I finished assembling the bandsaw today and ran into an issue that I could only laugh out loud at, just to funny.
I couldn’t wait for my friend to show up this morning to help, so I lifted the bandsaw onto the base cabinet and mobile base, then stood back to view my new toy. Hey wait a minute, that looks tall, wait…uhmmm, that looks very tall….is it going to fit thru the garage doors!!?? DOH nooooooo!!!! My heart sank, I quickly grabbed the tape measure (hmmmm why didn’t I think of this first? uuggghhhhh). Here is a picture:
Whew, that was too close for comfort. Now other owners of the Rikon will be chuckling to themselves as they look at that picture because I had not fully assembled the bandsaw at that point. So you guessed it, I still needed to add a knob and cover to the top of the bandsaw:
My first thought was where was I going to make a kerf cut into the garage to be able to push the bandsaw thru. But luckily, the knob is a drop in piece so it just lifts right out and the cover just snaps in and out as well, crisis averted.
I used the supplied blade and fired up the saw after setting the blade guides and tension. It cut like crap due to the cheap blade. However, I did resaw a 3” tall board with only using the standard fence and cheap blade. Surprisingly it sliced an 1\8” board in a straight line, extremely rough of course but straight, I was very impressed. Plan to install the Timberwolf blade tomorrow and give it another test run.
I picked up a heavy guage ext cord at the BORG to use as a power cord for the DC. I cut the plug off the cord and wired it to the DC connection terminals, plugged it in and fired that puppy up. It worked like a champ, so far for $61 I have a DC. I still need to order a replacement on\off switch and new dust bags, these bags look like they are original. I am going to order the lower micron bags and call it good.
I also stopped by HF to try to get a 4” hose and a couple of fittings. They only had a DC kit, which was $50, no way I said, it didn’t make sense to pay as much for the kit as I did for the DC. I am shopping online for just the items I need instead of a kit with parts I don’t need.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
6 comments so far
PurpLev
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2726 posts in 539 days
posted 13 days ago
fantastic! congrats on the new tool. be careful with the plastic cover for the blade guard – when taking it off – careful not to chip off the tabs that lock it in place – not a biggy, just cosmetic (and even at that – it’s hidden).
The mobile base doesn’t seem too much of a footprint, but looking at your floor – I don’t think you’ll have any problems with the saw tipping off the mobile base even if it’s NOT bolted down to it – my floors look worse than yours, and I also have a little step that I needed to get over, and it stayed in like a champ.
another thought – you might be better off (if possible) to assign the bandsaw a more ‘permanent’ position in the garage , next to the door, so that you don’t have to get it in and out of garage every time you need to use it.
either way – enjoy the new tool, and the vast possibilities it unveils.
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
MedicKen
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450 posts in 353 days
posted 13 days ago
Glad to see you finally got it. I know you had your hopes up the other day when we were at Woodcraft. I hope it serves ya well for many years.
-- My job is to give my kids things to discuss with their therapist....medic20447@gmail.com
3fingerpat
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901 posts in 559 days
posted 12 days ago
Thanks guys.
Sharon, I appreciated the replies about your mobile base. I agree about finding a more permanent home. I plan to finish cementing in the last remaining section of the garage floor to make room for the Bandsaw and DC. I should have done that earlier as SWMBO suggested ;o) And my floor is pretty bad, there are some places where I have to lift the tablesaw edge over humps or shallows to use the wheels.
Ken, I was definitely dejected when I left the store empty handed, butl I only had to wait one week, and it was worth the wait ;o)
Plan on going thru my old WW mags to search out some plans on Bandsaw jigs.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
NBeener
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369 posts in 65 days
posted 12 days ago
Oh, I could SO easily have done that!!!
What was that old joke … where the punchline was “Let the air out of the tires?”
Failing that, I’m remembering a line from good old “Animal House:”
”RRRRRAMMMMMING SPEEEED!!!!”
LOL!
-- -- Neil
3fingerpat
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901 posts in 559 days
posted 11 days ago
Neil, LOL!!! Okay, I have shown you mine, now where are your pictures?
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
cstrang
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1200 posts in 59 days
posted 5 days ago
We had the same garage door problem in my old high school. We made a shed in the shop and sold it, great right? Nope, it wouldent fit through the door, 1” too tall Doh! lol
-- A hammer dangling from a wall will bang and sound like work when the wind blows the right way.