Thread: Hafco BP-16A Upper guide twist

Sounds like its time to ring Hafco/H&F and bend their ear about a dud bandsaw. It certainly should NOT go all over the place. 'Suggest' that they should be sending you a new unit at their expense, they can pick up the old one at the same time, or maybe send out a mechanic with sufficient parts to fix the fault.

I'm guessing that the rod that holds the bearings has a keyway cut in one side - sounds like the machinist has had a few at the pub before doing the one in you machine & its been cut off parrallel. That should be a straight out swap over.

If the keyway is parrallel, then the problem is that the other bloke at the factory has bored the hole that guides the above rod out of square, and that is a real PITA to fix, if it can be fixed at all - basically requires a new top frame casting or a major amount of re-boring & sleeving.

Of course, if you are just going to use your old saw as a boat mooring, you may be able to swap parts over to get the new one running correctly, but that is realy not your job.

I should not suggest that some smart-a** has shipped you a reject machine because you live too far from them to cause any trouble, because of course, I wasn't there to see it being done

Joining the club - just got my new BP-16A home on the weekend.

I was a bit miffed. I rang to ask how the saw was crated (upright, or lying down, in cardboard or a wooden crate), and was told (after the guy checked:confused: and rang me back) that it ships:
1) Upright - can't be laid down, and
2) In a wooden crate.

So, I arrange to borrow a ute with a low trailer, priced tie-down straps, got to the warehouse, and the guy drives out with the saw laying down across the forks, and in a cardboard box:eek:

He sits there, eyebrows raised, wondering what the heck these guys are fiddling with the trailer ramp for...

I felt like a right doofus:mad:

Anyway, after an *interesting* time getting the saw off the ute all by my lonesome, I have it upright, and so far have resisted firing it up.

I will be checking for twist in the guides tonight, though!!

Cheers,
Andrew
(new BP-16A club member)

Well mine was delivered on its side, not in wood crates and it was slid off the back of the truck.

I'd look at mine if I understood what you were saying (New to this bandsaw gig.)

Maybe we should keep each other updated with initial setup and running. I was supposed to pick up mine last saturday but didn't have the car. I will be picking mine up on friday with no or little time on the weekend to check it out.

If you guys find anything else that needs checking it would be greatly appreciated.

Squirrel...

Contacted H&F today - very helpful and very friendly. After trying all of their suggestions I've come to the conclusion that the height adjust shaft is twisted - hard to see with the eye but the measurements prove it. See photos.
1.-maximum height.
2.-mid height.
3.-minimum height.
4.-mark points show a 4mm twist.
5.-mark points at each height.

BTW mine was also delivered lying down.

Possibly my error in my earlier post - Is the HF 16A an all welded machine or bolt together castings? If it is welded from formings, then all sorts of things can go wrong, both in manufacture as well as shipping.

If the frame has bent or twisted slightly you may be able to correct it with a hydraulic panel beaters jack aka 'Porta-power' - but it can be very dangerous if you don't know what you are doing with it.

I did note that the mounting plates for feet/castors underneath the base weren't painted - just raw steel. I'm going to make sure something protective gets put there before the saw gets placed somewhere permanent.

Of course, if your garage doesn't flood, this is probably less of a concern

The top door rattles - I'll have to look into stopping that.

The sliding extension on the bright red guard has a little bent-over tongue that's supposed to catch on the inside of the frame as the guard is lowered. On my saw, this is really marginal. The extension has dropped with the guard a couple of times, just as I was practising winding the guard up-n-down. Probably an easy fix, but a bit annoying.

And the "instructions":eek:
"Use foot bolt to forbid the machine leaning to the ground":confused:

Cheers,
Andrew

Ive had mine for about 4 months.
I have not checked it to the degree you have, but I know the upper guide is skewif because the rear guide wheel has to be adjusted every time you raise and lower the cutting height.

I just haven't got around to it yet, but I'm pretty sure the mounting points of the guide just need to be shimmed with washers or something thinner to get it to run straight....of course you should not have to do it, but what can you expect from something that has been built by workers getting paid AU$1.50 a day? I find all chiwanese machinery needs initial tweaking and modification at the beginning.

I just had a look at mine

When I dropped the guard from top to bottom it sometimes varied up to 4mm.

Sometimes it didnt change but tightening it sometimes did make it go out 4mm.

Generally it stayed pretty much the same.

I love it when its consistent.

After some tweaking it now cuts pretty straight, the only thing I need to get better is the cut on the vertical plane. over a 45mm piece of wood the bottom is about 1mm wider.

I'm sure its the bottom guides but will get back to yall.

When its not on, should the guides be rubbing or just off the blade ? I have them set about .5mm off.

Originally Posted by meerkat

When its not on, should the guides be rubbing or just off the blade ? I have them set about .5mm off.

Most will tell you to set them at a papers thickness but the manual says 0.5mm - I find anywhere in between is fine. Stick with 0.5mm when you're cutting green timber to avoid the resin binding.

I've got the old BP-16A with the extruded aluminium slide - flimsy useless setup but at least it moved parallel and in line I suppose. I've had the same guide arrangement you guys are using on order from H&F for over 3 months now - doesn't sound like it is going to be worth the wait!!!:eek:

All sorted. H&F sent a new shaft - great service. Very happy .

Yah the red slide guard is a bit dodgy but works OK.

Now all I need to do is install a brush on the bottom wheel and away we go.

Originally Posted by Designsync

H&F sent a new shaft - great service.

Thanks DS - once I saw your post I realised they must now have the upgrade kit in stock that I ordered over 3 months ago or they've given it to you! :eek: Gave them a call and my kit is on it's way at long last (they blamed the new computer system of course!!! :mad: )

Originally Posted by TTIT

Thanks DS - once I saw your post I realised they must now have the upgrade kit in stock that I ordered over 3 months ago or they've given it to you! :eek: Gave them a call and my kit is on it's way at long last (they blamed the new computer system of course!!! :mad: )

TTIT, please let me know how it goes. As you know, I also ordered one, but the local dealer dropped my order on the floor (no margin in it for them) so I don't have it, but still interested. My workshop has been torn to pieces by plumbers and electricians for a while, but I should get it back soon...

woodbe.

Upgrade kits:confused: .....tell me more. Is that just upgrading to the Euro Style guides? Apparently the shaft I recieved came off their floor display.