I would like your advice on a new bandsaw

There is probably nothing anyone can say to change your mind, but I like my Rikon 18 inch.

-- Jim

Perhaps if you really want to resaw you should be looking at a larger machine. You will find that the machine in the 17-18” – 2 HP range are ideally suited to resawing where the 14” machines will do a reasonable job on smaller, less dense stock.
Because the larger saw can take larger blades(1”) there is less problem with tensioning and blade drift making the resawing task much more predictable.
I kept my 14” for use with smaller blades to save changing them and use my 18” almost exclusivley for resawing .
The cost difference is not all that bad when you consider the price of wood today.
I know for a fact now that the big thing you will miss with the smaller saw is the power and the accuracy of the wider blades.
http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/170

http://www.grizzly.com/outlet/G0506X

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/picture10?&NETID=0839120309081795774&NTITEM=CT103N

cheers
Bob

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

A larger saw would be better if you are always resawing 12’” boards

If you are like me that’s the exception rather than the rule.

A 14” saw is a good all around saw for general use. I have reviewed Steel City’s saw on this site.

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

Gary much of the stuff I have on hand right now is for turning and it is all larger than my 14” saw can handle.
Point taken however, it you are primiarily interested in flat work then the 14” would fill the bill about 90% of the time.
I just thought that if the guy had only X to spend , what’s the difference over the life of either saw?

Bob

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

Bob – I’m not arguing one way or the other, just stating an opinion. Mike is the one that’s going to decide.

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

Me either Gary.
I’m just trying to present all of the possiblilities that I faced owning and operating both types of machine.

Cheers
Bob

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

I enjoy my 17” Grizzly bs. The larger table size makes it easier for resawing. Now that I have one, I you it more then my table saw. If you can swing the extra for the the larger saw. You can all the stuff a small one can do plus.

Mike: I have the Steel City 18” and it is a great machine. Glad I chose the larger saw.

You all have talked me into taking a closer look at the larger saws. Are there any available, that you know of that include everything, resaw atatchment, wheels.
Some of the larger models, such as the grizzly are comparable in price, but once I start adding additional items it becomes significantly more expensive.
It is very important that any bandsaw that I get be mobile, as I have to store all of my tools every night to put the cars back in the garage. I am going to stop by woodwerks tomorrow to see if they have anything available so that I can save on shipping.
Thanks for all of the advice!!

very pleased with my Rikon 10-325 14” bandsaw wil resaw to around 13” right out of the box, with no extras to buy. of course it takes a really good blade and that would not be referring to the poor blade that comes with it.

steve in Ind

Mike, What is your budget? For resaw, you can make your own tall fence to save money. I made one out of mdf and it sits over the lower fence.

I just ordered a Rikon 18” – 2.5hp from Woodzone down here in Columbia, SC for $999 plus tax & no shipping. Woodcraft recently had the same special on a flyer they sent me. I don’t see it on their website, but you might check with one of the stores in Ohio near you.

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

I know this does not fit into what we have been talking about but, I was at sears yesterday, they are discontinuing their 14 in bandsaw, on sale for $469. It comes with just about everything I need except the re-saw fence, and a 3/4 in blade. It will re-saw up to 8 in.

I did stop by woodwerks on the way home last night. They had the JET 17 in model on sale for 1099, and it came with the double ball bearing guides for free. But, I asked about mounting wheels on it so that I will be able to move around my shop, and they highly discouraged it, and said that it will not be stable.

So I have definitely decided to go with a 14 in model. And I am really considering this Craftsman. The price is hard to beat, oh I also have a $25 off coupon.

Has anybody had a bad experience with this saw?

Not me but almost every other Craftsman tool I ever bought.
That would be the very last resort for me.
But, you seem to be determined to put price ahead of long term value so good luck.

Bob

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

Bob, I am not determined to put price ahead of long term value. As I stated, I need a mobile solution, or I might as well not get anything because I will not be able to use it. I asked the people who are supposed to be experts at Woodwerks, and they informed me that it is not safe to make a 17 in or larger bandsaw mobile.

As for the Craftsman I was asking the question as to quality. Is it a good saw? I am not going to pay $300 more for a saw if it will perform the same, or very close.

The first saw that I asked about, the Steel City, is not cheap for a 14 in saw, actually it is one of the more expensive 14 in saws that I looked at. And you were not in favor of that either. I understand that you are a bit biased to the larger saws, but I don’t feel that it will work in my shop.

All of my larger woodworking tools are craftsman. I don’t have any problem with them, but I have not had experience with other brands so I can not compare the two.

I do appreciate the input but, I do not appreciate you judging me.

Craftsman seems to be a brand that people either love or hate. I know that their quality has gone down
over the years,

Personally I don’t think that I would buy anything craftsman with the exception of hand tools.
You probably noticed while you were at Sears the they sell brands other than craftsman, right?
Why would they do that if their brand was selling well?

Just my opinion.

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

I have the Craftsman 14” you are looking at. It is the only bandsaw I have owned, so nothing to compare it to. That being said, I really like it. It gets very good reviews from its owners as well. Every once in a while Sears will have a tool sale. I got mine about 5 weeks ago for $400 tax and all. One really good thing about it, it has cast iron wheels. My are very well balanced too. Most 14” saw in this price range have aluminum wheels. One thing I wish it had that is doesn’t is a quick release for the tension. Besides that, I think it is a great saw. I did a lot of research before buying mine. I looked at it versus a few others I could actually see. I am glad I bought it. I would recommend it to you.

I have a Harbour Freight 14” Bandsaw, and it has preformed very well, the first thing I did was to throw away the guide blocks and replace them with roller bearings. It’s been rock soild with no complaints. I have the riser kit, just haven’t had the need to install it yet.

-- Ray

I have an old Reliant (Woodworkers Warehouse) 14” bandsaw with the 6” riser block installed. It can resaw up to about 12’, although I have never attempted to re-saw more than about 8” or 9”. It originally had a 1 hp motor which I have replaced with a 1.5 hp motor.

I never really had very good luck trying to re-saw with this saw until I finally purchased a really good blade. It is a Wood Slicer 1/2” 3-4 tooth re-sawing blade. With this blade installed I can slice through 8” tall oak with relative ease.

But… If I look at what I have put into this saw, the riser block kit, the motor upgrade, replacing the guide blocks, replacing the blade tensioning mechanism, etc. I would probably have been better off getting a larger, say 18” saw.

As for mobility? If the mobile base you get is designed for the weight of the saw, you will be fine. Just be aware of any potential tip over possibility as you move it across the floor. Whoever told you that you shouldn’t mobilize a bandsaw due to it’s size, does not really know what they are talking about. Or they don’t sell the mobile base that you need to make it a safe operation.

-- Mark

I think it all boils down to how much you will re-saw. I have a 14” Jet with a 1hp motor and the riser block. In a good year I do 4 projects that require re-sawing. I have re-sawn 10” wide hard maple on this saw. could I have done it faster on a biggger saw? Yup, but I wasn’t in a hurry. Do the panels come out nice? you bet.

!:!

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

The more I use My 14” Rikon, the better I like it. It’ll cut 13”, & you don’t have to struggle adding a spacer block.

Check my review

It’s selling for about $750.

-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I also own the Rikon 14” bandsaw. I bought it based on a review by one of the woodworking magazined. It was rated the best of the saws tested. I have not regretted the purchased. pkennedy

-- P Kennedy Crossville, TN

i have a powermatic that i got about a month ago. has a riser block and has cut very well for me including resawing although i’ve only resawed about a 6 or 8 inch board so far. i use the fence, as is, and go slowly. the cut is true all the way through. timberwolf blades.

that said, it took a day to assemble and true up the powermatic. that’s a lot of work. i just saw a bandsaw review, maybe fine woodworking?, the thing i noticed is the top rated saw, a laguana, came fully assembled for $1500. fully assembled is definitely worth something esp. on a top rated saw.

-- Greg, CT