I recently purchased a Grizzly 14″ Bandsaw, the recently discontinued ‘commercial grade’ model G0570. After refitting it with a Suffolk Machinery Timber Wolf 3/4 inch X 3 TPI low tension bandsaw blade, and tuning the saw per the FWW #173 article 5 tips for better bandsawing, I made a test cut resawing a Doug Fir 2 X 6 on edge, cutting a thin slice off the board. Using my machinist calipers, I checked the thickness of the cut piece on each end, over about 7″. One end measured .083 inches thick, the other end measured .083 inches thick. Perfect. When I got the saw, I set it up and made a similar cut using the stock bandsaw blade that shipped with the saw. I just about had to add clamps to keep the wood in contact with the fence while cutting, the saw cut wandering all over the place. The cut with the Timber Wolf blade was not only accurate, but it took almost effortless pushing the material thru the blade with one finger and two fingers holding the stock against the fence. WOW WOW WOW. I’m a believer….
Jeff
Replies
Most likely the blade which came with your saw wasn't a good quality blade. The teeth on a bandsaw blade are "punched" from one side. If the die isn't sharp the teeth will be rounded on one side (check it out with a magnifying glass) and will cause the blade to drift. This is more apparent on "cheap" blades.
It's a shame that quality blades aren't shipped with new saws. If a manufacturer is proud of their product, it seems that they would want everything in their favor to impress the customer, and reassure them that they have made a good choice in purchasing their product. Would you bur a new car with "reject " tires?
"It's a shame that quality blades aren't shipped with new saws." Yep. I had heard awhile back that Grizzly was going to ship with Timber Wolf blades, but there's no indication of that in their catalog (they now sell TW blades). forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
My RICON 18" can do that.. I use a 1" 3 tooth blade.. I can cut wood slivers ya can see through!
Sorry a LENOX blade.. Not carbide or anything special.. Wide blade do the trick.. NOT GOOD FER' curves though!
Edited 3/23/2006 7:24 pm by WillGeorge
...Not good for curves....
Amen!! I have a 3/16 blade for contours, which I used tonight for cutting out a wooden scraper in oak. The more I use this saw, the more I love it. Glad I read Fortune's article on 5 tips etc.. Just couldn't be happier with my GRIZZLY saw. I must be REAL lucky to have got a good copy of these inferior chinese saws.....ROFL......
Jeff
"I must be REAL lucky to have got a good copy of these inferior chinese saws.....ROFL......"
I'll second that! my Grizzly 17" HD BS with the timberwolf blades cut's like a dream. But then again, so does the 1023 cabinet saw. I guess I got luck twice, and kept a big hunk of jingle in the pocket.
My next lusting is for the big 8" jointer. After reading all the reviews and reading the comments here, that may not be to far off.
I see people disparaging Grizzly tools a lot in this forum, I don't get it. I've had very good results with them and saved a lot of money. I don't buy their real low end stuff, maybe those tools are troublesome, but the tools I've purchased have served me well. My 14" band saw has cast iron wheels, a 1-1/2 HP motor and cuts like a dream as well. What's not to like? Money well spent. I have a Griz 1023 cabinet saw on order. The 5 HP left tilt model with router table. Been waiting for couple months now, should be in next week. Really looking forward to getting it. How have you liked yours? If the cabinet saw performs as well as the other Griz tools I have...I'll be laughing all the way to the bank!!
Jeff
Edited 3/25/2006 12:13 am ET by jeff100
I think the bad rap has come from the early day's of Grizzly and like you said the lower end stuff. I have only purchased the bigger stuff with the exception of the horizontal boring machine. Before I bought the 17" Bandsaw, I did a lot of research and decided to take a chance. To me at the end of the day, if you give two people a specification for a board and cut one on a Grizzly and another on an expensive top tier model, and they are the same, then what difference does it make. Now if you run a few mill of lumber a year, then that's a different story. I know of a few professional shops that have grizz and love it. I saw someone hear post that if quality was important, grizzly should not even be considered. I just had to laugh. As to the 1023, you will love it. I have the 3hp left tilt with the 7' rails. If they had had a router table insert when I bought mine, I would have got it. Please write a review of the router insert, I would be curious about it's quality. For my 1023, the fit and finish was fine and I purchased a dial-indicator and magnetic base to make any adjustments, but did not need to. The thing was dead on out of the crate. When I put the leaves on the side, I was ready to shim and that was not necessary. I checked the top and it was dead flat and the bessy clone fence was dead on too. It also passed the nickle test. Again, what else can you ask for? Someone commented that "oh yea, but it won't last like a unisaw or pm 66". Well, I can't answer that yet only had it a couple of years. I think people have to be happy with what they buy. If money is no object then have at it. For me, I guess I'm just tight. And yes, I do believe that you only buy a good tool once. That's why I bought a Grizz! The first one arrived damaged (not grizz's fault), and they shipped a replacement immediately. Good customer servers. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
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