Resistance is futile...

1/8/2012

An often heard phase, especially in hobby forums, it has it's truth in human mind. The self justifying process one goes through each and every time when faced with temptations. I lost that battle today; the battle I fought long and (not so) hard.

And this is the result...

Way Train UE-100S - made in Taiwan.

The good side said that I've already the Proxxon vertical bandsaw which can do most of the things I need it to do, though slower and noisier. The evil part of me said it would be convenient to have the horizontal bandsaw which can cut bigger diameter round stock, it can be converted to vertical bandsaw, it's has an auto-stop function, it has... The list goes on...

Evidently, evil prevailed.

I accepted my fate, acknowledging the weakness in my flesh. The promise made of not buying another still rings in my mind. Why did I do it?!

The scale was tipped when I was introduced to the Sales Manager of Hup Hong, which happens to be a camp mate from 40SAR (and later 425SAR). I don't really know him as we were from different company. We started talking and I shared about the hobby. The rest happened just too quickly for my numbed mind. Before I knew what was going on, I was already punching in the PIN on the NETS terminal.

Sigh... There goes more of my savings... I'm now wondering what will hit me next...

8 Comments

Michael Slater

1/8/2012 11:40:25 am

How much did that bandsaw cost you?

After you answer I'll tell you why I ask!

Loke-Yeow Wong

1/8/2012 01:33:17 pm

SGD800+ with a spare bi-metal blade.

Michael Slater

1/8/2012 02:19:53 pm

oh. ok. Because about a month ago I bought the exact same model from Hup Hong for 800$ (no extra blade though). In retrospect it seem(ed/s) expensive. So I was wondering if I got the Caucasian face-ripping price. I guess I didn't. Still think it's overpriced by 50%, but it's been a really useful tool. Though I need a new blade for it.

https://skitch.com/karavshin/ekn1k/img-4808

Took about 20 minutes to cut through a 5"x2" chunk of 6061 Aluminum.

Loke-Yeow Wong

1/8/2012 03:16:33 pm

It was $780 before GST. The blade is another $40. With tax, $877.40 in total.

Don't think Hup Hong will do that kind of thing. I do know that they are expensive to buy from.

Saw another Taiwan made a shop or 2 next to the fasteners shop Poey Huat. $400+. Very heavy piece. Slightly longer than the Way Train. Don't think I can haul it back myself in a cab.

Kifayat Hussain link

11/2/2016 03:19:08 pm

Hello Wong,

I occasionally & casually read your blog and I have been into this hobby for only a couple of years now.

After a couple of years of cutting stock by hand hacksaw, jigsaw, and a home made power hacksaw, I have decided to end the battle of not buying a bandsaw.

After doing some research and asking around, I have found a online seller who is selling a Way Train bandsaw for a reasonable price and is offering shipping to Miri, Sarawak.

Before I close the deal on buying the bandsaw I thought I would get your thoughts on using this bandsaw for a few years since you have bought it.

I know the vise needs some work to hold small pieces and it doesn't have variable speed etc but for a hobby home shop I assume it should be good enough.

Your comments and opinion will be very valuable to me.

Cheers,
Kifayat Hussain

Wongster

11/2/2016 03:34:20 pm

Hello Kifayat,

Thanks for dropping by my now inactive site.

Price aside, I'm quite satisfied with the bandsaw - it is doing what it is supposed to do. I cut steel, brass, and mainly aluminium with it. No problem encountered since I bought it. I like the feature that triggers the switch to turn it off after the cut is completed.

You may want, however, to look around to see if you can find one locally that look exactly like the WayTrain. I found one in Singapore which was selling at half the price I bought the WayTrain.... Told my friend about it and he bought it.

Anyway, having a metal bandsaw is so much more convenient. Though it's just a hobby and I should be able to spend my time sawing through some steel (which I did before having bandsaw) for my project, but I rather spend the time working on the project.... Make sense?

This bandsaw can be adjusted upright, to be used like those bandsaw for woodworking. But the table provided is rather flimsy. I looked at it briefly when I bought it, a sturdier replacement can be made easily. I've not used that function; as at least not yet.

Ok, that's all I have on the bandsaw. Nothing technical as I'm don't have that background to share like a real machinist.

By the way, what will you be doing with the bandsaw once you have it? What are you into making?

Let me know if you need more information.

Kifayat Hussain link

11/2/2016 04:57:35 pm

Hello Wong,

Thanks for your response regarding the WayTrain bandsaw.

As you suggested, I have already found a Way Train bandsaw OEM locally on an online website. Here is the link: http://techno.com.my/online/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_707&products_id=25213

The bandsaw is priced at MYR 1,588.00 inclusive of GST and Shipping to Miri Sarawak which is almost SGD 534 and it is a Way Train re-branded as Metalis. I checked WayTrain's website and they list Metalis to be a registered distributor.

What am going to do with it? Well, Im a Geologist and work for Shell in Miri, Malaysia. Im a foreigner but I am settled down in Malaysia. I have always had this DIY passion to do things and have slowly built a small collection of various tools or toys which include a Sieg Mini Mill and Mini Lathe etc. I am not into making anything in particular, occasionally I make an adapter or a coupling for some of my DIY projects.

I previously built a power hacksaw out of a wiper motor and used that to do most of my cutting but the process was so slow and the saw head requires me to put weight which bend the blade and the cuts do not always come out straight. So after 2 years of struggle I have decided to buy a bandsaw.

I do not usually take photos of my DIY work and do not usually blog about it. Although very recently I decided to post a blog on my very short journey through machining but decided to focus it more towards finding the tools and materials within Malaysia. Here is a link: http://kafie1980.blogspot.my/ . When I made that blog, I actually added a link to your blog so others can find that helpful.

Im moving back to Kuala Lumpur this coming May and I will probably put my tools and motorcycle into storage till I settle down with my house and a mini home shop that I plan to setup in the store room. So I will not have a chance to play with my hobby stuff till late next year.

My next project in line is diving into the CNC world. I have assembled the bare frame I bought via AliExpress for a 3020 CNC engraver and will be beefing it to do some actual milling. So while im in transition to my new home, I can start gathering stepper motors, high speed spindle, building the control box with drivers and breakout board etc. I could have bought the machine pre-assembled but I was not satisfied with the cheap electronic setups they sell with these cnc machines.

Cheers,
Kifayat Hussain

John Chung

20/4/2017 02:41:12 pm

Thanks for the info. I am going to buy the bandsaw in KL.

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