Bigger kit….
With the timber already mentioned in earlier posts coming in 4″ thick boards, the 3″ depth of cut on the tabletop bandsaw we were using was of little help. An upgrade was the only option but to get a decent depth of cut on one of these machines can be an expensive exercise. Searching the available options in research brought up one example that seemed almost too good to be true and, bearing in mind you normally get what you pay for, we were wary! But to get a comparable depth of cut (6″) would otherwise cost around twice to two and a half times the asking price.
So we took the plunge and ordered the Fox F28-186 bandsaw from Poolwood in Kent. (We like to keep things as local as possible). 24 hours later it was delivered and it was with a little trepidation that it was unpacked and assembled. The pleasant surprises started with the realisation that the table was a cast iron one, as in this price bracket we expected an alloy one. The supplied leg stand was of decent gauge metal rather than the flimsy efforts seen on some kit. The whole thing went together without hassle, with all holes lining up well and a complete compliment of fixings. The next nice surprise was that the blade guides are all ball race type as are the thrust bearings. The final broad grin came when the machine was switched on for the first time to almost complete silence!
The first cut did not remove the grin as the machine sliced through a lump of the aforementioned walnut without too much effort, although a little residue came off the blade. Cutting a shelf from 1/2″ ply a little later proved accurate and easy. (Straight lines freehand on a bandsaw are more difficult than you might think!)
OK, so it is only day one with the machine, but for the price (check the link) I believe that it is an excellent buy. The machine is rigid and vibration free, cuts cleanly and is quiet in operation. The only place I could fault the saw is with the height adjustment of the upper blade guide, which is simple and straight forward in it’s operation but has no means of locking it into position. Time will tell whether this will prove a problem or not. For a bandsaw with a six inch (150mm) depth of cut we are impressed.
[...] to have the right tool at the right price, and having been so pleased with the Fox bandsaw we got off them, the Fox 10″ x 5″ planer/thicknesser was ordered. It arrived Tuesday [...]
I am considering this Fox bandsaw (F28-191) but I have some 100mm thick oak beams to rip up. I know the max cutting height is 150mm so this wouldnt be a problem but having used this model would you think the 370W Induction motor is up to the task? What thicknesses have you cut and have you got any negatives now youve been using it for a few months?
Sorry for all the questions but it will be my first bandsaw and I want to make sure I purchase the right machine
thanks
I regularly cut up to six inches with it, and at that thickness it is definitely under-powered. A very sharp blade is a necessity! However, most of the 6″ that I cut is green wood. On 4″ dry walnut, a regular task, it copes pretty well, especially with the correct blade (1/2 ” 3 or 4 tpi)
The only real fault is that the table tends to tilt when heavy pieces are put on the outside, but I do mean heavy (i.e. wet logs) but I overcome the problem with a brace under the table down to the stand shelf. (Stretchers, but I put a shelf on it)
The blades I use for the thick stuff are these http://tuffsaws.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_4_86_89&products_id=434 , You need to order a custom length and get the 3tpi version.
Hope it helps. Any more questions, just ask.
Incedentally, the (F28-191) has a 750w motor (i.e. 1 hp) and is twice as powerful as the (F28-186) that I have.
I had looked at the F28-191 buts its around £287.28, which is £100 more than the F28-186
Dont know if I need that extra power that much!