FIRST BLOG ever, so bear with me…
Well This week (tues 5/2/08) I will be collecting my new Jet 18 inch Bandsaw.
I have a close friend that made a great spot on a spec sheet that I thought I should
pass on (if your‘re not learning, what is the point!).
I always go the way of bigger is better (ie more capacity/power and I will then not
reach the tools limits which means I will have these tools for at least my lifetime.)
something I picked up from my old man, anyway…
But I learnt a valuable lesson to read further into the specs. As a Card-carrying Virgo
— 2 years before I was to expect delivery, i had pdf manuals of my favoured Brands
of Bandsaw, Laguna was first choice, but no deal in Australia.
Jet 20 inch was what I decided upon, but my friend brought to my attention a spec
that detailed 20 inch Bandsaw minimum Blade width was 10 mm Max 30 mm
(apologies for the metric – NOT : — ) not great if you wanna use it the Bandsaw
for more than resawing. (no disrespect re Jet, just lack of understanding from myself!
Pics to come when I get it in the shop proper…
-- My Fear is when i die, my wife will sell my tools for what I TOLD her they cost
13 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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18615 posts in 4128 days
#1 posted 02-03-2008 02:40 PM
oh the joys of selecting the “right” tool…..
but – still exciting when it sits in the shop!!
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (https://www.facebook.com/DebbiePribeleENJOConsultant)
Karson
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35111 posts in 4368 days
#2 posted 02-03-2008 02:42 PM
Yes. the bigger is better but not with all the capabilities of the smaller babys.
Good luck on your purchase.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware soon moving to Virginia karsonwm@gmail.com †
designerboy
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31 posts in 3750 days
#3 posted 02-03-2008 02:46 PM
My First Blog uplaoded for 2 minutes, its 11:45pm sunday night here in Sydney Australia, you guys (and gals) don’t waste anytime!
-- My Fear is when i die, my wife will sell my tools for what I TOLD her they cost
Tomcat1066
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942 posts in 3764 days
#4 posted 02-03-2008 02:55 PM
Nah, here at LumberJocks, we don’t goof off!
Congrats on the new bandsaw! I can’t wait to see the pics.
-- "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!
designerboy
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31 posts in 3750 days
#5 posted 02-03-2008 02:58 PM
Me too Tomcat, and I think I can upgrade him
with Laguna bandsaw guides which
look hot ( well, actually cool really!)
-- My Fear is when i die, my wife will sell my tools for what I TOLD her they cost
Scott Bryan
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27250 posts in 3790 days
#6 posted 02-03-2008 03:02 PM
Adding a new tool is always exciting for any of us. I think it brings out anticipation akin to that we felt as children at Christmas. Part of the fun is simply going over the specs and pictures while trying to decide on “just the right tool”.
Congratulations on the new band saw. You might want to do a blog on the install. I just installed a new powermatic after Christmas (I was a good boy this year) and it went smoothly with the exception of installing the supporting plate for the extension table. The pictures and instructions weren’t clear to me and it took some time and a couple of changes to get it right. If I had detailed the process it might have saved someone else the same trouble (but my digital camera is not working).
Thanks for sharing.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
gizmodyne
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1777 posts in 4058 days
#7 posted 02-03-2008 04:38 PM
Congrats. I think you will find that the Jet guides are pretty nice actually.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke."
gizmodyne
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1777 posts in 4058 days
#8 posted 02-03-2008 04:47 PM
I was curious and looked up the Jet specs at jettools.com and both saws list 1/8” min. and 1 1/2” max. Anyway you go they are nice machines.
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Uploaded with plasq’s Skitch!</div>
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Uploaded with plasq’s Skitch!</div>
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke."
scott43
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1 post in 3733 days
#9 posted 02-03-2008 07:03 PM
I just bought and older Jet 20” bandsaw from a cabinet shop, the shop had run this with varying size incuding 1/8” blades.
This thing weighs a ton, I had to disassemle it to unload it!
I am looking for a table inset, it appears the wind took it without me knowing on the trip home, any ideas ? 3.94 diameter x .190” thick
designerboy
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31 posts in 3750 days
#10 posted 02-04-2008 02:40 AM
You are right gizmodyne, loloking into it. May go 20 inch after all….
-- My Fear is when i die, my wife will sell my tools for what I TOLD her they cost
designerboy
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31 posts in 3750 days
#11 posted 02-04-2008 10:12 AM
Apparently the specs differ in Australia, who knew!
-- My Fear is when i die, my wife will sell my tools for what I TOLD her they cost
motthunter
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2141 posts in 3767 days
#12 posted 02-04-2008 11:26 AM
Jet guides are ok, but if you can upgrade to carters, the saw will run better. Also, I think that with the Carter stabilizer you can run tiny blades on the 20” model. Before you make a final decision, go to the carter guide website and ask them. They seem to know all bandsaws better that the bandsaw manufacturers.
I had planned to buy a laguna also, but after they raised prices, I got a powermatic all fitted with riser block and mobile base. It runs great.
-- making sawdust....
Texasgaloot
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464 posts in 3668 days
#13 posted 07-11-2008 07:16 PM
The Wood Whisperer has a very entertaining video on general bandsaw setup (www.thewoodwhisperer.com). He haunts these pages as well.
Very glad to have you here at LJ’s, and love your humor. Keep on blogging!
Mack
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
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