14" Bandsaw Recommendations

i have heard great things about the Steel City Granite Deluxe edition. it’s a great saw. the Rikon is also a great saw. too. you should make sure to consider those.

Most any brand name saw will be good. It’s basically the features that you get with it.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I’ve heard pretty good things about Rikon. I’m looking at picking one up in a few weeks.. I can’t decide between the 14 and 18 inch. Let us know what you buy and how good/ bad it works

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Gary is correct. But what I think he is trying to say is that most brand name saws are fairly comparable but the differences come from the additional features that you want included on them. I happen to have a Powermatic and I got it simply because it comes with features that for most saws are aftermarket add-ons. But it comes with a premium price as well. The Steel City saw with a granite top looks really interesting as well. Check out the review section. There are several band saw reviews posted there.

Hope this helps.

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

I purchased the Rikon 18” about 3 years ago and have been very happy with it, however as of late I have seen the 14” rikon and it has everything that my 18” has except the size of the wheels, and you don’t have to buy a riser block for it as it already cuts up to 10”.

-- Tom D

My new Rikon 10-325 arrived in my shop last week. I hope to get into bandsaw boxes ad ths was the main reason for my purchase of a new BS..Although I have not put it to ALL tests, I can say that it has some of the nicest features Ihave seen on a saw in it’s class. It is so easy to adjust and cuts so smooth that I am amazed. A few more bucks than the Griz, but certainly worth it.

When it comes down to empirical knowledge, I have had a Delta 1 1/2 HP 14” for years, then just recently
I won the Steel City Granite Bandsaw. I got 6” riser blocks for both so that they will use the same blades.

I have the Steel city one set up for resawing with a 3/4” blade and the Delta for curved work with a 1/4” blade.

I like the features that the Steel City came with like the light, wheels, fence and tension release.
It costs more but it’s a great saw.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

what is wrong with the Reliant ?

-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com

I have a 14” Grizzly with a riser block set up for resawing. I love it and would recommend it if asked.

-- Maplewood, MN

Hi and welcome to LJ’s….I recently got the Grizzley 14” saw and I think you will be pleased with it. I have tried resawing and it works great. Good luck on your purchase! Here’s the one I was givin…lol yeah I know!

-- A duck that brags on his own pond, soon swims alone.

My friend has had the Grizzly G0555 since last Fall and he likes it alot. If I were to get another bandsaw, you can never have to many, I would go with the G0555 and get the riser block with 3 new 105” blades at the same time.

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

Nate,
I took a little different route and watched my local Craigslist for awhile and bought a used 1968 Delta Bandsaw. It was in pretty good shape when I got it and subsequently after reading Lonnie Bird’s Book and Louis Iturra’s catalog performed some upgrades: urethane tires, ceramic blocks, a wheel brush, replaced one or two screws in the guide and bought a riser kit. That and a couple blades put it pretty close to the neighborhood that a new Powermatic was on sale for several months later at a popular WW retailer. If I had waited several months I could have bought the new saw and it would have been as functional as the one that I put some additional money into, but I am glad for the experience of really getting to know how the saw works. Over time I may put a larger motor in it and add some other accessories, but I am very pleased with its performance as it is now.

-- Michael, Seattle, WA

Thanks for all the input guys- the Grizzly saw is a sharp looking machine and I have had good luck with their tools. I checked out Steel City & Rikon’s offerings as teenagewoodworker suggested, and have read good reviews on them, however the price is high (I have only found one retailer of those machines in my area). MichaelW brings up something I overlooked- fixing up a nice old, sturdy bandsaw. I’m currently restoring a 50s era Craftsman tablesaw that is as solid as a rock- it’s a tabletop saw and is heavier than most mid-size saws available today. I’ll post pictures of that project and some others soon.
Thanks again to you all for your opinions, I’ll let you know which way I go! -Nate