Steel City 14" Bandsaw

I bought this saw from Redmond & Son in Atlanta. I wanted to upgrade from my ¾ HP Jet and after looking at the features, I was sold. The price was $699 and I added the Kreg fence for another $100. They forklifted it into my truck, but it was fairly easy to unload by myself.

The saw comes in two boxes. The first thing I did was open the manual with the intention of spending the next hour deciphering the instructions, because I have a lot of power tools and “been there, done that” with all of them. The time from opening the first box to cutting my first test piece was about an hour. This was amazing to me. I have never seen power tool instructions so clear and easy to follow. The pictures leave nothing to chance.

1. Turn the base upside down and install the “stealth” casters.
2. Bolt the saw to the base
3. Put on the belt
4. Check the alignments (pretty pictures show everything)
5. Bolt on the table
6. Check belt tension and band tension
7. Cut wood

Cutting Capacity Height 6” (12” with optional riser block $80)
Blade length 93 ½”
Horsepower 1 ½
Table Size 16” x 16”
Dust Port 4”
Built in mobile base
Upper and Lower Guide Bearings
Quick tension release arm

The saw is very quiet and well balanced when running. It makes more noise when winding down than while it is running. There is a specific RPM that it hits when it winds down that makes it shudder for about a second, but otherwise it is smooth. It doesn’t do this when running up. All the adjustment and alignment knobs and screws are easy to access and adjustments are smooth and precise. I also like the mobile base. It is hidden under the base and there is one foot lever in the rear to acivate it. It works very good and rolls smoothly across my uneven concrete floor.

I have resawed oak and maple with no effort on my part. Of course the Kreg resaw block helps significantly. The saw comes with a magnetic base light, but I chunked it for a battery operated LED light source (see picture). More on the light at http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/closetguy/blog/3680.

I don’t consider myself a bandsaw connoisseur since I only use it maybe once a week for about an hour, but this purchase was one of my better decisions. Just what a dumb ‘ole country boy needs…

-- I don't make mistakes, only design changes....