Buying a Bandsaw

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flyitfast

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longbeard

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Jet has a contest going to give away a 14" saw through Popular Woodworking.
JET Bandsaw Sweepstakes - Popular Woodworking Magazine
Maybe you could win one!!!! :biggrin:
Check their website - I just got an email this morning about their contest.
Good Luck
gordon

This is a dumb post on my part. Now everyone will enter and I won't have a chance............:mad:

:laugh::laugh:

Nice thought, appreciate it.


Harry
 
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Bandsaw

I would look at the Laguna 14-12. It is a whole new saw targeted for the entry level market. 110 Volt with plenty of capacity. I have 2 Laguna's and love them.

Mike
 

BKelley

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I purchased the Power Matic 14" saw about a year ago and it is one of the best pieces of equipment I've put in my shop. I got it with a riser block and have since purchased a
Carter log saw attachment and Carter magnetic fence. You can not believe how smooth this saw will cut. I recommend it 100%. Before buying tho, you might look at the Power Matic 15" it is fairly new on the market and I don't know anything about it. If it is a step above the 14", it's a jewel.

Ben
 
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I have the Rikon 14" pro saw and it has 14" of height adjustment and I have used all of it on several occasions! This saw is a good saw and I can imagine that the smaller Rikon saws are really good too.
 

longbeard

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Man, you guys make it tough to decide :rolleyes::bulgy-eyes::rolleyes::bulgy-eyes:

Still undecided though, but still looking at the grizzly's.
Was hoping for something good on the delta i found on craigslist.



Harry
 

longbeard

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Father's day is comming. Just a thought...............lol


I think i might be wearing the "holiday" excuse thin :laugh::laugh::laugh:

Birthday
Fathers Day
Christmas
Thanksgiving
Just because you love me day
Easter
Anniversary
Haven't gotten anything for awhile day


Harry :biggrin:
 

raar25

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Ok so to get to your specific question which no one seems to have done, I bought the lowes porter and cable and installed a riser block. Although the riser block was not exactly made for it, a couple hours of drilling and assembly and it did the trick. The saw is more than stiff enough to cut 12" bowl blanks as long as you have a nice sharp blade. I paid $399 minus a 10% coupon for what I cant remember and got the riser block for $40. I hace been very happy with the saw and it is nice and quiet unlike my old craftsman. It is not a powermatic, but you will have plenty of money left to buy good quality blades and take your significant other away for the weekend (win win)
 

Cmiles1985

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Harry,

Have you decided on a bandsaw yet? I'll say that I've used my Craftsman a lot more now considering I've only had it a week and a half, and it has done me right. I don't have any large burls or bowl blanks laying around, so I have not yet tested the limits of the resaw capacity. The saw is very smooth, cuts well and was $389.xx out the door. Considering what you can get the PC or the Craftsman for, I'd throw the HF idea out of the window.
 

longbeard

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Been looking at this one also.
Craftsman 14-Inch Band Saw: Strength and Speed Team up at Sears

Clark, is this the same as yours?

Any reason why i shouldn't buy this one?

Other than replacing the blade, it has a bigger table, 8'' cutting capacity, ( i know i can't add a riser) 1 horse motor. I've read the reviews, 4 star from 42 reviews.



If i get this one and later decide i should of got the grizzly, you guys can always say..."i told ya so" :biggrin:


Harry
 
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Cmiles1985

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That is the one I bought. If you have a sears nearby, check it out. They will also honor the online price in store (or they just order it online, then you drive around back and load it up).

Again, I don't really have intentions of cutting LARGE stock in the near future. Once I have an actual shop (next house), I'll upgrade :)
 

longbeard

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That is the one I bought. If you have a sears nearby, check it out. They will also honor the online price in store (or they just order it online, then you drive around back and load it up).

Again, I don't really have intentions of cutting LARGE stock in the near future. Once I have an actual shop (next house), I'll upgrade :)


Same here Clark. I'm not going to be resawing alot, maybe one or two here there but when i do i want to be able to cut thru it and not think about it.
I'm only working out of a 9x16.



Harry
 

Cmiles1985

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It cuts pretty well. I just cut a bunch of mesquite blanks without it it hesitating a bit. I'll cut some thicker mesquite stock in the next night or two to see how it handles some good thick hard wood. Also, by saving so much I bought a nice Kreg fence and miter gauge that will be here tomorrow evening...or, I got what my company considers a bonus, so I chose Amazon as my gift card :)
 

Cmiles1985

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As an update in the Craftsman: it does not include a fence. I bought a Kreg Precision fence. Now it's time to install, so I had to buy a T&D set, now a full set of drill bits. We are getting close to the cost of the Rikon Deluxe if I hadn't planned on upgrading the fence and miter gauge anyways. I guess, at least now I won't have the factory ones taking up space!
 

shastastan

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I have a MiniMax 16". It's a great saw, but I have not used it to it's multi-use capacity. I put a carbide tipped 1/2" blade on it and have just left it. I have done no scroll work with it since I have an RBI scroll saw. I mainly use my bandsaw for resawing with my Laguna carbide tipped blade. I used to have a 14" Delta but the Minmax is way better, IMO. I'm not pushing it as a brand though. I would just recommend that you, first, decide on what your main uses of the saw are going to be and then find a bandsaw that best fits your uses. I've cut logs on my Minmax, but I mainly bought it for resawing. I frequently use it to dimension pen blanks. Once I got the fence adjusted for drift, I haven't readjusted it for years since it stays right on.
 

longbeard

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I think i going to get the craftsman for no more than i will be doing.
Now, if anyone would like loan/give me some $$$ for a Rikon, Grizzly or one of those fancy ones, i'll gracefully except :biggrin:



Harry
 
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looking for bandsaw

I've had the Rikon 14" deluxe for almost 2 years and use it a lot. This is a great bandsaw. There is a window on the end to see where your blade is tracking, there is a quick tension release, a miter guage, a good fence, a 4" dust collection port that works good. At $799 it is an excellent buy.

In the classified section of Woodcentral there are 2 new carbon steel blades and a carbide resaw blade for $100 ( carbide blades are usually $170+ alone). I started out with a 14" , added a riser block, bew guides, new tires, etec, etc and ended up with a hodge podge inferior saw while spending a lot more than buying the Rikon deluxe the first time.
 

longbeard

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I've had the Rikon 14" deluxe for almost 2 years and use it a lot. This is a great bandsaw. There is a window on the end to see where your blade is tracking, there is a quick tension release, a miter guage, a good fence, a 4" dust collection port that works good. At $799 it is an excellent buy.

In the classified section of Woodcentral there are 2 new carbon steel blades and a carbide resaw blade for $100 ( carbide blades are usually $170+ alone). I started out with a 14" , added a riser block, bew guides, new tires, etec, etc and ended up with a hodge podge inferior saw while spending a lot more than buying the Rikon deluxe the first time.


Sounds great Doug, will you spot me $400 :rolleyes::biggrin:

A rikon fence will fit the craftsman, besides, i'll make my own also.


Harry
 

Cmiles1985

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For the first couple of uses I just clamped a straight piece of poplar to the table. I just used the fence for the first time, and it's nice.
 
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My Rikon Pro has 14" and I have used all of it several times. Love this saw and not much slows it down. A band saw is an important purchase. I would rather wait and really get a good one than to hurry and wish I had waited. My band saw has paid for itself easily and was worth the price that I paid for it. I don't regret it one bit. Same with the lathe. The pens have paid for both several times over.
 
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