Hey guys..

I am trying to look for a good band saw for a gift for my father. He is planning on doing gun smithing when he retires.

I would like to stick with grizzly brand as they have proven themselves to be pretty reliable (the Taiwan made ones) and the customer service is excellent as well as parts replacement. And I would like to stick with one with swiveling head..as I plan to build exhaust and manifolds as a H. Side hobby and it would be nicer to build merge collectors etc (I would think)

First I was just going to buy a HF or similar 4x6..but takes some work and mods to get them to be better.. Would need to add down feed cylinder etc. Kinda booted that idea.

Next option was the grizzly G9742

5" x 6" 1/2 HP Metal-Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head at Grizzly.com

https://www.grizzly.com/products/5-x-6-Metal-Cutting-Bandsaw-w-Swivel-Head/G9742

G9742 5" x 6" 1/2 HP Metal Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head

One of the best saws on the market for the small or large shop.

The Grizzly G9742 5" x 6" 1/2 HP Metal Cutting Bandsaw w/ Swivel Head features a 5" round and 5" x 6" rectangular stock capacity.

What really sets this apart from other saws of this size is the head swivel giving a maximum angle of cut of 60°!

Remember how much trouble it is to change a vise backing jaw only to get a 45° cut? Not with this machine.

The easy-to-adjust head has stops in all the right places.

And because the vise backing jaw is rigid on this saw, it is taller, giving it the ability to support the workpiece better.

The G9742 comes with all the features you'd expect from Grizzly like hydraulic down feed control, easy access wheels for quick blade changes, and the right blade speeds to do the job.

Like all Grizzly metal cutting bandsaws, the G9742 comes with a 1-year warranty which covers parts and assures the unit is free from factory defects. (Consumables are not covered by the warranty.)

The G9742 manual was written by our U.S. based Technical Documentation Department and is packed with useful information. The complete and easy-to-read manual provides full instructions on how to assemble and maintain your bandsaw.

The Grizzly Customer Service and Technical Support Teams are U.S. based. Parts and accessories for the metal cutting bandsaw may be available online and shipped from the Grizzly parts warehouse in Springfield, MO.

Made in an ISO 9001 factory

SPECIFICATIONS:

Motor: 1/2 HP, 110V/220V (prewired 110V), single-phase, 8.8A/4.4A
Max. capacity rectangular @ 90°: 5" x 6"
Max. capacity circular @ 90°: 5"
Max. capacity rectangular @ ±45°: 2-15/16" x 3-3/4"
Max. capacity circular @ ±45°: 3-3/4"
Max. capacity rectangular @ +60°: 2-3/16" x 1-3/4"
Max. capacity circular @ +60°: 1-3/4"
Blade speeds: 80, 120, 200 FPM
Blade size: 64-1/2" x 1/2"
Height floor-to-table: 29"
Table size: 12" x 4-1/2"
Overall dimensions: 39" W x 23-3/8" D x 54-3/4" H
Approximate shipping weight: 168 lbs.

FEATURES:

Angular cuts: -45 degrees to +60 degrees
All ball bearing drive wheel and blade guides
Adjustable hydraulic downfeed
Quick release vise for rapid change-out of workpiece
Included blade size: 64-1/2" x 1/2" x 15 TPI

Things I liked
Swivel head.
Variable speed
Can do vertical/horizontal.
Dual voltage option
Light and fairly small
Cheap price for what it does

Things I did not like
Made in China (seems like the Taiwan made units are better all around)
Read that download cylinder is cheapie
No fluid cooling
Small/thin 1/2" wide blade
Just have the feeling it's cheap feel like HF saws

Another option was Grizzly g0613 (which I'm leaning toward the most)

7" x 8-1/4" 1 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw at Grizzly.com

https://www.grizzly.com/products/7-x-8-1-4-Swivel-Metal-Cutting-Bandsaw/G0613

G0613 7" x 8-1/4" 1 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw

This saw is built for accuracy and production!

With the G0613 7" x 8-1/4" 1 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw, easy angle set-ups between 0° and 60° means no wasted time between cuts.

Lever controlled blade guide locks allow adjustments right up to the work piece for optimum support and the blade guides have fully adjustable ball bearings so you know you're going to get straight cuts.

The 82" x 3/4" blade rotates at 314 FPM while the adjustable hydraulic downfeed allows maximizing the blade life. The cutting fluid system gives the saw a wider cutting range than a single speed bandsaw that is not equipped with a cutting fluid system.

The splash tray reduces cutting fluid loss at the end of a workpiece when cutting at 60°.

The quick-release lever and stock length stop allow for a quick transition to get on with the next cut.

The T30372 Mounting Kit is a quick and easy way to mount the T30399 Infeed/Outfeed Roller Set onto your G0613 Metal Bandsaw.

Like all Grizzly bandsaws, the G0613 comes with a 1-year warranty which covers parts and assures the unit is free from factory defects. (Consumables are not covered by the warranty.)

The G0613 manual was written by our U.S. based Technical Documentation Department and is packed with useful information. The complete and easy-to-read manual provides full instructions on how to assemble and maintain your metal-cutting bandsaw.

The Grizzly Customer Service and Technical Support Teams are U.S. based. Parts for the bandsaw may be available online and shipped from the Grizzly parts warehouse in Springfield, MO.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Motor: 1 HP, 110V/220V (prewired for 110V), single-phase, 16.8A/8.15A
Pump motor: 1/8 HP, 0.9A/0.45A
Cutting capacities:
- 90° round: 7"
- 90° rectangular: 7" x 8-1/2"
- +45° round: 4-1/4"
- +45° rectangular: 4" x 4-1/4"
- +60° round: 2"
- +60° rectangular: 2-3/4" x 2"
Blade size: 82" x 3/4"
Blade speed: 314 FPM
Miter cutting capacity: 0°–60°
Floor to table height: 35-5/8"
Overall dimensions: 63" W x 29-3/4" D x 66" H
Approximate shipping weight: 460 lbs.

FEATURES:

Swivel mast with degree scale
Centralized control panel
Heavy-duty all steel, one piece base
Adjustable hydraulic downfeed
Deep throated vise with lever lock
Quick release vise
0° to 60° swivel
Tooth selection chart
Built-in coolant system
Automatic shut-off
Adjustable ball bearing blade guide system
Blade wheels have heavy-duty ball bearings

*This machine is prewired for 110V operation. 220V operation requires purchase and installation of conversion kit P0613264.

Things I like
Larger capacity than above.
Larger 3/4" blade.
Dual voltage
Coolant pump and better professional down feed cylinder
Swivel head
Made in Taiwan

Things I did not like
Pretty **** large (I think over 63" long and 60" tall!)
SINGLE SPEED. (yeck)

Is the single speed that much of a deal? Could i just slow the download rate and add the cooling to the blade to cut through harder metals? I don't know what exactly will be cut.. It's a toss up there. I'd be doing stainless tubing and aluminum for intercoolers etc. He would be doing barrels and misc stuff.

Could I add a VFD controller to the motor to adjust speed? I could probabaly get most parts for that for almost free through woke depending on if it will work or not.

The last option is the g0614

6" x 9-1/2" 1-1/2 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw at Grizzly.com

https://www.grizzly.com/products/6-x-9-1-2-Swivel-Metal-Cutting-Bandsaw/G0614

G0614 6" x 9-1/2" 1-1/2 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw

Need more capacity in a swivel mast saw?

Check out the range of cuts you can get with the 0° to 60° locking turret of the well-engineered G0614 6" x 9-1/2" 1-1/2 HP Swivel Metal-Cutting Bandsaw.
Lever controlled blade guide locks allow adjustments right up to the work piece for optimum support and the blade guides have fully adjustable ball bearings so you know you're going to get straight cuts.
The two-speed, 1-1/2 HP motor can change speeds from 1725 to 3450 RPM, giving the 97-5/8" x 1" blade two cutting speeds of 170 and 341 feet per minute.
The quick-release vise and stock length stop allow for a quick transition to get on with the next cut.
The splash tray reduces cutting fluid loss at the end of a workpiece when cutting at 60°.
Additional features that allow you to get the most saw for your money include the infinitely adjustable hydraulic down feed and the coolant system.
The T30373 Mounting Kit is a quick and easy way to mount the T30399 Infeed/Outfeed Roller Set onto your G0614 Metal Bandsaw.
Like all Grizzly bandsaws, the G0614 comes with a 1-year warranty which covers parts and assures the unit is free from factory defects. (Consumables are not covered by the warranty.)
The G0614 manual was written by our U.S. based Technical Documentation Department and is packed with useful information. The complete and easy-to-read manual provides full instructions on how to assemble and maintain your metal-cutting bandsaw.

The Grizzly Customer Service and Technical Support Teams are U.S. based. Parts and accessories for the bandsaw may be available online and shipped from the Grizzly parts warehouse in Springfield, MO.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Motor: 1-1/2 HP, 220V, 3-phase, 3.6/5A
Pump motor: 1/8 HP, 0.9A
Cutting capacities:
90°, round 8-3/4"
90°, rectangular 6" x 9-1/2"
+45°, round 5"
+45°, rectangular 5" x 5"
+60°, round 2-3/4"
+60°, rectangular 2-3/4" x 2-3/4"

Blade size: 97-5/8" x 1"
Blade speeds: 170, 341 FPM
Miter cutting capacity: 0°–60°
Floor to table height 35-5/8"
Overall dimensions: 63" W x 29-3/4" D x 66" H
Approximate shipping weight: 548 lbs.

FEATURES:

Swivel base with degree scale
Centralized control panel
Heavy-duty all steel, one piece base
Adjustable hydraulic downfeed (just dial your feed rate)
Switch selectable speed control
Extra deep throated vise with lever lock
Quick-release vise
0° to 60° swivel
Built-in coolant system
Automatic shut-off
Adjustable ball bearing and carbide blade guide system
Blade wheels have heavy-duty ball bearings

Love that it has full 1" thick blade and variable speed.. And it also swivels.. But it's also another ~$450 more And must be dedicated to 220v only. Also even larger than the g0613.

My shop has 110v for now. Which it will be at my shop for a while until my father builds his machine shop room.. His has 220v.

Please don't throw in.. "buy an Ellis or Johnson etc.." I've been too complicated looking at tons of different machines lately.. And the price of these are about the max I'd like to spend.

I hope he doesn't happen to come across this post.. I'd really like for this to be a surprise as I know he would not be expecting it at all.

Thanks for any help guys!
Kong

Oh yea.. I also was thinking of picking up this shopfox heavy duty mobile base.. Was thinking of making my own.. But it wouldn't make sense after the cost of materials.

Heavy-Duty Mobile Base at Grizzly.com

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Heavy-Duty-Mobile-Base/D2057A

D2057A Shop Fox Heavy-Duty Mobile Base

Far superior to any mobile base on the market in strength, adjustability, and movability.

With a 700 pound capacity, the D2057A Heavy-Duty Mobile Bases from Shop Fox are designed to give you a stable and mobile platform upon which to mount machinery and equipment having a variety of base sizes and weights.

The base can be assembled in any of eight configurations providing maximum flexibility of use. The unique two-piece retractable feet use rare earth magnets to allow the knob to turn while the foot pad is tight to the floor.

The heavy-duty casters are arranged on outriggers allowing the machine to sit as low as possible and yet be extremely stable.

Swivel casters on two corners provide excellent maneuverability. The bolt pattern on the fixed caster side allows orientation of the wheels in either of two directions.

This patented mobile base is the most stable on the market with outrigger-type supports.

Like all Shop Fox mobile bases, the D2057A comes with a one-year warranty covering parts and assuring the unit is free from factory defects.

The D2057A manual was written by our U.S. based Documentation Department is packed with useful information.

The Woodstock Customer Service and Technical Support teams are U.S. based.

Parts for the mobile base may be available online and shipped from the Woodstock parts warehouse in Springfield, MO.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Adjusts from 20" x 20" to 29-1/2" x 29-1/2"

Capacity: 700 lbs.

Approximate shipping weight: 34 lbs.

Announcement

Thinking of g0613 horizontal band saw....

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