Rikon Power Tools recently introduced a 14-in. bandsaw, model 10-320. And considering its relatively low cost, the saw proved to be a solid performer. It has a frame built from folded sheet metal, a construction commonly used by European bandsaw manufacturers. The resaw and rip capacities measured 6-1/8 in. and 13-5/8 in., respectively, numbers typical of most 14-in. bandsaws.

Power is provided by a 1-hp, 9-amp, 120v, totally enclosed fan-cooled (TEFC) induction motor. Unlike non-enclosed induction motors, a TEFC motor is much less likely to be affected by dust.

The saw has two speeds: 1,445 ft. per minute (fpm) and 2,950 fpm. The slower speed generally is used for cutting plastics and nonferrous metals. Changing from one speed to another was relatively quick and easy.

In terms of flatness, the table showed a dish of 0.005 in., well within acceptable tolerances. Both wheels were only slightly out of round: the top wheel by 0.004 in., and the bottom wheel by 0.005 in. Both values are acceptable.

As a rule, a bandsaw blade is easiest to track when the upper and lower wheels are in the same plane. I found the wheels to be perfectly parallel when viewed from above. But when viewed from the side, the two wheels were misaligned by 0.200 in. That compares with an average misalignment of 0.106 in. among others we’ve tested in the category. Despite the higher-than-average misalignment, the blade tracked just fine.

A rip fence is included with the saw. And while it won’t likely be mistaken for a heavy-duty accessory, the fence does offer plenty of adjustment for blade drift. Also, it locked securely in place and was square to the top of the table.

I ran a little test to get a sense of how well the Rikon could handle a heavy cut. First, I installed a sharp, 1/2-in.-wide, 3-tpi, carbon-steel blade in the saw. Then, using a commercial tension gauge, I tensioned the blade to 15,000 psi. After that, I made several resawing cuts in 6-in.-wide soft maple with the saw set at the higher speed. The Rikon made each cut with little effort.

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