Replies

1. 
   JMartinsky | Jul 10, 2006 07:48am | #1

   Dear Wonko,
   I was in your position a while ago and finally went the "cheap" route and bout the "Ridgid". I think that the whole deal with mobile base was $450.00 out the door. It seems "OK", I say that without anything to compare it to. In the 14" range, the Powermatic seems like the best made also the most $. The Ridgid is adequate and in hands more skilled than mine is probably not a bad tool. It is hard for me to recommend it as I have some strong feelings about tool purchases from HD. No matter what you buy, put a real blade on it. Suffolk Machinery http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/ is the ticket there. Give them a call and they will hook you up.

   Best,

   John

2. 
   SteveBB | Jul 10, 2006 09:42am | #2

   I recently got the newer JET 18" (the one with a window to see blade tracking), and I've been very pleased.  Setup was relatively easy, and I have not had to  make any adjustments for blade drift.  I also thought that I would only use my bandsaw for resawing and curves, but it works so well, I've found myself figuring out lots of ways to use it instead of my table saw, especially when cutting tennons.

   One interesting note on JET pricing.  I was looking at the 14", and did the math on ordering the roller bearing guides and resaw attachement, and it would have been more expensive than the 18" which comes with these included.  Go figure.

   Steve

1. 
   andybuildz | Jul 10, 2006 04:30pm | #3

   I've also been researching band saws and I agree that Jet is the best bang for the buck. I'll probably go with the 14" loaded model for about $650 + shipping. I'm still waiting for Ebay to come through but....or...find that Jet cheaper than at Amazon or when they have free shipping...or when hell freezes over...lol.If Blodgett says, Tipi tipi tipi it must be so!

   TipiFest 06~~> Send me your email addy for a Paypal invoice to the greatest show on earth~~>[email protected]

1. 
   BilWil | Jul 10, 2006 05:16pm | #4

   If you have made the decision to go with a 14 inch model stay with the Jet or the Delta and get a copy of Louis Iturra's catalog/book.  Lots of good info and accessories fot the Jet and the Delta.  I've got a Delta 14 inch which I've put Iturra design accessories on and I and PLEASED, whereas when I first bought it I thought it was just a good saw for lighter (resawing 4 inches or less) work.

1. 
   Napie | Jul 10, 2006 06:46pm | #5

   Aggreed on the 14" Delta, mine eats everything I send its way.

   This company will make a good used Delta into a great machine:

   Iturra Design4636 Fulton RDJacksonville, FL 32225-13321.888.722.7078 voice1.904.642.2802 fax

2. 
   dmohle | Aug 03, 2006 07:18pm | #22

   HI andybuildz,I have had a rough time with my Jet 14", although not the loaded version. See message 30735.10 for the blow by blow.

2. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 21, 2006 07:42pm | #11

   Hi Steve,

   One feature the Jet 18" has that I wish other manufacturers would emulate is the front-mounted adjustment wheel for the rear thrust bearing.

   I've seen some interesting and innovative features on Jet bandsaws. Unfortunately, my experience with the lone Jet we have in the labs at school has not been satisfying. Our shorter students seem to appreciate the fact that its table is significantly lower than those on our various Lagunas, but I find it anything but smooth.

   I hope yours give you many years of smooth sawing,

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

3. 
   bones | Jul 10, 2006 08:36pm | #6

   I'll chime in with the Grizzly G0513. I like it and now they have a new version with cast iron wheels for another 100. Don't know if it's worth the extra 100 though. Mine has been great price/performance.  I would reccomend the timber wolfe blades by suffolk machinery.  Have fun with the new toy. Good luck on the decision.

   http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=30522.6

1. 
   user-181778 | Aug 03, 2006 06:08am | #20

   Curious if there are any other hands-on opinions about the Grizzly "Ultimate" 14" bandsaw.  It's well reviewed, has nice features, and has a good price - is there a catch?  I'm a somewhat advanced hobbyist who will some day retire and do wookworking fulltime, and I like to purchase tools that will last forever.

1. 
   bones | Aug 03, 2006 04:27pm | #21

   I can't speak to the 14" I decided to go with the 17" HD.  I have multiple purchases from Griz and no poblems. 

2. 
   cadiddlehopper | Aug 04, 2006 03:32am | #23

   Before buying, I took a personal look at Grizzly's store in Springfield. Shortly thereafter I bought the Asian Delta 14", the cheap Lowe's version. The table is larger. The base is rigid though it is open frame. It has a tension release. It seems beefier. A neighbor has a very old Delta. If manufacture in Asia makes a difference, I can't tell what it is. I am more pleased with this saw than any other tool in my shop.Cadiddlehopper

4. 
   cadiddlehopper | Jul 11, 2006 02:53am | #7

   Delta 14" from Lowe's is quite a bargain. I added height block. Of all my power tools, it pleases me the most.

   Cadiddlehopper

5. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Jul 18, 2006 07:03am | #8

   Chris, I got to this thread late but stay away from the Ridgid. I picked one up 3 or so years ago and found out as I put it together that the trunions that the table tips on are cast alunimium  and ok for most work. They have the bal*s to offer a riser kit to resaw but the table sags with a -say 6x10x8 - stick of wood supported with multi rollers on both sides. I prop up the table with 2x4's sized to fit and will later build a plate under the table as described  in an old FWW article. Even at 3/4 hp it cuts thick stock well but slow but you MUST use good blades like Suffolk. I buy them two at a time for insurance. My next 14" WILL be a Delta full base 1 1/2 hp., what I should have done the first time as a bandsaw is a priceless asset in your shop. Good luck, Pat

   ps. as the Amish are wont to say "we get too soon old and too late smart" pfh

6. 
   dmohle | Jul 18, 2006 09:15pm | #9

   Hi Wonko,

   I just bought the Jet 14" open stand BS and am sorry I did. Got a good deal thru Amazon, free ship and 10% off, but.....Had a nightmare just getting it set up right: the table was 13 mils warped out of the box, and they sent me another, just as warped. On the third try, I insisted they get QC to CHECK one before sending it. THAT one is only 6 mils dished, OK for a cheap saw I guess. Still had to smooth off the burrs. Then I tried putting on the riser block kit, to find that the extended guide bar (that supports the upper guide and blade guard) was 22mm dia. Too big to fit the 19mm hole in the frame and also the upper guide. Same story as the table, took 3 tries to get the right guide bar. The fence had to be redrilled to fit the saw too, guess I got old stock on the saw.
   All this took 2 months, and when I started USING the saw, found that both the cast aluminum trunnion support bracket and the top of the base flex way too easily to do precise cuts. Also the 3/4 HP bogs down resawing 8" wide beech at anything more than a snails pace.
   I bought Jet because I have an old (blue, not white) US made Jet table saw which is a beautiful precision machine. Unfortunately the BS is not. Jet ain't what it used to be. If I could do over, I'd probably get the Grizzly 17" or the Laguna 14".
   Moral of the story, don't buy cheap tools, you'll be sorry.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/18/2006 2:19 pm ET by dmohle

1. 
   Napie | Jul 18, 2006 10:14pm | #10

   A nice used, (say 20 year old), Delta 14" would have been a much better buy, tune it up, (Ittura Design), and you have the best small bandsaw there is.

2. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 21, 2006 07:49pm | #12

   "Moral of the story, don't buy cheap tools, you'll be sorry."

   Several years ago I bought a 20" Inca from Eagle Tools in the Los Angeles area. After I picked out my saw Jesse, the proprietor, told me his technicians would go through the saw completely and ensure it was properly set up and adjusted before I took it home. I was happy to go visit friends while the pre-delivery tune-up was completed: when I took the saw home, it purred like a kitten and resawed without drift using a 1/4" blade.

   Moral number two: Buy from a reputable local supplier who'll set up the tool properly before you take delivery, and who'll have your back if things go wrong.

    -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

3. 
   John_D | Jul 25, 2006 10:48pm | #16

   the 3/4 HP bogs down resawing 8" wide beech at anything more than a snails pace

   I've got a 2 HP bandsaw with a Timberwolf blade.  I've resawn 10" hard maple and 8" oak and cherry, but never beech, but the rate of progress certainly seems "snail's pace."  I don't know how fast I COULD push it, but I want a straight cut so I'm hesitant to really jam the wood through.  I've certainly never bogged the motor down, but I'd think I'd run into other issues (bowed cuts) before I literally stopped the blade.

   I'm trying to estimate the speed I can get this done, and I figure it takes me six to eight seconds to go an inch when doing a tall resaw.  How does this compare to what you can do on your Jet, or on other more capable machines you've used?

   The reason I'm writing is, I'm not sure it's clear to me what expectations we should have for cutting speed when resawing.  As a hobbyist, I'm personally far more concerned with precision than speed, and the only reason I really got this bigger bandsaw was to get the nice >12" resaw and be able to reasonably run 3/4" and 1" blades.  I felt, and still suspect, I would have been quite happy with less power.My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 26, 2006 01:33am | #17

   At school we have a 28" Laguna set up with a variable-speed power feeder and a 1" carbide-toothed resaw blade for resawing.

   We typically resaw stock (up to about 16" in height, if I recall correctly) at a rate of about 6-9 seconds-per-inch; slower if necessary, but rarely faster.

   As with many other power woodworking operations, I find a consistent feed rate is critical for best results when resawing; besides, there are only two times when a woodworker hurries: just before the accident, and immediately after!

   If we need to blast through stock in a big hurry, we have a 36" Oliver that'll slice through 6"-thick stock just about as fast as you can shove it through - definitely have to exercise maximum safety when operating that beast!

    

   -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

   Edited 7/25/2006 6:35 pm by jazzdogg

1. 
   John_D | Jul 26, 2006 01:34am | #18

   Huh, same speed I'm using.  Even a blind pig gets an acorn from time to time. :)My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 26, 2006 01:49am | #19

   "Even a blind pig gets an acorn from time to time."

    

   Funny, that's how I feel some mornings...-Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

7. 
   MRGreer | Jul 22, 2006 07:17am | #13

   Back when their tools were made in the USA I would have quickly chimed in to buy a Delta 14".  That is the saw that all others copied for years.  Mine is so old it's actually a Rockwell, which was between the really old Delta and the old Delta, the new Delta, now owned by Black and Decker is going to come from the Pacific Rim and I can no longer make a blanket recommendation for this previously wonderful tool.

   I'm at the point now that you might as well buy Grizzly as they have more experience on the Pacific Rim than most other brands, so their manufacturing bugs should be worked out.  If you can find a used Delta 14" made in the USA then grab it as other have mentioned.

8. 
   sdergar | Jul 22, 2006 06:44pm | #14

   I have the 14" rigid bandsaw and with a few adjustments it has been great.  There are a few good articles on how to beef up the 14" overseas bandsaws.  I have put a riser block on it as well as beefed it up under the table so that there is more support.  I drilled my own 3" hole in the front for dust collection and put a plywood base over top the metal stand then bolted the bandsaw to both.  It has served me well.  Having said that, I've known all along that one day I would upgrade to the high end machine...the laguna.

9. 
   joefuerte | Jul 22, 2006 08:39pm | #15

   I have the delta X5 14" bandsaw. I love it! Once again free shipping from Amazon was a big incentive. Plus it came with a rolling stand (very handy)

   Here is why I love it

   1. Plenty of power.
   2. Made in the USA
   3. I like Delta blades
   4. The fence is rock solid (have to pay extra, but worth it)

   Granted it is more money than the Grizzly. If you are not going to use it too serious, the Grizzly might work fine.