10 inch Bandsaw

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Tom D

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Joined
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Columbia, SC
Hi Folks I need help or should I say my new Daughter-in-law is looking for a 10 inch bandsaw for my son. I can't be a lot of help because I have been trying to make up my mind for the last two years and can't decide what size I need or what size I can fit in my shop. She is looking for something good but reasonable for an Xmas present. Is the Rikon and the Craftsman the same? Please Help.:befuddled:
 
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Hi Tom,

The Rikon and Craftsman 10 inch BS are nearly identical. I have the Rikon brand and absolutely love it for my smaller jobs. I also own it's big brother (10-325) and love it for the larger jobs.

How are you planning to use a BS? That will be a very important factor in making the right choice.

Great little saw, that Rikon!
 
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I would agree with the Rikon being the best option in that size. You'll pay a bit more but you'll get a solid cast iron table and fence, around 4 1/2" usable resaw capacity, built in dust port and bearing blade guides. Not bad for around $250 retail...I think I've seen them sell in the $199 range when you can find a good sale.
 
I bought a Skil at Lowes 2 years ago for 125 bucks. It's a cheapy but suits my purpose. I've only changed the blades on it. Works fine for blanks. It even has a lazer light.
 
bnoles said:
Hi Tom,

The Rikon and Craftsman 10 inch BS are nearly identical. I have the Rikon brand and absolutely love it for my smaller jobs. I also own it's big brother (10-325) and love it for the larger jobs.

How are you planning to use a BS? That will be a very important factor in making the right choice.

Great little saw, that Rikon!
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I have the Craftsman version and love it. The CMan one also has slightly more resaw capacity IIRC... 4.25"

Avoid the Craftsman 9" at all costs. It looks similar, but is a completely different and inferior product. It's the same as the Harbor Freight 9". Total junk.
 
I bought a Central Machinery 14 inch BS off craigslist for $150. I've heard some good and bad about CM brand tools. This one has been working great for just over a year. The metal panels that serve as the base were bent on the bottom. The feet wouldn't stay straight and caused the BS to be unbalanced. I bought a tool stand from Sears and made my own base for the BS. Works like a charm. Quiet and stable. I use it for pen and bowl blanks. I'm really happy with it.

Jim
 
A friend of mine that works at Woodcraft compared the 10" Rikon to one of the 10" Craftsman models and found that they were almost identical. I am not sure of the model but it has the same features like the blade detensioner, and a couple of other features. He has had his Craftsman for two years and has no complaints with it. I am trying to find a Sears store that has one in stock so that I can compare the features and see for myself.
 
Got a Craftsman BS, I can say that I'm not pleased with the roller bearings they use for blade guides....too much slop for me. But I make due with it. Motor is strong and with halfway decent blades will cut the thickest hardwood I can stuff through it.


Scott (I'll never find a perfect saw) B
 
I would go with the Rikon. I have a number of Rikon tools, which are work very well with no problems and they have great customer service for anything you need. Very helpful staff. Great products and their 10" bandsaw has very nice features which are very well made.
 
I just sold a mint condition Rikon 10" ($175). It's a nice little saw, I just didn't have room for it. As long as you can tolerate a narrow blade, they're fine. Those small frame saws just can't tension a wide blade properly in my experience. There isn't enough beef in the frame and it just flexes.
 
Tom D said:
My son would be using it mainly for pen blanks and small bowl blanks
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Tom,

Based on your reply, Perhaps the 14 inch would make for the best choice. Bowl blanks can put a lot of stress on a 10 inch, not to mention the size restrictions of the throat.
 
Thank you all for the great information, I jut found out I had been duped. My lovely wife told me my daughter-in-law wanted to buy a BS for my son but she wanted me to find a good but inexpensive one. She was really trying to find our what I wanted, I told her today I wanted to go by Sears and look at their BS. She was affraid I was going to get myself a CM BS and she told me she had ordered a Rikon BS for me for Xmas. I can't wait. Again thanks for all the great info
 
I bought a Powermatic 14" about 5 years ago, mainly because I had a Delta 10", and it was basically limited to "hobby" use (such as cutting up aircraft plywood, balsa, basswood, etc.) It is not to good for cutting anything of substance, such as 3/4" stock. Also, the small throat size is a real limiter on small bandsaws.

That being said, it serves me well for cutting pen blanks to length. The Powermatic I use mostly for resawing thicker material into strips for making laminating blanks for wine stoppers, tool handles, etc.

I have a Rikon lathe, and like it a lot. I'd not hesitate a bit to buy a Rikon bandsaw in any size. I think they make nice tools that are competitively priced.
 
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