Bandsaw question

[Del the cat]

Dang it, somebody else got it first.  Back to search mode.

Ah, maybe that tells you the price was reasonable...
Del

[Jim Davis]

Haunt craigslist.

This one needed tires (they're available for any saw) but I got it for $15 and cleaned and painted it.

[osage outlaw]

Watch craigslist,  Facebook marketplace,  letgo,  offerup, etc.  You will find one eventually.

[Sagebrush]

I bought my porter cable for a reasonable price but having used a jet and a grizzly since I will buy one the next time it pops up.  Game changer. 

[Hawkdancer]

I got the Grizzley bandsaw and table saw during the summer sale, have to set up the dust collection system and learn how to use them!  Good luck in your search!
Hawkdancer

[Eric Krewson]

The only saw I had that was pure junk was a Rigid, this was years ago and I bought it from a friend down on his luck. It was so bad Rigid replaced it but with a factory return that was missing half the parts. I gave this saw to my brother, it took him months to get it running.

Fed up with sorry saws I bought a Griz.

[Jim Davis]

Really, if you want to learn about the best saws for the money, go to "Old Woodworking Machines: http://www.owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=530100838282b06f25dc40fda81f17aa

and or Vintage Machinery http://www.vintagemachinery.org/
 and get your eyes opened and you'll never look at a new machine again. Register free at either or  both sites.(Warning, it could start an unexpectedly intense new hobby...).

Vintage American-made machines will still be working a century after eastern-made machines have broken their plastic and aluminum parts.

Here's a sample of a restored Delta

[osage outlaw]

I've heard similar comments about those Rigid saws Eric.  A friend had one and he ended up getting a machine shop to make a replacement part for it. 

[TimBo]

Those vintage Deltas are cool, but the ones I have seen on Craigslist are at least as much as a 14" Grizzly.  I will fall out of my chair if I see one for $15!

[bradsmith2010]

I have a rigid,,14 inch, it works ok, I dont use it that much ,, maybe a few times a year, have had it,,10 years,, not recommending it,, just saying,,I think I paid 175

[Jim Davis]

Timbo, the picking depends on the part of the country and whether the saw is plug and play. I think there were more home woodworkers in the Northeast. Pickings here in western Kentucky are pretty slim.

My $15 saw had been painted Rustoleum silver and was pretty dirty, had no stand or motor. The most I payed for any of my four saws was $75. That was 20 years ago, so inflation might double that??? That one is Canadian (Beaver, a branch of Delta at the time).

Patience is an asset too.

[paulsemp]

I had a 14 inch rigid also. Do not buy absolute junk. Worst tool Ridgid ever put out. Two years ago I ponied up and bought a rikon 10-326. 14 inch resaw capacity with a 2 horsepower motor. Worth every penny even at full price

[Stickhead]

Great info, y’all!  Keep it coming!

[TimBo]

Well, maybe this thread was good luck.  After keeping an eye on Craigslist for several years, I just scored a 1979 Rockwell 14" saw in great shape.  It has a riser block and 1.5 HP Dayton motor.  Woo hoo!

[Jim Davis]

I'm very glad to hear that. You avoided a world of trouble by getting the iconic make and model of American made saw.