What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

That HF saw is the unsung super versatile hero of my shop. It's been making accurate cuts for at least 15 years, straight and curves with next to no mess. The capacity is actually 5x7 @ 90 deg with the stock clamp and significantly more with "creative clamping". Also cuts non ferrous metals, wood and plastic. Did a compound miter on 2x6 rectangular tube for a rear bumper.
There was quite a "cult" following for these things at one time with near endless modifications. There is no doubt, out of the box they are pretty "rough" but bang for the buck is way up there. Google 4x6 bandsaw.

This fellow was out the door for <$190 back then and treated to a few of the popular mods that made a huge difference.


Oversize tires, thicker rear axle, trussed axle housing. This made the leg assembly super rigid, way more than expectations



Intercooler and gear box breather.
Motor fan replaced by separately switched 120v unit. Motor doesn't even get warm, 100% duty cycle when cutting that 3/4" thick flat bar or railroad track for that matter.






Creative clamping.





Not seen is removal of the residual sand/slag chunks in the gear box from the sand casting and a deburring/polishing of the gears along with 140wt gear oil.

 

That's great info, I have a newer Grizzly that I will plan to do the same modifications to as well

 

Threw together a little bolt on mount for either a moto gas tank for trips that require more than 5 gallons of gas (have a Death Valley trip coming up that I need it) and also works with my newer 10 lb propane tank that I have been bringing camping to fuel my propane fire pit(super nice to have to use during fire bans). Both just get strapped in with a racket strap.

 

The harbor freight bandsaws or any horizontals bandsaw are great for anyone looking to cut a lot of metal with minimal noise and mess and easy to use. I’ve had my hf 7x12 for probably over 10 years and it still cuts straight with a good blade.
I definitely would not knock the hf ones and would be picking a bandsaw over a chop saw or angle grinder any day.

 

Lmao... Who's "knocking" the HF band saw? And who said anything about picking an angle grinder or chop saw over a band saw?

I'm not knocking the HF saw. But the point was made that it looks identical to other band saws, which may be the case. But I think anyone with any kind of understanding would be able to agree that just because a tool looks identical, doesn't mean it's the same quality. There are MANY different ways quality can vary that aren't noticeable from a picture in an add on the internet.

The HF band saw is fine. It is probably MORE THAN sufficient than what many people (including me) would need for a garage work shop. But I don't care if you've used it for 10 years or 10 minutes... the Harbor Freight band saw is absolutely not "identical" or even close to the same as other brands. That's not "knocking"" anything. It's just a pure statement of fact.

 

For the record. Aside from the grease fittings. Moog lower ball joints look basically identical to OEM lower ball joints. (especially in pictures on the internet)

Do we really want to go down this road?

 

I like this one
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hyper-To...8s9jIHz1ULHDTX_wZxEaAre9EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

tape a shake weight to it

 

I guess, according to some, that's better than an abrasive chop saw

 

I hate when people hate how I spend my money. Almost as much as I hate that I have to care about their different opinions.

 

Imma use my chop saw just for spite.

 

I got all five options and a plasma, whatever tool is easier for what I'm doing.

 

Believe it or not, I'm just here for the conversation.

I, literally, can't care less what people think of my abrasive chop saw. I'll be grinning ear to ear when I make my cuts 10x faster than I used to.

As far as the mess... the saw will be pointed towards the driveway. I can give 2 shits, the wind will clean it up

 

I'd love to have a band saw, and a plasma cutter... and an alignment rack, and a 2 post lift, and a tubing bender, and a press brake, and a 6 axis CNC machine, and a computer aided lathe, and a 3D printer, and all kinds of other shit.

But hey, a chop saw is a step better than an angle grinder, right?

 

Definitely better than a grinder. Watch out if you cut hardened stuff tho, that abrasive wheel will start to glow and can shatter. Seen it happen and embed in a glove, scary shit.

 

This is the ultimate solution for pipes, channels, etc. I have one and it makes life way easier on so many projects!

 

TOTALLY know what you're saying... no, this is just for mild steel. I'm rebuilding my RTT rack, to lighten it up, and I'm also going to build a system to more adequately organize the bed and make everything a bit more accessible.

The old RTT rack will also get scavenged for parts to build a welding/shop table.

I rarely do anything where I need to cut anything hardened.

 

A years worth of driving with mobile one!

The insides look amazing now,

Mobile one has cleaned them so nicely

 

When I was a metal stud framer we would use the gas chop saws. That was fun cutting the heavy gauge stuff in bundles. Busted a few blades.

 

Ive got a CNC plasma, Dewalt Chop saw, 4.5" angle grinder, sawzall and a hacksaw. I use them all for different things, quick an square cuts gets the chop saw every time.

They apparently make "cold cut" blades for metal that look like regular chop saw blades, supposedly quieter and well, cold cutting, instead of red hot like a abrasive wheel.