Replies

1. 
   carpenter5 | Jun 06, 2008 08:10am | #1

   Hey Peter, I'm in the process of buying said BS and have recently posted a thread with the same question. I have looked at the Steel city 14" unit and it does look pretty good overall. I won't be going the with the granite top (How hard can it be to true up such a small piece of flat steel) . Instead I will upgarde my fence for the same price as the granite top.  It beats Delta hands down and other brands up here in Victoria. My question on my thread was to see if adding a riser block down the road compromises the quality of the saw. Good luck to you.

   Regards

   Carpenter5

1. 
   PeterThomson | Jun 06, 2008 07:31pm | #2

   Howdy,

   Since my original post I've gone ahead and bought the 14" SC with riser block, and have been delighted with it.  Using a plain jane 3 tpi 1/2" timberwolf blade, and getting lovely 10" wide slices of 1/16" beech veneer.

   The saw was set up perfectly right off the crate, everything lined up great.  Wheels coplaner, blade parallel to the table in both directions, etc.  The plastic on the wheels seems a bit soft, make sure to release tension when you're done for the day... Forgot to release tension and left it for the weekend, now have a minor blade wobble (very minor and still cuts like a dream, but it really purred when the tires were new.)

   Using the riser block hasn't compromised the quality of cut at all.  I went through the same debating process as it sounds like you're going through, decided to purchase the riser block right away.  Ran without the riser block (its delivery was delayed a couple weeks) for a while, the cuts are the same.  Wanted the riser block early so I wasn't stuck with a bunch of 93" blades (94"?  can't recall) when I eventually moved to the riser.

   One thing you might want to consider (your call) is to get the riser block right away instead of the fence.  I'm using a shopmade tall fence for resawing and straight piece of 1" beech for a regular short fence, both clamped to the table.  Set up is quick as a manufactured fence and I don't have any drift anyways.  The cost of the fence can go toward the riser block, extra blades and (of course!) more wood.  I went this route on the advice of my SC rep, who commented that fences on bandsaws were "as useful as t##s on a bull".  This is my first bandsaw, and after using it for a few months I have to agree with him.  The Kreg fence looks lovely but I've opted to buy more wood instead.  Either way, it's still a good saw.

   If there's any other info I can provide, please let me know. 

    

   Cheers,

   Pete

1. 
   ctsjr | Jun 06, 2008 11:35pm | #3

   PeteI bought my SC 14" saw with riser block about a year ago, and have loved it. My biggest problem was finding a wrench/spanner that would fit in between the webs of the cast iron frame to loosen the nut and be able to insert the riser block. Fortunately I have a friend who has 5 of every wrench, and I was able to take care of it. I'll be resawing some black walnut later this summer, so I'm glad to hear of your success. The saw is well made and runs vibration free. I, too, am using homemade fences. I'm not sure a $135 aftermarket is that much of an improvement. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   PeterThomson | Jun 08, 2008 04:24am | #4

   I agree, the Kreg fence looks spiffy but I'm happy with shop-made.  That one big bolt was a bugger to get tightened up, ended up buying a single second hand socket just to fit the darn thing.  The throw of the ratchet was almost too small to turn the nut, blocked in as it is.  Fit like a dream and everything lined up great so I can't complain... Though it was depressing to get that close to running on a Saturday night, then have to wait a couple days because I didn't have the right socket!