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My dream table saw and bandsaw... opinions?

5K views 26 replies 19 participants last post by  steve6678 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
UPDATE: I appreciate everyone's responses to my post. I decided to order the Grizzly 555LX yesterday, and bought the table saw Steve Ramsey at woodworkingformeremortals.com from Lowes yesterday. For now this bandsaw will do more than I need it too, and this is my first REAL table saw. I have a Skil contractor table saw right now so this is a huge upgrade for me. Thanks again for all your posts!

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You may or may not know that I am currently deployed and finishing up my 2nd deployment in three years. Very soon I will be returning to my lovely life and wanted to make a couple of changes around the shop when I get back. With that being said I want to make sure I make the most out of my money and don't jump into any investments I will regret. What are your opinions on the products I'm thinking about buying?

I realize this is a very general question with many factors but I'm a hobbyist woodworker and I feel this will be more than sufficient for what I want and priced well. Of course I will take any opinions or reviews of these products from you all before I make my final decisions. Thanks for looking and comments are appreciated!

I just realized the picture isn't showing as big on here as I'd like. You can see it on this page: http://www.facebook.com/SawDustKing?ref=hl#!/SawDustKing

It's the G0555LX Bandsaw with riser kit and G0715P 10" Table Saw with riving knife, polar bear series and with shipping and everything is priced around $1500.
 

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
I just realized the picture isn't showing as big on here as I'd like. You can see it on this page: http://www.facebook.com/SawDustKing?ref=hl#!/SawDustKing

It's the G0555LX Bandsaw with riser kit and G0715P 10" Table Saw with riving knife, polar bear series and with shipping and everything is priced around $1500.
 
#3 ·
From what ive read that table saw model has had a few issues with the blade not getting out of whack as you raise and lower it. There's a lot of honest reviews on that saw around here. Im not trying to persuade yu one way or another but i have heard of some hiccups with that table saw.
 
#4 ·
The 555 and the 715 are both fairly proven tools. Especially the 555. I don't know about with the riser, my buddy has one without, and he loves it but regrets not being able to resaw above 5.5 inches.

On the Hybrid 715 saw, I looked at that, and to be honest, for what I do, could not justify the extra $400 between that and a Rigid R4512. But that's just me.

On the other hand, I just jumped up to the Grizzly G0513X2BF, since I wanted to finally do big boy resawing, and it fills the bill wonderfully with the huge table, 2HP, and magnetic brake for $1200.
If you got off the 715 bandwagon, and went for a Rigid R4512, you save $400 that you could put towards a much larger bandsaw, and not have to think about the riser block. Just a thought, but what you have there is plenty good!
 
#6 ·
I would not trade my Delta Unisaw with a Bessemeyer fence for anything. I got it used for about what you are looking at. They come up on craigslist from time to time in our area too. I know NEW is nice, but older tools , well what can I say….....
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
Good machinery is nice to have…. but fine wood
to built things from is heavenly.

I don't know what you want to make, but you
know some fine hardwoods and a vacuum press
can really open up your imagination in ways more
capable cabinet making machinery won't.

Juts food for thought… I spend way too much time
fussing with nice machinery and too little doing
actual exquisite woodworking. That's because
I'm in a kind of feedback loop of justifying electrical
tools on the basis of how much time they will
save on production-style cabinet work.

I hope that makes sense. A nice bandsaw is a
more pleasurable and inspiring tool to use than
a good cabinet saw, imo.
 
#8 ·
I have that tablesaw and have been very happy with it but others have had problems as posted above so you're on your own with the TS. I would urge you to look at the 17" Grizz bandsaw (extreme series). It has a lot more features than the 14" saws and has 12" resaw capacity without need for a riser block. Compare prices between the 14 and 17" and there is little difference after you add the resaw fence, riser block, etc to the 14" model. I have run a lot of wood/logs through my 17" Extreme Grizz and it has performed well. The last suggestion would be to buy good blades for whichever BS you choose as that makes a BIG difference. Best wishes.
 
#9 ·
After reading the reviews for the Ridgid 4512 after Tennessee's suggestion that might be the way to go.. A lot cheaper and sounds like it's everything I need and more. That way I can spend a little extra on the bandsaw. Thanks for all the comments all. I am weighing all my options heavenily. Thanks again.
 
#10 ·
I'm not sure about the bandsaw (my personal choice would be the G0555X) but I'd skip the 715 and go for something with cabinet mounted trunions. Steel city makes true cabinet saws with 110 volt motors. That's the direction I'd be going.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
The alignment issues that plagued the early G0715P models also plagued the early R4512 and Craftsman 21833's….ironically, all came out at around the same time and have very similar guts. Those issues have supposedly all been dealt with….FWIW, Griz did seem to take action first, so I'd think those worries are over.

What you get for the extra $400 on the G0715P are two solid cast iron wings, a significantly better steel t-square fence, a full enclosure with better DC, and more mass. There's little argument that those are all desirable features….whether or not they're worth a $400 premium is for you to decide. I think they would be for more….adding a better fence and solid wings at a later time would likely cost at least that, and would be harder to do. Either way, once aligned and fitted with a good blade, either of those saws should serve you well.

I'd at least give some consideration to one of the Steel City hybrids that NiteWalker mentioned. The Craftsman 22116 is made by them, and goes on sale in the $850 range. It has a granite top, cabinet mounted trunnnions, full enclosure, steel t-square Biese clone fence, and is very heavy and stable.

If you've got 220v, I'd even give serious consideration to the Griz G1023RL 3hp cabinet saw….it's far more substantial than any hybrid or contractor saw. The saw alone would blow most of your budget, but you'd have a heck of a saw that should last a lifetime or 3.

Let us know how you make out.
 
#12 ·
Rick L - a bit more? He's looking at an 800$ table saw and you are recommending a 5 thousand dollar table saw. That's not what I would call "a bit more".

I think a panel saw is overkill and unnecessary for most hobbiests. Unless you spend all day breaking down sheet goods, I don't see the value in a 500% price increase for the most basic sliding panel saw
 
#13 ·
I have a panel saw… I love it to bits… I would also never toss my table saw because of it. I would probably never have gotten it but it was a surplus find at $400, you can't go wrong.

I came in here to say: I have that bandsaw and it is the greatest thing. You'll love it.
 
#14 · (Edited by Moderator)
Is it just me, or has no one asked or has SawDustKing not said what he plans on doing with his new tools? I may have overlooked it and, excuse the rest of this post if I have, but I don't see it.

I mean, it's nice to throw around all these suggestions, but without a stated intent of use or project plans, it's all just throwing ideas into the wind.

Do you need a big cabinet saw if you just want to build small keepsake boxes and picture frames? What about small tables or clocks? Is an 17-19" bandsaw needed to build intricate cuckoo clocks?

Sorry if I'm a little out of line, but some us are just saying things that we'd personally want in our own shops. I find it a little irresponsible of us to make suggestions about spending some serious money for a hobbyist woodworker on the assumption of things he may or may not need.

How about we get a better idea of what you plan on doing SawDustKing?
 
#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
To clarify for Doss and everyone else for that matter I have a small woodshop back home. I have a cheap bandsaw and contractor table saw I bought at Lowes/ebay/etc. as well as other tools. As a hobbyist I'm not looking to make particularly one thing or another, but by upgrading my tablesaw and bandsaw I'm wanting to now have resawing capacity (that I don't have now) and a more accurate, stable, safer table saw. As far as what projects I want to make; I don't know. That's kind of the fun of it to me, I make something, research something else, and go from there. I'll be doing everything from cabinets to small cuckoo clocks if that helps answer your question. I'm looking for a mid range between contractor style quality and professional quality. As an added note I appreciate everyone's responses and opinions.
 
#20 ·
A little late to the party but it sounds like Sawdustking has a good idea of what he want's, I can't recommend a tablesasaw I'm still using an outdated hitachi that I've had for several years but I do have the 555 polar series with the riser kit and can't be more happier with it, but if you can swing a few $ more then go with what Andy (gfadvm) suggested the grizz 17".

thanks for your service to our country.

Randy
 
#21 ·
I have the 555X Extreme bandsaw. They didn't have LX when I got mine a few years ago or I might have gone with that one. I like my bandsaw and I'm really glad I went with a model with cast iron wheels. Makes a big difference compared to the aluminum wheels on my dads saw. The X model has gone up in price a lot since I got mine 3-4 years ago and don't know if the extra frills are really worth the jump from the LX to the X. I WILL say though, if you're getting the riser you're probably looking to do some resawing. If so the 1HP may be a little underpowered in my opinion.

As for the saw, I got the G1023SL when I finally decided to get my first "real" TS. I looked at the "Hybrid" at the time, which I think was comparable to the 715. Even found one used that the guy had to sell 2 months after getting it. When I looked at it I decided it wasn't really worth the extra money over a contractor saw. So, unless you want to jump up to a cabinet saw, I'd recommend a smaller contractor saw and spending the extra coin on a larger bandsaw like mentioned above. Just my opinion though.

If you have any specific questions about the 555 bandsaw though, feel free to message me. I'd be happy to answer questions or share my thoughts/experiences.

Good luck with your decision!
 
#22 ·
I appreciate everyone's responses to my post. I decided to order the Grizzly 555LX yesterday, and bought the table saw Steve Ramsey at woodworkingformeremortals.com from Lowes yesterday. For now this bandsaw will do more than I need it too, and this is my first REAL table saw. I have a Skil contractor table saw right now so this is a huge upgrade for me. Thanks again for all your posts!
 
#23 ·
Good deal SawDustKing. What pushed you over the edge on that tablesaw vs something like the Rigid, Craftsman, or sub-$1k Grizzly?

Also, are you planning on installing a riser kit on that bandsaw or does it not allow for one?
 
#24 ·
Can't go wrong with that decision. I'd suggest one more thing: if you intend to do any resawing down the road; even if it's way down the road, get the riser kit now. I waited on mine and have not only seen the price increase $15 or $20 but it's just a lot easier to install when you're first setting up. Not to mention I've bought a couple of new blades (wide and narrow) that are going to be useless when I finally add the riser.

Just something to consider. Enjoy the new tools!
 
#25 ·
Stay away from the 715p table saw. I got one earlier this year that was out of whack and had to be sent back to Grizzly. I had issues with the blade height and parallelism that supposedly had been corrected. The senior tech who approved my return said they do not even recommend that saw for anything approaching fine woodworking. I now have the 1023RL and couldn't be much happier with my decision. It's worth the wait if you need to save more money.
 
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