HP 14" Slab Saw --Removing carriage to replace spring?
Sept 4, 2021 23:59:06 GMT -5
Rockoonz likes this
Post by holajonathan on Sept 4, 2021 23:59:06 GMT -5
Rockoonz
I, too, was hesitant to spend a significant amount of money on a Chinese saw. But I honestly think my 14" slab saw is a better designed saw than a Covington 14" slab saw that costs twice as much ($1300 vs $2600, at the time I bought it). I don't see anyone else making a better 14" slab saw for even twice of what I paid for the HP.
I carefully considered a 14" Covington slab saw before I bought the HP saw, but the HP seemed as good or better in every way, with the possible exception of the Covington coming with legs. And the obvious, intangible benefit of the Covington being USA made. I keep my slab saws on a big cart, which I wheel outside to cut, and wheel back in my barn for storage. So for me, I didn't want legs.
I also have some Covington equipment that I bought new within the past year or two, including a $500+ tumbler and an $800 heavy duty 8" grinder. They are well built, commercial quality equipment. So I've got no complaints about Covington. But I can't say the craftsmanship is any better than the HP saws. (I have bought 3 new HP saws in the past year, so my comparison is based on all of them...)
My Covington tumbler and grinder use Mexican made motors (not sure about their slab saws). If there is a manufacturer putting a Baldor USA made motor on a 14" slab saw, I would consider that a significant upgrade from the Chinese motor that HP uses. But if Covington is using Mexican motors on their slab saws, I'll take my chances with a Chinese motor vs a Mexican motor for half the price. They all wear out eventually and can be replaced easily for a few hundred dollars.
All three of the HP saws I have bought (14" slab saw, 10" slab saw, 10" high speed trim saw) worked flawlessly and very precisely when new. That tells me they have good designs and were made in a modern, precision manufacturing environment. They post lots of videos of their Chinese factory on facebook and youtube, and it is clean, modern, with lots of computer controlled processes in the fabrication of precision parts. I know a little bit about precision manufacturing and fabrication, and their factory looks about like small and medium size fabrication shops here in Michigan.
The materials used for the HP saws may not be as good of quality coming from China, but most of the saw is an enameled steel box, which seems to be very robust. And even USA assembled saws are rarely made with all USA made parts. Given that everything inside the saw is covered in oil, I can't imagine having problems related to the quality of the steel that makes up the saw box. The carriage / vise assembly has been good so far. It is very precise and robust, and seems like it will last a very long time.
After at least a few hundred hours of cutting on the 14" slab saws, any fundamental design or manufacturing flaws would have probably shown up by now. And I haven't found any. It cuts extremely precise slabs, time and time again, with no drama. I imagine that the Chinese motors -- which have worked fine so far -- will not last as long as a better quality, name brand motor, like a Baldor. But the motors are a standard frame size with a standard mount, and for the price difference between the HP 14" slab saw and the handful of USA made options, I could buy four or five 1/2 HP Baldor replacement motors.
Just thought I'd give some more detailed feedback about the saw since there seems to be some interest among forum members.
I, too, was hesitant to spend a significant amount of money on a Chinese saw. But I honestly think my 14" slab saw is a better designed saw than a Covington 14" slab saw that costs twice as much ($1300 vs $2600, at the time I bought it). I don't see anyone else making a better 14" slab saw for even twice of what I paid for the HP.
I carefully considered a 14" Covington slab saw before I bought the HP saw, but the HP seemed as good or better in every way, with the possible exception of the Covington coming with legs. And the obvious, intangible benefit of the Covington being USA made. I keep my slab saws on a big cart, which I wheel outside to cut, and wheel back in my barn for storage. So for me, I didn't want legs.
I also have some Covington equipment that I bought new within the past year or two, including a $500+ tumbler and an $800 heavy duty 8" grinder. They are well built, commercial quality equipment. So I've got no complaints about Covington. But I can't say the craftsmanship is any better than the HP saws. (I have bought 3 new HP saws in the past year, so my comparison is based on all of them...)
My Covington tumbler and grinder use Mexican made motors (not sure about their slab saws). If there is a manufacturer putting a Baldor USA made motor on a 14" slab saw, I would consider that a significant upgrade from the Chinese motor that HP uses. But if Covington is using Mexican motors on their slab saws, I'll take my chances with a Chinese motor vs a Mexican motor for half the price. They all wear out eventually and can be replaced easily for a few hundred dollars.
All three of the HP saws I have bought (14" slab saw, 10" slab saw, 10" high speed trim saw) worked flawlessly and very precisely when new. That tells me they have good designs and were made in a modern, precision manufacturing environment. They post lots of videos of their Chinese factory on facebook and youtube, and it is clean, modern, with lots of computer controlled processes in the fabrication of precision parts. I know a little bit about precision manufacturing and fabrication, and their factory looks about like small and medium size fabrication shops here in Michigan.
The materials used for the HP saws may not be as good of quality coming from China, but most of the saw is an enameled steel box, which seems to be very robust. And even USA assembled saws are rarely made with all USA made parts. Given that everything inside the saw is covered in oil, I can't imagine having problems related to the quality of the steel that makes up the saw box. The carriage / vise assembly has been good so far. It is very precise and robust, and seems like it will last a very long time.
After at least a few hundred hours of cutting on the 14" slab saws, any fundamental design or manufacturing flaws would have probably shown up by now. And I haven't found any. It cuts extremely precise slabs, time and time again, with no drama. I imagine that the Chinese motors -- which have worked fine so far -- will not last as long as a better quality, name brand motor, like a Baldor. But the motors are a standard frame size with a standard mount, and for the price difference between the HP 14" slab saw and the handful of USA made options, I could buy four or five 1/2 HP Baldor replacement motors.
Just thought I'd give some more detailed feedback about the saw since there seems to be some interest among forum members.
