Is this Craftsman 12″ bandsaw with a 1HP induction motor a good deal at $199? What about long term reliability, adjustments and tracking?
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Replies
When buying Sears. Ask yourself this. Why is it on clearance? And how available will parts be? I learned that lesson many moons ago.
Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Quality issues of current Craftsman tools aside, I've been able to get parts for my almost 25-year-old radial arm from Sears with no problems. I would guess that, like many companies, Sears now has some of their tools made offshore which may affect parts availability down the road. There's not much in the Sears line of machinery that I'd seriously consider now, but at one time they offered some pretty decent stuff.
My experience with tool "deals" from Sears is that they aggravate you from the first time you start them up but they refuse to die outright so you'd replace them.
The motor specs suggest that it does not suspect a true 1 HP, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's also split phase or some other undesirable type.
I now adhere to the rule "don't buy cheap tools". That doesn't necessarily mean high end, but it means spend what it takes to get quality. Far better to save for a decent machine than to struggle for years with a mediocre one.
Pete
Edited 7/30/2006 6:13 pm ET by PeteBradley
First, a disclaimer on my part: I tend to be highly prejudiced against Craftsman power tools. That being said, though, things may be a bit different with their newest generation of stationary woodworking tools.
First, I'd want to know if this is one of their older saws, or a new design. I simply don't know, and don't have time to find out. Maybe you could. My understanding is that, in addition to the new "ZIP Code" table saw, which seems to be a winner, they have introduced some new band saws to the mix.
Secondly, a 12" band saw is pretty darned small. The small wheels put alot of stress on the blades, your resaw capacity is limited to 5" and your blade width to 1/2".
What kind of work do you expect to do with your bandsaw? A very important question to answer. Is your budget extreeeeeemly limited? In my mind, that would be the only reason to go with the 12" saw. And then, only if my tasks were minor and easily handled by it.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Is this Craftsman 12" bandsaw with a 1HP induction motor a good deal at $199? What about long term reliability, adjustments and tracking"?
Evening rover.. Chances are that not too many are going to know the answers about a good deal as was mentioned. A better question would be, "what was the reason to dis-continue it"? I doubt it's been around long enough to be definitive on long term reliability. Adjustments could be hit or miss depending on speaking directly with a current owner that knows how to adjust it properly.
Tracking.. I'm going to be skeptical also on the true HP of that motor and I can tell you from experience that a 12" saw is not what you need if you're expecting to mainly re-saw. You can re-saw up to about 4" stock if you throw a 1/2" Wood-slicer on a 12". But you have to be patient and stay away from locust, ash, hickory and the tough stuff.
Trust me on the last statement. I have a Jet 12" that is solid and will cut any outside curve you can throw at it with a 1/4" 6 T skip-tooth or a 3/8". But.. it is not a serious contender in re-saw. So.. if you are just looking to cut outside, the Sears might be fine? And if you live close to Atlanta, I will sell you my 12" for the same price, if your main need is outside cuts. Mobile base, Quik crank, and a solid foundatiion.
Regards...
SARGE..
I have this band saw. It is not to bad. I paid 299 for it not long ago!!!arrrr I picked this saw because it had a 7 inch resaw capacity. I have not reached that capacity yet. I think it was worth if for 299. At 199 Its a steal in my opinion
Rich
Forestgirl & Sarge have sage advice. I had an older Jet like Sarge's (different color) for about 6 years. It was solid except the stand had some flexing to it. Sarge has a different stand. After acquiring a Delta 14-incher, I have concluded that anything less isn't much bandsaw. The best price I have seen is at Lowe's. It is something you can upgrade as your needs dictate. Of course, several other brands have very faithful copies of this classic out there if you want to shop price & features. Sarge has made a good offer, too. I got more for my Jet which was older.
Back to the Jet (& probably other brands), the tire on the drive wheel stretched & came off but was easily replaced. It was rubber. Delta's tires look like polyurethane plus it has a tension release. My Jet did not. I hope that the Delta tires last longer. The tension release could have been a factor. Where I live has a bad effect on rubber, too.
Cadiddlehopper
Cadiddlehopper
That's the one I got about a month a half ago. You have to remember that this model is being discontinued for a new model just like the auto manufacturers do. There's nothing wrong with it and you can get parts for years. Also, Craftsman is just a name and the product is made by, say, grizzly, Jet, De-Walt or some other tool manufacturer. I have had no problems with mine and I like it.
Could this (picture below) possibly be the Sears bandsaw you're considering?
Someone here mentioned a 7 inch resaw capacity which this one has, but I thought they had discontinued this model some time ago. This one takes an 80 inch blade.
I bought the one in the picture some 25 or 28 years ago, second hand, for $220. It has been a wonderful tool - I replaced some bearings once, got them easily through Sears - and it is even better since I spent 85 bucks on a carbide toothed blade. I can resaw 7 inch tall walnut like slicing through hot butter.
Pete
Whooaa... Pete. That looks like my Craftsman 14" I bought on sale back in 1973. And in those days. Craftsman had some excellent stuff. I have a Craftsman mitre box and saw, a CM 1/2 drill and a CM finish sander that are still running.
And one thing you could count on back then is that you could get parts for them forever. I haven't even looked at any Craftsman in many years as all Sears are at Malls here in Atlanta. I don't do Malls! ha.. ha...
It's good to hear that they're still maintaining parts inventory for what you bought yesterday that is no longer on the shelf today.
Regards...
SARGE..
Hey Sarge,
I had no idea that saw came in a 14 inch model. I've only ever seen the 12 inch like mine.
Mine measures 12 1/8 inch from the blade to the cover flange at the column. I could add an eighth of an inch if I cut away part of the plastic flange but I've never needed to do that. What I really like is the full 7 inches of resaw capacity in a reasonably compact bandsaw. As I mentioned, that $85 carbide toothed blade improved the saw tremendously.
There must be thousands of these around because Sears sold them for a loooong time!
I still wonder if this is the model that's on "discontinued special" somewhere.
Pete
Did anyone bother to click on the link? The saw is 'C' framed type being discontinued in favor of the welded frame euro style saw. I wouldn't consider it a great bargain and I'd prefer the welded frame but that's just me.
Ya got me!
Nope, I didn't click on the link. No excuse, I just didn't do it. Mea culpa.
Now that I have clicked on the link I see that it is a much newer model than the one I have. Without a direct comparison it sure looks to me to be an awful lot like similar Delta or Jet 12" bandsaws. Does anyone know if it's made by one of them for Sears?
Pete
The 14" band-saw I bought from them was in 72' or 73', Pete. Got it on sale for $129 if memory serves me correctly. I don't know if it was the same series as yours as you mentioned you bought yours about 25 or 28 years ago. It sure looks the same, but all of their tools back then from Craftsman kind of looked the same.
I had a BS, jointer, lathe and TS from them in that same time frame. All had that dark gray look and all were not bad especially considering I would always buy them on sale from the catalog and pick them up just up the street at a local Sears store.
Sounds as if you got your money's worth. I paid around $1000 for all my Craftsman machines around 1973. Had to sell them when I moved back home to Atlanta from Florida in 1978. Inflation as it was, got almost $2000 for them used.
It appears they play a lot of musical chairs with their manufactures now as HD seems to be doing with Ridgid. But.. as long as they supply parts into the future to support those tools as some have stated, doesn't leave room for much complaint if you're satisfied.
Regards...
SARGE..
rover1 just to clarify, the one on sale doesn't have the 7" resaw capacity of the new model 12" which I looked at and thought was pretty good for the money. I think I woudl spring for the 14" Delta unless you really wanted to stay small. Lowe's has it on sale every now and then for $350.
Thanks for all your repsonses. I'll mostly be using the bandsaw to cut cabriole legs. I'm just really getting into 18th century furiture reproductions and would like to build a nice piece such as a table with cabriole legs to start with, then progress towards more complex pieces. Should the Craftsman saw work well for making cabriole legs? Would a good jigsaw have the ability to cut cabriole legs? I also need a lathe and already have a Bosch jigsaw which would allow me to save for a good lathe. I know both the bandsaw and the lathe will be used heavily in furniture making, but budget is a concern at this point.
It would undoubtedly do a better job than a jig saw. I'd suggest: Give it a try, bring it home, set it up, cut out a couple of legs, and if it is not the right tool, dust it off and take it back. I hear ya on the budget concerns, so this is one way to go.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Cabriole legs are deceptively difficult to make well, but the challenge is a lot of fun. A jigsaw is not intended for material deep enough to make a cabriole leg out of.I still think you should hold out as long as it takes to get a decent 14". However, if you must pursue the Craftsman route, at least make sure the guides and top guidepost will support the blade without slop or give. The cuts at the knee and ankle of a cabriole leg are tight radius and they'd be a nightmare if the band is moving laterally. Throw away whatever band it comes with and get a 1/4" or 3/8" Timberwolf.Start prowling tag sales for rasps too!Pete
Throw away whatever band it comes with.
I just bought a MM 16. Should be delivered tomorrow. It comes with a band that sells separately for $220.00. You don't seriously reccomend discarding it, do you?
The original poster is talking about buying a $200 Craftsman band saw. What sort of band do you suppose it comes with?
Pete
Yes, as I look back, I can see that and I admit I wasn't quite candid in asking that question. But how else can I brag about my new purchase. Sorry to disturb.
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