Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stonedog on November 04, 2008, 09:11:38 pm
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OK...I KNOW this has come up before, but my search-fu is weak tonight.....so here goes.
At the beginning of the year I will have $400 to spend on a new bandsaw.
I was thinking the 14" 3/4 horse Grizzly OR the 12" 3/4 Craftsman.....
I CANNOT spend for than $400......so telling me to get an 18" just won't work....
Your thoughts please?
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hey stonedog, just cheap out and buy the ryobi 9" ... it's very inexpensive and will cut through hardwoods like osage just fine. Get a 3/8" blade for it. Save yourself a couple hundred bucks for good materials.
may you find shade and water
radius
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Go for the 14". They are heavy, last forever and there are lots of parts, replacement materials, accessories available, lots are interchangeble between Grizzly, Jet and Delta. Blades are everwhere. I have two of them, one home and one at work. I'd hate to let either one of them go.
piper
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hey stonedog go with the grizz,ive got one its great..right now its on sale 395.00..........robustus
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Don't buy the Rigid, made in China from Home Depot. Mine was a week old before the blade adjustment broke. Cheap cast aluminum. And it's not backed by Home Depot or the same Rigid company that makes all the pipe wrenches I buy every year. Now the tire on the bottom wheel is jumping off.
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you can always look on line on those 4-sale sites and find a good used one cheaper also ;D
tim
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Stay away from a Rigid bandsaw. I bought one, absolute junk! I took it to warranty repair because the wheels wouldn't track, they couldn't fix it. Rigid sent me a replacement saw and half the parts were missing from the box. I gave the replacement away and bought a Griz, couldn't be happier.
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has anybody used one of these????
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=32208
i dont know anything about bandsaws... but i like to buy from this store its local and can put a no hassle extended warrenty on it... if it breaks they give me a new one... no trying to fix it or send it to warranty department or anything like that...
just bring it in and get a new one.... or at least that is how there other warrenties work... but i havent bought anything big from them jus some small stuff.. but i have yet had to use the warranty... maybe just lcky but i have always got some pretty good stuff from them...
so far....
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I bought the 14" craftsman on sale. It was under 400 bucks with the stand. I'm happy with it.
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I have a Grizzly, 14", 1hp. It is a good machine and Grizzly has any parts and accessories you may need and a good tech support team. I have been buying Grizzly tools for almost 20 years and have never had a serious problem with any of them. Pat
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I think all the advice your getting on the type of saws that are good, is right on. The one thing I think they are leaving out is to ask you how much cutting on it are you planning to do? I only use mine once a week if I'm lucky, hence the Ryobi 9". If you plan on using one for more than that, or larger blocks of wood than the occasional bow, better go for the larger, heavy duty versions. Check them out and see what controls feel the best and work for you. In the end you are the one that has to live with it.
Bill
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Repeat from about 4 other posts. DO NOT buy the Rigid! It is a total piece of junk and my fingers would get blisters if I typed all the things I hate about it. Pay attention to what people say here because you know a tool until you've spent hours trying to make it work right. I've written the pitfalls of the Rigid in so many posts that the company could probably sue me!
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Howdy StoneDog and Group,
Recently, I was Cruising Craig's List (actually looking for a large, belt sander) when I came across a really nice, 16" bandsaw. It was a commercial grade, heavy duty thing from Germany. It was described as, "hardly used" or "rarely used". It was about four years old, had roller bearings as guides, cast iron pulleys and post... NICE!
I was so interested that I looked up the cost of the '08 model for that saw ===> about $1,800.00!! They were asking $500.00!
But, when I ran it past "the Boss", she asked me where I have room to keep it? :(. End of story.
Point is... Keep an eye on Craig's List, in your region, maybe a good, used bandsaw will pop up in the next few months.
Best of luck,
Canoe
Oh! BTW, There is a book, 'Bandsaw Tuning' or 'Tuning Your Bandsaw', this is a must have for safety and for running a bandsaw correctly.
Also, I have recently read a note about the importance of getting a high-end bandsaw blade - the note said it would make a Huge difference.
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You may be able to find a nice used one. Mine is an MIT (Michigan Industrial Tools) is 14" and was made in 1985. Its a work horse. Go Michigan products!
Steve
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For the moment....I will be making mostly hickory backed Ipe bows....and the occasional meare heath or holmegard stlye red oak.....
I figure I will make maybe 4-6 bows per year....
Still think I need the 14" right now? It will prolly be at least a year before I am thru all of my current stock......
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I've got the grizz,and it has been a good saw for 5 years now. Frank
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i bought the standard 9" via menards for 89 bucks, and that works great, but in woodshop we use a 14 inch grizzly-BUT: check craiglist, you'd be amazed what people are selling tools on there for. I almost bought a mounted beltsander for 40 bucks :o good luck in your search though, -jimmy
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Stay away from Harbor Freight Power Tools.......JMO
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Stonedog, it's kinda like buying a non-magnum shotgun. Go ahead and get what you can afford that is worth the money and is not inferior for possible future.
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Most harbor freight tools are junk, BUT I have had my 14 inch saw for 6 yrs, and no problems......I have heard others with not so good of luck...Some people are harder on tools than others, I suspect that is a factor in tool usage. My kid can break a fiberglass shovel in a few minutes, that I could use for yrs.....
Brian
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put ur mind at ease !!! buy a jet and forget about trying to find parts and somthing thats good every power tool in my shop is a jet and iv yet to have any plms if ya cant get parts for em whats the point of havin em ? iv found it easier to find jet than any of the other and i agree stay away from harbor fright and grizzly for that matter iv had some grizzly tool s that are total junk for example plastice spindels and such in grizzly tool s my 2 cents good luck brock
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Well....I just bit the bullet and bought a 14" Delta today....oh well....it's only money!
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Bcbull,
Mind at ease? I bought a jet 18 inch NEW within 2 weeks the lower wheels main shaft sheared clear off, talk about exciting......blade jamed into the side of the saw. If I was going to recomend a saw that is a work horse , look at LAGUNA!! Going to be spendy though!
Brian
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I'd say thats a good choice. I have a 14" Delta with a built-up table in the wood shop I work in to use, and I have a 9" Ryobi at home. Both saws have custom blades. Either easily makes the cuts for the bows you want since thats mostly what I do. What matters most is how sharp that blade is when cutting bellies and outlines..
Rich