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Newbie in market for 14" bandsaw, need recommendations

2K views 16 replies 13 participants last post by  ol104 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey all - im in the process of putting my shop together. Over the course of the last year I have been able to upgrade to a nice General TS, Dewalt 735 planer, Bosch glider MS, Jet DC, but the last piece to my puzzle is a good bandsaw. My current saw is a 9" Delta shopmaster :(

Had a yard sale recently and did pretty well, so I have ~$700-800 to splurge on a bandsaw. I think this puts me in the 14" size range and should be able to get good/decent quality. Not able to touch Powermatic, General or Laguna.

I have seen the Jet 14" is around $700 on Amazon out the door. There is also a used Jet on CL for $550 in the area that I can maybe get for $500. Both have no fence so add in another $100 for an aftermarket fence (Kreg). the other comparable would be the Grizzly 0555 series, especially the 30th anniversary edition that can be at my door for around $600. Don't think I can talk the wife into the extra money to make Rikon an option.

Ive read lots of reviews for both the Jet and the Grizzly, some good some bad as expected. I guess I will pose the question this way. If YOU had $750 bucks and were searching for a bandsaw. What would you get?
 
#2 ·
In my honest opinion, I don't feel there is a whole lot of functional difference among the various 14" bandsaws. The Jet or Laguna MIGHT require fewer adjustments upon delivery than a Ridgid or Porter Cable. But they'll also be $300 more expensive if purchased new.
Do you happen to live near a Sears? You might want to check-out their Craftsman 14" bandsaw. A very nice machine imo, and gets great reviews. Very similar to the Rikon. Some say they come of the same assembly line. I already own a Ridgid, which I like ok. But if I were buying a new BS today with a $750 budget, I'd buy the craftsman. It can be had for under $400. A fence can be had for $100ish. That would leave you with enough cash to buy some quality blades AND some lumber to build something with.
 
#4 ·
I also have a 14in Rikon #10-325, and enjoy it a lot. IMO, you do NOT need to replace the bearings and guides with Carter products, as those are pretty much a wash for traditional cutting and wider blades. Only when you put an1/8 or 1/4in blade on this machine, will the grooved Carter Stabilizer Bearing be an advantage.

http://www.carterproducts.com/product.asp?product_id=440&cat_id=14
 
#5 ·
Very Respectfully, I disagree Tedstor on the Laguna or Jet issue. As in most things in life, you do get what you pay for. The higher priced machines are built out of higher quality metal and to a higher standard. This can be seen in the details from finish, screw selection, trunnion design and locking system, to motor horse power and manufacturer. Many people believe that the detail don't count, but they do. These saws take into account those details and that is why they cost more. They add a certain smoothness to the work they do, just like a sports car does to its task. Does it drive differently than a family sedan? It has all the same parts, right. But the experience is completely different.

In my opinion, the bandsaw is the pivotal machine in the shop! It can do so many things, open so many doors to creativity. Take your time, do your research, read what the experts in the woodworking magazines think when they compare them and then invest wisely.

Again, I speak only respectfully and mean no offense!

Nate
 
#6 ·
Look twice at the Porter Cable (Around $400.00), I have one and after a good tune up and good blades it preforms perfectly. 1.5 HP, solid casting, good table, it runs smooth and vibration free. I have added a Kreg fence (around $100.00) and a resaw adaptor, with a good re-saw blade it cuts a clean resawn board.
 
#8 ·
you do get what you pay for.

except where jet is concerned. i found them long on promise, short on delivery and expensive, making them poor values, IMHO.

Look twice at the Porter Cable ….. 1.5 HP

i'd look carefully at the hp rating of that motor. at 10A (@ 110v), it might be using the old craftsman method of measuring HP (read, extremely optimistic (AKA "peak")) ratings.

to the OP, i'd save another $50 (+/-) and try for a rikon 10-325 when they go on sale at highland WW or woodcraft. tools that deliver performance and a company that delivers great customer and technical support . the 18" rikon that replaced an 18" jet that i had was just a much more substantial machine. the frame, wheels and table felt beefier and the motor was much smoother.
 
#10 ·
IMHO, ditch the 14" and go for a Grizzly G0513.. $850 bucks get you 12" resaw capacity, 16 3/4" throat depth and a 2 HP motor. It is the last bandsaw I will ever need and the footprint is no bigger than the professional 14" models mentioned by my fellow lumberjocks. Just something to consider. Good luck!
 
#11 ·
I have the Grizzly G0555 and I love it. I did upgrade the fence to the Kreg, but I got both used and only have about $300 into everything. If you don't need to resaw beyond 6", I think it would be great. If you do want to resaw taller boards, either add the riser block or get the G0513 as earlier suggested.
 
#12 ·
Hey guys - thanks for all of the great responces so far. I try to go by the adage to get the best tools you can afford. Based on the response, i may be better served to save a little more and get the Rikon. I dont see myself ever really needing anything larger than a 14" but i also dont want have to have buyers remorse over not getting the best saw i can within my budget. My shop is also in the basement, which limits how big i can go or should i say how heavy a box i can get down my stairs.
 
#14 ·
Personally, I'd stay away from the $400 Porter Cable. Mine is two years old, give or take, and I recently lost the upper wheel hinge assembly when the co-planer adjuster on the hinge assembly started to crack. Now I keep my blades a little on the tight side, due to all the jewelry boxes, but it cracked on a 3/16" blade. Give me a break.

On the other side, the whole assembly was in stock at a couple places online. I picked eReplacements.com, who shipped me one out on Saturday for under $40, including shipping. Should have it maybe Wednesday, UPS Ground.
Still, it is a cheap bandsaw and you get about $400 worth of bandsaw, even with the bearing upgrades I put on it.
 
#15 ·
Agreed Toolie - between adding riser kits and a good fence, the Jet and Griz are creeping closer to the Rikon price. I believe the Griz comes with a fence but i am a fan of the Kreg product line and would have upgraded regardless.

Honestly, i had eliminated the Porter Cable and Ridgid units already. I have looked at the PC model in Big Blue and just wasnt overly impressed. A buddy of mine has the Ridgid 14" and again just not that impressed with fit or finish, almost HF quality. I think they have been engineered to simply fill the gap in those product lines that are simply retailer brands at this point. I know PC isnt officially a Big Blue brand, like Kobalt and Ridgid (H.D.) but they might as well be.

CL posting in area for a 10-325 with extra blades for $800 right now. Claim of only being used a few times. Probably best to wait until a new unit goes on sale??
 
#16 ·
I have had the Rikon 10-325 for several years now. I did not add any after market parts to it - all stock parts, and it still performs just as well as it did when I got it. for smaller parts it is my go to saw (more so than that table saw).

I got this saw because I wanted something with a high capacity resaw since I have some logs and other thick material that I like to cut down per project requirement for maximizing material. if you don't need this then you can look at any of the other saws with the smaller resaw capacity, but I personally like the euro steel frame construction compared to the american cast-iron design (a matter of personal taste you could say).

FWIW, 800 for a used rikon seems a bit high. I would price mine with additional blades, and mobile base at 650-700 max if it would be for sale.
 
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