 inch x 4TPI
3/8 Inch x 6 TPI

After tea i fitted the new 1x 1.1TPI, reset the table to straight, Set the blade in the middle of the wheels, adjusted the guides to just clearing on the sides and the rollers on the back almost touching.

Grabbed a 6" log of Apple tree and cut 2 peices one 300 long and the other 130 long.
Halfed them and cut them into pen blanks using the fence.

There was no drift and the performance was terrific.

The moral is the blade supplied would make you think the saw is a peice of Shyte but a new quality blade and i would recomend this saw to anyone.

The catalogue price is $829 and show price was $769.

Can anyone recommend a better 16" saw under $1000.

This little black duck is very happy.