Ponderings #23: Table Saw Versus Bandsaw

Given your space limitations going with a bandsaw is a good choice. You can do a number of the same operations on it as you can a table saw and it is inherently safer to operate when compared with a table saw. Obviously the best solution is to have them both but if you are faced with an either/or scenario the bandsaw is, in my opinion, the more versatile tool and it has a much smaller footprint as well.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Thanks Scott. I forgot to mention the safety issue, which was part of the decision. My wife is much more comfortable with the idea of a bandsaw than the Whirling Blade of Death™ ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Well now that you have made your decision – which bandsaw are you going with?
Inquiring minds want to know :)
Later,
Doug in AZ.

-- If you need craft books - please visit our small business at http://www.wittywife.com

I’m looking at the Grizzly G0555 Ultimate Bandsaw, or the G0555X. However, I’m not firm on that one just yet. Still a lot to look at to make the best decision possible, ya know? ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

when faced with a desperate situation, the determined woodworker will find a way!!!!!

-- Smitty!!!

Very true. Necessity truly is the mother of invention…or adaption in this case ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Have you at all considered sticking with hand tools for the moment?
You will probalby get more joy from this than compensating yourself every moment you are in that small space.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Hey Cat, don’t over look some of the less expensice like the Rigid & Delta both fine machines at , i believe less $$$, which might give you a head start on the table saw or whatever your next tool may be. Don’t forget an assortment of blades, they are an absolute must to do all the things that you mentioned. also how much large resawing do you have in mind? It takes a lot more power to slices off of a 8-10 in. high piece than it does a 4-6 in piece. NOW is the time to think Horsepower. I know you have probably considered these things already but if you haven’t perhaps there is a kernal or two in there that you might want to consider.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

Bob: I have, but for a lot of stuff, I just don’t like using hand tools for those tasks, hence the bandsaw. Hand tools will still be a big part of what I do, but if it ain’t fun, why do it? So far as the small space is concerned, I’ll actually be wheeling this bad boy outside for cuts, so it won’t be operating in a space that small. Honestly, I’d go nuts trying to stay in a room that tiny.

RTB: I haven’t ruled either the Delta or the Rigid out, I just haven’t had much chance to do a hard comparison. They both have one huge advantage over the Grizzly though…I can get them locally ;). As for blades, I’m right there with you on that one. I have to do a lot of research still on what I need, but I figured I’d have to switch blades out.

Now, onto the resawing, I honestly have no idea how large a piece I’ll be resawing. At the moment, I’m stuck having to buy from BORGs, so I don’t have to worry to much with making 8/4 boards into 4/4 or anything. I’m simply looking ahead a bit. While I’d ideally like a monster 20” bandsaw or something similar, I’m not sure I can afford something that big. I appreciate the suggestion about horsepower. It’s something I keep in mind, but it was more of a “I know I’m supposed to keep this in mind” rather than really understanding why. Much appreciated.

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

If you don’t have much room, check on the various saw guides for your circular saw.

It will make your saw almost as accurate as a tablesaw.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick: I picked up something similar from Home Depot right after Thanksgiving, but I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet. I’m looking forward to giving it a shot and seeing what it can do. In fact, I hope to be trying it out next weekend. My thinking was the same as yours. This is really more of a ripping fence for circular saws, but it has a pretty long reach (24” IIRC), so it should do just fine :)

It’s also important to note that it’ll be a little while before I pull the trigger on the bandsaw, partially because of money, but mostly space. I currently have a lot of my grandmother’s stuff still in that storage room, so I’ll be upgrading my powered hand tools (new jig saw, possible upgrade on my circular saw, etc) and picking up a router (it just does to many things not to have one).

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

I was going to mention that a table mounted router, would be a good tool to have in a confined shop.

There’s usually some good buys, this time of the year, but don’t buy a 1/4” router. I’ve had much more success with

the 1/2”. I have never had a 1/2” bit break off, & they charge the same for 1/2” bits.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick: I’ve already got my eye on a Dewalt multiple base router kit. I intend to mount the fixed base in a table and use the plunge base for other stuff. And I hear ya about 1/2” collets. Personally, I don’t really understand why they even still make 1/4” collets since I’ve never heard a good thing about them.

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

1/4”: Some routers can only use that size bit, a hand router for example.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Fair enough. Of course, everything out there for newbies says to steer clear of 1/4” collets (or at least make sure it has both), so I surmised that it was evil or something ;)

Thanks for clearing that up.

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Don’t overlook the Freud $200 with 2 bases, 2 collets and a lot of horse. table mounted all adjustment can be made from the table top including bit changes. no need for an expensice lift. if you set up a speed control on the table you don’t even have to grope for that.

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

Here’s some ideas for a small shop, that I just received.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Dick,

I’m sorry I haven’t responded sooner, I missed this entirely. Martin’s latest upgrades are the only reason I even saw it now. I had seen some of those tricks a while back, but has lost track of where. Thanks for sharing that with me, and I’m definitely going to make use of many of those tricks!

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!