Replies

1. 
   Buster2000 | Dec 22, 2005 01:10am | #1

   I purchased the 90-125 at the beginning of November.  I purchased it at the Calgary wood show.  Paid $700 + Taxes (Cdn) and it came with the riser kit.  I had purchased a drill press and dust collector at the same show, so the price probably reflects that.

   The did not have the 90-100 there, so it was really not a choice between them.  However from previous research I liked that the 90-125 was heavier.

   First impressions (I'll call them that since I've only had it a month):

   It came in two boxes, one containing the base and the other containing the saw portion.  Relatively straightforward set-up.  Which is good since General didn't include the instructions, they later e-mailed me an electronic copy and offered to mail a hard copy to me.  (GI instructions are very poor anyway, so I didn't miss much anyway.)  The saw portion came 90% assembled, the table and fence had to be attached and adjusted.  I had it running (without the fence) in about 30 minutes.

   If I had to pick a problem out with this machine, it has to be the cheap fence included.  I didn't even bother to install it.  It's not adjustable, it's light and it sticks in it's tracks.  I don't know what the fences are like on the rest of the saws but this one sucks...  I plan to replace it.

   I did not install the riser kit, mainly due to a lack of tools.  It's my Christmas project...

   So how does it work...  As a bandsaw should...  I've been using the stock 1/4" blade with it (since the blades I purchased are for use with the riser kit).  I have been working with hard maple over the last month, and have used the saw to rip some wide boards down to width and to cut out the curves.  It hasn't bogged down on the thicker pieces (3").   I have not tried to resaw with it.

   My shop is outfitted with GI tools, and I enjoy working with them.  I have not had any quality issues with any of the machines.  If you do not have any General tools be prepared for the manuals.  They are absolutely horrible.  However General customer service is excellent, they are extremely helpful and friendly.

   Overall I am very happy with this saw, and would recommend it.

   The General Rep also recommended the 90-150.  He claimed it had a smoother cut, however it is lighter and there is no riser kit available.

   If you have specific questions you'd like to know, or if there is any other way I can help let me know.

   Buster

1. 
   blade004 | Dec 22, 2005 01:40am | #2

   Thanks for the feedback. If you had to do it over again, would you buy General, Delta, or Jet? The 90-100 may be a new model??? Do you think General builds a better saw?

1. 
   Buster2000 | Dec 22, 2005 09:05am | #3

   Here is why I chose the General 90-125:

   1.  Heavier than the 90-100, and has more resaw capacity (with riser kit).

   2.  Compared to the readily available competition (Canwood, Busy Bee, King...) General was a better saw hands down.  I felt it was better than the other saws around town (Delta, Rigid).

   3.  General/General International is an established and respected brand in woodworking.

   4.  My previous dealings with General are nothing less than spectacular.  Service wise this is an awesome company to deal with.  There are repair centre in town.

   5.  Readily available in the city.

   6.  I'm Canadian, General (GI's parent) is Canadian... It has to count for something.

   Most import equipment (Jointers, bandsaws, Table saws...)  are the same or at least equivalent.  It really comes down to finding the tools with the best features (fit and finish, customer service, repair... etc) for the right $$$.  Do I think General International builds a better saw...  Sure.  In it's price category General is up there.  If you have the extra money they sell a bandsaw under the General Canada line, and it rocks.

   If I had to do it again I definitely would choose the 90-125 again.  Another thing I forgot about the 90-100 is it doesn't have a riser kit.  So you'll be limited to 6" of resaw capacity.  I've seen the 90-100 in the flyer for at least a year.  I initially liked the look of it, but the features and availability of the 90-125 won out.  If you go with a 14" GI, this is the saw.  (In my opinion.)

   My show is outfitted with General Equipment.  So I admit that I am biased towards it.  With good reason I feel.  When I made my first purchase, the GI 50-220 Table saw I had a few spare parts left over when I put it together.  I e-mailed GI in Montreal at the beginning of the day, and by afternoon I had a response from the local rep who gave me his cell number.  I called, and he asked me how many parts and what they were.  When I explained that I was at work and didn't have them, he offered to let me call him in the evening to get things sorted out.  (The parts were from the stock fence which I didn't have.)  This is the kind of company I like to deal with.

   Add to this all my tools have worked great from day one and they didn't cost me my life savings.  I'm very happy with them.

   Buster

2. 
   blade004 | Dec 22, 2005 06:16pm | #5

   Buster,

   Thank you for the reply. Your candid response helped me a great deal. Its beginning to look a lot like General! Have a great holiday! 

   Best Regards,

   Mike

2. 
   DCarr10760 | Dec 22, 2005 04:21pm | #4

   Hi, I recently purchased the Delta X5 bandsaw.  I bought it because I've used Delta Bandsaws all of my woodworking life and I was comfortable with the design and the fact that that particular model is still made in the US, I went for it.

   I managed to get it together and after a great deal of fussing and re-engineering the saw works quite well.

   There were a bunch of issues though, I brought this up on another forum and several guys chimed in and told me that my problems were common.

   The worst was the table flatness, the table at the outfeed edge of the blade changing slot was .008-inches taller than the infeed edge, so every time a miter gauge or workpiece went across, it would hang up.  Grrrrr!  An hour with a file, stone and some silicon carbide paper set that straight.

   The power cord from the switch to the motor is 2-inches too short, necessitating relocating the switch or (as I did) buying a 3-foot long patch cable to bridge the gap.  At first I thought "maybe I'm routing the cable wrong!" but the fact that everybody else had the same trouble makes me think it's a common issue.

   I purchased the riser kit and found the blade guard extension to be ill-fitting and kind of micky-mouse.  I re-engineered this and now it is serviceable.  The block itself needed a fair amount of finishing to sit flat on the saw casting (which is important or the wheels would be missaligned).

   Other people with whom I've corresponded had issues with vibration that eventually caused them to return the saw and buy elsewhere.  Despite, in one case, several attempts to resolve the problem with Delta customer service (who tried their best).  My saw had no such problem.

   Now, maybe these saws generally require some "fettling" to get running.  But this seemed both excessive and common.  I have a shop full of Delta equipment and this has been my only bad experience.

   Now I was remiss in not reporting all of this to Delta and giving them the opportunity to address the issues, but I was eager to get using it and didn't want to take the time, so it is, in part, my own fault.

   As I said above, now the saw works fine, but for the $900.00 it cost I expected to set it up and go.  The X5 is not the one you're looking at, but the design is the same (I think) and may well share the same issues, I'd look into it before you decide.

   Best Regards,

   David C.