Thread: Hare and Forbes BP-14A

i have the 16a and am verry happy wiht it. all you need to cut steel is a steel cutting blade i belive.

you hsould be verry happy with any of teh h&f stuff

Hi again. Thank you for the replies.

I've been searching back through threads on this site, and looking for online reviews. I'm probably getting more confused rather than finding a path.

The BP14A is $419 fro H&F with a 550w motor and 4 speeds. About 1/2 hour drive.

The equivalent jet (JWBS 14 OS) can be had for $550 from Gary Pye, and I assume similar money from Gregory Machinery, who are just up the road from me. The Jet website says 1.5 hp motor but no mention of different speeds.

carbatec have the sw1401, although their site isn't loading right for me right now as I recall it's $550 or something and I assume the same as the H&F machine. They are across town.

Timbecon have the MJ3435W for $499 with 550 w motor but says ball bearing guides ? 4000 kms away so shipping on top of that price.

So what do I buy ? I want to rip 100 mm thick hardwood, doesn't matter if it's slow or wanders and I'm going to buy good blades and make my own fence system. I also would like to be able to cut steel and aluminium, say 1/4 plate. Again doesn't have to be fast or accurate. I don't want to spend $1500, I don't want a huge machine taking up space. I can get a 2 hp motor off ebay for about $100 delivered. I'll ring gregories and see about the JET, but if it doens't have 4 speeds that's a deal killer because the metal cutting potential of the machine is a factor.

I'd probably be happy with a bench machine if it had the potential to do the above. This is a bit frustrating. The only bandsaws I've used have been proper industrial ones and it's hard to judge what I'm sacrificing with these hobby machines. Sigh.

I'd probably be happy with a bench machine if it had the potential to do the above. This is a bit frustrating. The only bandsaws I've used have been proper industrial ones and it's hard to judge what I'm sacrificing with these hobby machines. Sigh.

I'm not sure what you mean by "steel", what thickness? and do you need curves? A $40 angle grinder will be a lot simpler solution for bars and small plate sections.
As far as wood and ally go the 14 should do what you want but if you wanted to be sure you could go to the 16 which does not have a much bigger footprint.

When I bought a BS recently I didn't look at the smaller Band Saws, but the $ difference on the same basic 19" BS I purchased recently, between H&F and Carbatec (after taking Carbatec loyalty $ into account) $was 150.

The actual differences between the two were
- heavier stronger wheels.
- a fence that looked like it didn't come out of a cereal packet
- slightly bigger table with a standard size mitre slot (Thanks to BigShed for pointing this out)
- 5 year Warranty as compared to 2.

If you intend making your own fence then these differences are not significant. But the main reason I didn't buy from H&F was extremely poor service I received at their WA WW store.

In terms of fitting a bigger motor, I would wonder if a smaller lighter weight BS frame is physically built to handle it or could you end up with some sort of a bent mess?

Others have put bigger motors on the carbatec equivalent which uses the same frame as far as I know. The miter slot is a good point. I'll check that.

Your quite correct about the difference in service, but the price difference is enormous so there needs to be more.

I phoned gregory machinery. The jet is 1 speed so no good. I emailed timbecon which was a waste of time. They told me to go through the whole ordering proceedure to get a shipping quote and that they don't comment on comparisons to others machines. So it's carbatec or H&F.

Carbatec's price is $559 as opposed to H&F at $419, and I cannot for the life of me see a difference.

Sigh.

FWIW

I have had the same BS for a while. Comments as follows:

Solid but rough construction, but bought with eyes open, as budget a major factor.
Quite a bit of fettling done in setup. Cleaned up rough edges, replaced tensioning screw with one reaching above top wheel, to save knuckles. Threw out blade and replaced with Henry Bros 3/8" 3 skip . Vast improvement.

Hassles? Motor front bearing packed up after minimal use. H&F repaired, same day, no question or invoice asked for. Has been perfect since.

Ongoing blade/ topwheel/ frame occillation when running. Thought it was blade, but not. checked top wheel, and was ecccentric. Stripped tyre, and wheel close to true. New tire, $22 fitted, vast improvement. Could have come from blade left in tension, so will also do bottom tire soon.

Have had some problems with slipping belts under load, particularly using higher speeds. Reluctant to tension too tight after motor bearing problem, so tend to stick to lowest speed for torque, and doesn't hinder the way I normally work.

Unit is a bit under grunt for heavy work, but have used to resaw up to 130mm cedar, rosewood, bluegum, and with careful handling it copes well enough for my needs.

Given above, would do same again.

regards

So if you were ripping hardwood thourgh it, say ironbark or spotted or blue gum, and you are patient and use the right blade, would 100 mm go through ok or would it stall and smoke get out ? I am factoring in getting some good blades.

Again thanks for the replies.

Can't give a full answer to that.

Have sawm bluegum turning rounds at that thickness, and resawn BG as well, but not a lot, so cannot comment on continued use. Coped OK, with careful handling. No smoking, but certainly felt if forced, and as said in previous, belt slips if pushed.

Cannot comment on SG or IW

regards

That's good enough for me Thank you very much.

I am looking at the same saws, Both have +'s and -'s-, but i reckon the H&F machine wins. Its 4 speed, and has about another 120W.
Trade tools- 3 speed, 370W, single roller bearing, with sacrificial blade guides. Looks pretty rough in construction, the fence is very average (its in imperial too)
H&F- 4 speed, 550W, not sure about blade guide, but hoping to check it out in person tomorrow. Will keep you posted.

I'm going this afternoon. TTD is around the corner as you would know. I'll try and do both. The guy at H&F mentioned a 1/2 hp motor in the spares list. he thought it might be a superceded part. The H&F machine uses rubbing blocks not bearing guides, carbatec have them for $85. I am not worried about imperial (I'm old and can't muitiply by 10) and will be making my own incra based fence so...

Really what I want is a stiff frame, wheels that can be made to run true and not vibrate, decent table. At the H&F price you could buy the bearing guides and almost get a 2hp motor onto it for the price of the carbatec. The TTD machine is $448 on the site, $30 more for a smaller motor ? Their site is hopeless isn't it ?