November 14, 2011
My Review of the Hitachi CB6Y 10
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My Review of the Hitachi CB6Y 10" Bandsaw
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| Being an avid woodworker, a bandsaw was a must for me. I converted my garage into a functional and well stocked woodshop with lots of toys. I was not ready to purchase a larger bandsaw as the work I was doing really didn't require something that large. I knew eventually I would get one, but I'd practice on a smaller saw first. I was shopping at Lowe's a couple years ago and this small 10" bandsaw caught my eye. The price was right and it was something I could take home that day without much effort. So I bought a Hitachi CB6Y Bandsaw and I've grown to like it's compact size. It's a tabletop model, but I ended up mounting it on a stand with wheels so I could roll it around to where I needed it. It's not a high end saw by any means. It's for the weekend hobbyist and small scale woodworker. If you're going to be cutting tree logs and 4" thick lumber, it's not the saw you want. This saw is more suited for 3/4" and less stock, although the throat can go 5" high. Unless you're cutting a straight line slowly, save the thick stuff for a larger saw. |
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The main framework is steel and can be bolted down to a table or stand. The door and latches are plastic, and seem to be OK as long as you don't abuse them. It does not use ball bearings for the blade guides, but has small friction blocks. As long as you set everything up properly, they seem to work well. Pay particular attention to adjusting the bearing behind the blade. Let it rub the blade as it is spinning and it will eventually make an annoying squeal. It's just there for pushing back on the blade. It comes with a handy dust bag which can be removed if you want to attach a dust collector hose. As far as the noise, it is not bad. It has a small motor, so it doesn't dim the lights when you start it. There is also a handy LED light over the work area which can be turned off and on with a local switch. One of the handiest features I've found is the tilting mechanism. Rather than tilting the table to cut bevels, a handwheel actually tilts the entire saw while the table stays level. Very cool. It comes with a crosscut fence, but it's small and plastic - don't expect too much from it. I've done some freehand re-sawing on small stock, but again, save that kind of work for the big saws and a fence. This bandsaw doesn't have a fence for that kind of work, by the way. Use this saw for making christmas ornaments and birdhouses, not duck decoys.
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A little bit about the blade. Hitachi probably doesn't make as much money on this saw as they do on the blade. It takes a special size blade and you have to buy that one. I wish I read more reviews on that aspect. The blades do break - they won't last forever. Pay attention to the sound of the running blade, as you can tell when it's getting ready to snap. Don't stress it too much and it'll last for awhile. I encourage you to have an extra blade or two. They're about 14 or 15 dollars, but you should be able to get them cheaper on Ebay. A disappointment for me is when I went over to Lowe's to get a new blade and was told they no longer stock or sell that saw or blade. Like I said, there are plenty of blades available online for this saw. You can't make too sharp of turns with it - it's not a scroll saw. Just be aware of its capabilities and this saw can be a useful little tool. Since I bought the Hitachi CB6Y, I have purchased a large 16" Grizzly bandsaw. I find myself going to the Hitachi often for the smaller tasks, you can't beat it. Thank you for visiting my site and feel free to post any comments below that will help others researching this bandsaw.
How to resaw lumber
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