Saw Dilemma-Machinists?

[ligito]

I have a small home shop.
I have a Harbor Freight 4x6 horizontal/vertical metal cutting bandsaw (bought in 2005), on which the 1/3 hp motor recently died.
I also use an abrasive chop saw and a portable deep cutting bandsaw.
I cut 3/8 steel 2x2 angle, as well as flat bar, pipe, square and rectangular steel tube.

I need to get a replacement motor, or find another saw.
I have seen the Jet bandsaw that is similar in design but 5x6 with a 1/2 hp motor and a similar one from Jet that has a taller stand and is a swivel bandsaw with an hydraulic downfeed. Also mentioned was a Milwaukee cold saw, like a chop saw but more money and cleaner cutting.

I tried to find a replacement motor but don't want to put the same POS motor back on. A real motor in 1/2 hp would cost more than my saw, so I need to get advice from those of you who use these tools. There are no motor rebuilders locally, so I can't buy a rebuilt GE, or the like.

[ligito]

Bump.

[bcst1300]

I started my electrical carreer as a motor winder and unless that is one very special motor a rewind is not cheaper than new. 1/3 HP motors can't be that expensive but their is a big quality difference available. I used to like baldour but I have not worked on a motor for 20 years so I can't say what is best these days. Just be sure to get a motor of the same type and speed. Any motor with the same shaft size and base plate of the same type. IE split phase, capacitor start, squirrel cage etc should just swap out.

[ligito]

The biggest problem is that the motors cost more than the saw.

I'm wondering what saw I should buy, next?

[fastflyer20]

Jet is considered to be better than the likes of Harbor Freight tools, etc. We have a JET lathe at work (repaired a few times) and I had a JET table saw. JET is still not what I would consider top of the line industrial. It is a good home use product. The Harbor Freight will most likely start having other problems.
OTHER OPTIONS:
Have you tried looking for used American saws? Call the local used machine dealers, watch the auctions and classifieds in the newspaper. I purchased a used American made Clausing lathe from a local dealer as opposed to a new China lathe, and have never regretted it. The lathe needed some work, but parts were easy to get for the 40 year old beast.

I know your dilemma. I bought new single phase electric motors for my lathe and mill. 2HP TEFC for the lathe was $250 and a 3/4 odd ball rpm motor for the mill was $220.

We use lots of motors at work. The motor market has changed that even larger motors are not worth re-winding. Almost ALL motors are made - you know where now.

I have limited space and made a stand to mount my portable Porter Cable saw on the bench as a small vertical band saw. It has served my needs for 15 years and has never broken down and it has variable speed. I chose the Porter Cable route ($300 plus stand) over a cheaper horizontal/vertical metal cutting bandsaw because of the problems I have seen on almost any of the imported saws.

[Hashimoto]

Check out www.surpluscenter.com , I've bought motors from them before... quite reasonable.