Grizzly G0555 Bandsaw

Congratulations. I’ve been looking at the Rikon. One of these days, I will get a new saw to replace my older delta 12”.
I’ll be interested in hearing how you like your new saw.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Have one. Was one of the 1st production models and it’s been a great saw.

Was very easy to assemble and have had no problems with it.

You’ll be quite happy with, IMHO.

Jimmy

-- Jimmy

I’ve got some experience on the G0555. My Brother In Law got one a little over a year ago. He uses Wolverine blades on it. Great saw. At 1HP it is a little underpowered for resawing, but will handle almost any other task with ease. I am in the market for a bandsaw as well. I am torn between the Grizzly G0555X (same as yours basically, but 1.5HP) and a similar JET 14”. Unless you are doing a lot of resawing, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

I’ve had my G0555 for about a month. I love it! I’ve been very impressed with Grizzly overall and my bandsaw is doing a great job. I practiced veneering on it last week and it handled it like a champ. I also bought the riser block but have yet to install that and then stock up on a new batch of blades.

Enjoy!

www.ShopDogUSA.com

-- Branden - Sacramento, California - www.ShopDogUSA.com

I purchased this Rikon back in March. It was highly rated in all the magazines. I haven’t used it much yet, but I really like it. When I’ve used it more I’ll tell you more about it.
One thing I like is it’s well put together, & sturdy. No vibration. When you turn it off it coasts a long time.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

I bought mine around December last year and I love it. I also got the 6” riser. After the initial tune-up, it runs like a champ. It’s quiet and runs smooth. The blade that came with it is not that good. I bought a couple Timber Wolf blades and I’m pretty happy with them.

-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/

I too am looking at the Rikon, thank you Dick for the input. I just need to scape up the money $$!! $^( It did well in a recent band saw test in one of the woodworking mags. The Grizzly wasn’t as highly rated, but I’m sure that it wasn’t because it was a bad saw, it just didn’t have the extra bells and whistles.

-- Jesus is Lord!

I looked at the 555x but felt the 555 was better bang for the buck. The resaw fence I can make myself I just hope I don’t miss the extra hp.

I looked at the Rikon…The Grizzly was just over $550 with shipping…the Rikon was $800 without shipping. I couldn’t stretch the pocketbook ( the boss would have shot me). Grizzly has 12” of resaw (w/block) vs. Rikons 13” and the Rikon also has the extra hp and a shop light.

I’m going to be working with it this weekend..I’ll let you know how it goes.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

For those of you still in the planning stages I suggest you take a peak at this article.
http://www.popularwoodworking.com/upload/contents/335/bandsaws.0603.pdf(steel frame bandsaws advantage to me when I purchased my new saw was that there was less flex between the top and bottom wheels under tension.
This gave me lots of problems with my 14” cast frame saw.
One of my friends upgraded to a 16” and had a similar experience to my own.
My new saw tracks extremely well and takes a good sized blade without flexing. (3/4”)

Bob

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

I have the Griz G0555. It has been a great additon to the shop. No problems, easy set up and fantastic price. As a ww enthusiast, I love Griz products. I have a TS, DP, and a 6” joiner. I love them all. But wish the radial DP had a more power.

Good luck.

-- Dom, How many Bs are in Babar?

OK, I’m having a tough time making up my mind about a bandsaw purchase. I too, have looked closely at the Grizzly bandsaw for many months. I really got excited when they upgraded the base version to 1.5 horses. Here’s what I need to know. I have the money to get that saw or a Jet 14” I also like. Those of you that have worked on these and then moved up to one of the big boys ($1000+), will I be wishing I saved up and bought a more powerful saw. Can a 1.5HP saw with a quality blade resaw effectively? I resaw boards < 6” wide since that is my jointer capacity. Most 14” saws can cut 6”. I like to scavenge for reclaimed lumber, so I do need to do a little milling from time to time. What would you get?

-- Jeff, South Carolina

I received the saw last Thursday and put it all together in about 1.5 hrs. I spent another hour the next day tuning everything. I immediately destroyed a blade trying to cut a root burl….rocks don’t cut well. I wasn’t worried about the blade since I’ll be installing the 6” riser block next weekend.

After changing the blades and retuning I started working on the morris chair I’m building. Did a great job ripping the mahogany. I also cut all the tenons…very crisp…very tight. I really like how its performing. This is my 1st bandsaw so I was a little concerned over what I felt were kind of touchy feely instructions for set up. It just doesn’t seem very precise. But I was able to get clean flat square edges from the start so what do I know.

I resawed some 6” oak, fed it smooth and steady and the saw only bogged down slightly once but I think it was a slight shift on the fence that caused that (no tall resaw fence yet) and this is not an aggresive resaw blade. Just a typical 3/8” 3TPI. I ordered a mix of blades including a 3/4” resaw. I’ll let you know how it handles the oak.

I think the x version will be enough Jeff. The extra .5 hp, the resaw fence, and the cast iron wheels should make it handle 6” stock fairly easily. I’m very happy with mine so far and I think the resaw blade will improve performance even there.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Glad you like the saw. I have been joneing for a saw with 12” of cut depth. Keep hoping I will run across a used industrial machine. Although I am running out of room in my garage shop for more tools.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Hey Bob, I’m jealous! I can’t wait to get mine. About the resaw, I used my brother in law’s G0555 1hp yesterday. He scored (2) four foot 4X4 walnut boards from a demolished building and I came over to see his spoil. And yes, I’m bitter he didn’t split the find with me! haha. I thought about this thread and used your model to try and resaw the 4” tall stock. He has a 3/4” Timberwolf blade. I’m not positive about the TPI or teeth style. The saw to my suprise cut through it with very little effort. His take was that when he has a newer blade good blade, it has no issues. When it begins to get slight dull it bogs down. So yes, I think the extra half horse will be great with the added riser. I am not making the purchase for about 2 weeks so post again when you have tried it out a little more.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

HI, This is my first post and I want to add my experience with the Grizzly band saw and say hello!

I have the G0555 and it is been replaced by the new Rikon Deluxe 14. There is no comparisons between these two band saws. They are in a different category.

I was really never happy with my Grizzly but that was my first band saw so I used it but I never had excellent results. I just assembled my Rikon last weekend and it is so quiet. It feels and looks like a 16 or bigger saw.

My recommendation is that if you can spend the extra bucks get the Rikon instead the Grizzly. I will put mine (G0555) for sale this weekend.

If I could have stretched the wallet a little I probably would have gone a different route. But so far so good. My experience is limited to this saw though so what do I know. I have gotten some very good results so far and that is just with the mediocre blades they included.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

I purchased the 0555 back in January. I just love it but my wife still won’t let me take it to bed with me.

Hehe….I’ve spent some late nights in the shop instead of bed….:). I’m having a great time with it. I hope to get the extension block installed this weekend and then I can try out the new resaw blade. I have a stack of some unusual woods to put through it. Lilac, Rhododendron, swamp maple burl, some funky cedar crotch.

I also tried my 1st bandsaw box and it came out pretty nice. I was surprised by how quick it was to do. 1 hour from start of cutting to finish….minus the glue set time of course…and that’s with the 3/8” blade. I can’t wait to try one with the 1/8”

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

when adding your riser block you will need to make it coplanar. Here is a link to a site where they have a kit for $4.95.
http://www.tufftooth.com/coplanar.html

HHmmm…installing the factory supplied block takes them out of alignment….that’s not good. Thanks for the tip.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

When I added my riser block I didn’t have a problem with it going out alignment. I recommend checking, because you are removing the top arm and adding it back on. Things can go out of alignment, but I didn’t have any problem.

-- Mike - http://inquisitivewoodworker.blogspot.com/

I will check it. I think I should be able to realign without the kit.
Thanks.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

So Bob, it’s been awhile and I’m looking at buying the Grizzly G0555, how’s it working out? Has the riser been worth the while?

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I bought the 14” Grizzly G0555X with the 6” riser about 6 months ago and i am very happy with it. It is very quiet and does not bog down. I have used it a lot and have had no problems with it, the aligning is simple and the trick is to check your alignment periodically…..MIKE

-- never enough time in a day so use it well

I have a G0555 with the riser block. I upgraded to Carter guide bearings. I can get some quite decent resaws with it. I have a Woodslicer blade on order, and if it lives up to it’s reviews I’ll be VERY happy with the rig.

-- Maplewood, MN

I am retired from the USAF. Before retiring I always did my woodworking at the Base in the Wood Hobby Shop. There they had great equipment to included top of the line Powermatich and Delta Bansaws. When I moved to Tennesse, I started acquiring the woodworking tools to continue my hobby. One of the tools I bought was the Rikon 14” saw. It preforms as well if not better than the much more expensive saw I was used to on base. I am really pleased the the Rikon and highly recommend it. Chiefk

-- P Kennedy Crossville, TN

Hi all! First post here…

I’ve got the original 0555 with the riser block and it seems my wheels are not coplanar. When I adjust the upper wheel tracking to center the blade (a HH WoodSlicer) the blade rides towards the front of the lower wheel. When I checked the wheels with a straight edge it seems my bottom wheel’s top is not in plane with its lower rim and the top wheel.

Do I need the coplanar kit? If so, where can I get one within the US? The TuffTooth site requires a $50US minimum order and, welll.. I just dont have the ‘need’ for that much stuff at the moment.

Anu other suggestions are welcome as well!

Adam

-- Adam - Red Hook, NY