AXMINSTER Band Saw

[Mike Wingate]

We have 3 of their bandsaws at school. No good. I would hesitate to buy any chinese built machine.

 

[Mr Ed]

You don't say what machine, so I think your statement is a massive generalisation.

I have the AP-5300 and its an excellent machine - I can't comment on others in the range as I have no knowledge of them.

Ed

 

[Karl]

Which models?

Perhaps they are just badly set up, or need new blades.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Mike Wingate]

This statement should have been attached to another review. I agree that "all" is an over statement and apologise. The models we have are Axminster rebadged Jet JWBS-18Q Bandsaw, and 2 Jet JWBS-14 Bandsaws. All 3 are poor. I can use bandsaws and set them up to run and cut very well, but these 3 are poor and will not cut without blade drift, a straight line is impossible, sightline of the blade is poor due to guarding. The electric brake noise would make a great Dive Dive Dive klaxon on a submarine.

 

[JoinerySolutions]

I would concur with Ed and Karl, my SBW3501B works just fine.
All bandsaws need to be accurately set up, unfortunately many people do not take the time to learn to do so or worse, knowing how to, don't.
So called technicians in education establishments are among them.
Inform us of the nature of your problems with the machine, then a solution may well be forthcoming. Tools do what they are meant to do unless abused or not maintained, :evil: two things people who love working with wood will never put up with. :wink:
Regards Rob.

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Mike, your last post arrived whilst I was typing mine.
Blade drift is common, the fence needs to be set up to suit the natural angle the blade will run at with each blade change.
Run a piece of stock with a line marked on it freehandand part way down stop. Clamp in place, then set the fence to the natural angle of the stock.
Adjustment is sometimes done on the fence itself or on the guide bar for the fence. Hope this is of help.

 

[Mike Wingate]

Thanks JS. We have tuned the guides, replaced both sets of guides, cleaned the tyres, etc. Not happy. I have been using and setting up bandsaws for over 40 years. These do not work well. I was given the big one as a replacement foir a Startrite S14 that is still working well for the technician. My Startrite 352 works really well.

 

[JoinerySolutions]

Perhaps a call to APTC may be in order, as you have a wealth of experience to back you up they would surely be eager to remedy the problem, after all a bad name for something travels faster than a good one. The fact that it is occuring on more than one machine is a bit worrying!

 

[Mike Wingate]

We did have a visit and they fitted new guides and tweaked the machine. On one of their large drill presses, the gear and pin in the table crank mech have stopped working. It had replacement parts fitted, but stripped again. At least the table is a good chunk of cast iron. I have not been pleased with the quality of their fixed machinery, compared to Inca, Startrite, etc. I would not buy any for personal use in my home workshop.

 

[seaco]

Mike you must have been unlucky mate my SBW4300 is as sweet as honey and accurately cuts anything I throw at it!

Does anyone have one of the Jets that could comment?

 

[BMac]

This is very interesting because I am going to look at Axminster bandsaws on Tuesday. I am comparing them to the Record BS350S so it's the £500 range I'm interested in.

Brendan