Thread: Woodfast MBS400 bandsaw

I have the larger Woodfast BS500, two speed bandsaw, I'm very satisfied with it however mine was supplied with the "euro style" guides. Plenty of power. Still sorting out some cutting issues though.

The specs vary depending upon who the importer is so be wary. A few niggles but nothing dramatic.

Original band/blade sucks, but a range from Henry Bros fixed that.

The "euro style" side guides actually have a bearing and do rotate but it is a flawed concept as the blade speed is a linear speed which the sort of rotating "euro style" guides cannot match across the contact face. The adjustment etc is good. I would not recommend the "euro style" guides, so get one spec'd with the "roller guides" it is normally advertised/spec'd with.

Getting wider blade widths i.e. 3/4" & above into the slot between the main support & blade cover on the LHS is a bit of a trial as the cover door hinge supports project into that slot line.

Mine has a shorter band length of 3607 mm rather that the normal 3635 mm due to the inclusion of the de-tensioning device or different wheel/tire specs? 3635 mm bands cannot be tensioned on my machine - not a hope.

Mine has the round bar fence support with a great locking mechanism and is identical to the setup on my Woodfast TS250 table saw so interchangeable parts. As pictured on the MBS400 on Woodfast Aust's website.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/qu...-buy-a-bandsaw

http://www.woodfast.com.au/index.php?p=1_4

Originally Posted by Danger Mouse

Guys, woodfast bandsaws don't seem to get a lot of attention here but in my search for a bandsaw with around 300mm cut height a min 2hp motor the MBS 400 seems to tick a lot of boxes. I was wondering if anyone had used one a could offer an opinion please? Or at this kind of money have you just gone to a Laguna?

I looked pretty closely at these BS when I went to purchase a few years ago and was almost going to buy, but then CT came out with a special on their 19" and I went with that saw.
From what I remember the Woodfast was a solid clean unit with a bigger cast iron table than the CT BS but the single rear 4"dust extraction port seemed a bit limited, but then again dust extraction on every bandsaw I have ever seen is well below requirements.
The CT BS also came standard with key locked switch and a mushroom emergency switch which had to be added for a price to the Woodfast saw.
We have 2 old school Woodfast bandsaws at the mens shed and these are great saw.

Thank you very much for taking the time to post some valuable thoughts guys, I really appreciate it!