Replies

1. 
   Rennie | Sep 25, 2006 05:00pm | #1

   Hi Max,

   I recently bought the Rikon DP, as well as the 18" BS and the disk/belt sanding station. Although I have nothing but praise for the BS and SS, I am a little disappointed with the DP. The quill is a bit stiff and the chuck (although it will open to 3/4") only closes down to 1/4". Fortunately I found this out before anyone bid on the Delta benchtop I was going to sell once the Rikon arrived. Now I have 2 DP's. Oh well.

   Overall it's a good machine, but if I had known about the chuck issue I would have chosen something else in the price range. I've seen it mentioned on a number of forums that the comparable Delta machine can be had for a very reasonable price at Lowe's.

   Rennie

   Rennie

   A man is a fool if he drinks before he reaches the age of 50, and a fool if he doesn't afterward.
   Frank Lloyd Wright

1. 
   John_D | Sep 26, 2006 12:36am | #2

   Forgive me if you've already discussed this, but if you need to free room in your shop, have you considered buying a new chuck for your new DP?  They're not too hard to remove/replace...My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

1. 
   Rennie | Sep 26, 2006 05:04pm | #4

   have you considered buying a new chuck for your new DP?

   John,

   I have given it some consideration, but, as it turns out, the LOML finds the smaller DP less intimidating and uses it for her scroll work. So I mounted it on a shelf beside her scroll saw and put a few drawers beneath it for blade and tool storage. I guess 'all's well that ends well'.

   RennieRennie

   A man is a fool if he drinks before he reaches the age of 50, and a fool if he doesn't afterward. Frank Lloyd Wright

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Sep 28, 2006 03:20am | #10

   In the past, most big chucks would not hold small bits, say 5/64th or so. I don't think that has changed. I found it handy to save chucks from small worn out drills, thread a screw into it, cut off the head, then put that in my drill press chuck. They should be plentiful since the advent of cheap cordless drills. I expect you to have one yourself.Cadiddlehopper

2. 
   maderamax | Sep 26, 2006 01:36am | #3

   Thanks for the heads up, Rennie. Unfortunately, I purchased the tool before I read your post, and I didn't think to check that. I might have reconsidered otherwise.

   John D:  Can you reccomend a good scource for a replacement chuck?  I don't really want to return the drill press...

   Thanks,

   Max

    

1. 
   John_D | Sep 26, 2006 08:03pm | #5

   I know McMaster-Carr sells them. In "Machining and Clamping" click "Drill chucks, arbors and Keys". That will take you to a page that illustrates and lays out dimensions for the standard Morse and Jacobs tapers. For my own DP, I have an arbor (adaptor) that converts a morse taper (MT3) to a jacobs taper (JT3), and the chuck mounts to that. Since there's a key to remove the adaptor, but not to remove the chuck from the adaptor, best practice is to have an adaptor for each chuck I want to use. If yours is the same, you might want to buy a spare arbor (not too expensive, mine costs $8). Once you know what your taper is (and possibly have a spare arbor), all you have to do is pick a chuck. :) In the left column on page 2308, the first number is the smallest opening and the second number is the largest, so for example the second chuck ($50) will handle shanks from .040" to 1/4" -- but it's a 1 JT, probably not correct for your machine. Mine is a 3 JT, so I'd probably have to go for the 2812A34, 1/8" to 5/8" but $111. On down the page are the fancier ball bearing chucks, which in a 3 JT will cost $143 to $164. Hope this helps!My goal is for my work to outlast me.  Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.

2. 
   dtraversi | Sep 27, 2006 01:11am | #6

   I bought a Rikon 18" bandsaw. I think they are customer service oriented. I get the feeling they are a smallish company. I called once with a question of alignment procedure and I was put right through to one of the engineers and he talked me through my issue. Very friendly.
   Sometimes small is good.
   good luck

1. 
   Glaucon | Sep 27, 2006 01:55am | #7

   What do you think of the quality of the BS- how would you rate it against its competitors?-mGlaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   dtraversi | Sep 27, 2006 06:23am | #8

   Hi- GlauconFirst off- My comparisons are based on fit, finish and feel. I was not able to test run all the machines in my price range.
   I wanted a saw that could handle resawing with the best of them. The fence is very nice-two positions high/low with adjustments for drift. The trunions are cast iron and very substantial- changing table angle is a breeze. I was able to set all guides in the store within minutes using only an allen wrench and a dollar bill.
   I was able to square the blade to the table along the X and Y axis using the micro adjustment screws. (side to side and front to back)I also read the FWW bandsaw review - give it a look-
   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuidePDF.aspx?id=2917I have owned it for 8 months and am amazed at how it performs. Bandsaws being the touchy beasts that they are- I am very happy to own it. I guess like any piece of equipment- a lot depends on how easy it is to set up and adjust. I just spent some time today resawing some of the most figured birdseye maple I have ever seen. I've been saving it for awhile- ( kind of afraid I'd screw it up )
   I was really amazed at how well it came out- 3/32" slices. Really happy :-)All that said-Everyone has his/her own idea of what is good and what is barely acceptable.
   I don't own any Lie-Neilsen planes- Baily's seem to work for me. I'm sure if money were no object- I'd have gone for the MM 20" - But money is an object for me and at sale prices the Rikon was a perfect fit.
   Hope it helps
   Dave

1. 
   Glaucon | Sep 28, 2006 05:07am | #12

   Thanks Dave- and I had seen the review, but thanks for posting the link.How do you like the tensioning? What about the guides?Seems like a pretty good machine for the price...Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   dtraversi | Sep 28, 2006 06:16am | #13

   At first I was a little dissapoinetd that I needed an allen wrench to adjust the guides ( my old 14" just had thumb screws)
   Then I started to realize that the guides on this machine are just massive (10 of them)- and I realized it is a good thing to be able to lock them down tight.
   On board tool holder is very convienient.Tension on my old machine was a bear (knuckle buster)- This machine has the window with clearly marked blade size reccomendations and a great big tension wheel with front access. If it gets any easier -I don't know how??I'm not trying to sell you on this machine- I get no kickbacks :-)
   Just ####guy who feels good about his purchaseBTW the first thing I bought with the money I saved was a really nice 3TPI resaw blade- i took off the stock one and am saving it for a backup.I don't know if there is a woodcraft anywhere near you but they often have one on the floor- go fire it up.
   Dave

2. 
   Glaucon | Sep 28, 2006 02:32pm | #15

   Thanks...Woodcraft is a good idea.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

2. 
   aew | Sep 28, 2006 04:17pm | #17

   I'll add my experience on the 18" BS that I bought last fall. Although the overall unit works well, I think I got one that missed the quality checks. I was unable to align the bottom guides on the one I got. Although the engineers answered my questions promptly and accurately, the unit was mis-drilled where the trunnion mounts to the frame. I had to ream the frame holes to get enough clearance to align things properly. I spent a lot of hours getting it set up properly but it does work well. Maybe I got the unit that was built on Monday since I haven't heard any other complaints from owners. I probably should have returned it but repacking and reshipping a 500 pound gorilla wasn't feasible since I work alone in the NH hills and getting delivery late evening on a cold and rainy night in November and horsing this thing into the shop with a tractor wasn't something I wanted to repeat.

3. 
   Woodmaster1776 | Sep 27, 2006 06:45am | #9

   Not sure whether this is helps, but the November issue of Popular Woodworking contains a review of 6 band saws and Rikon is the "Editor's Choice" pick, outshining even a Laguna. I'll be interested to see whether reviews of other Rikon products are equally positive.

   Bob

1. 
   ctsjr | Sep 28, 2006 04:58am | #11

   I went to Wally World tonight and purchased the October issue of Popular WW, but didn't see the November.  Do you have this issue already?  Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

1. 
   Woodmaster1776 | Sep 28, 2006 12:11pm | #14

   Yeah, I subscribe, so perhaps it hit my mailbox a few days before it hit the newstands.Bob

1. 
   ctsjr | Sep 28, 2006 03:14pm | #16

   Thanks.  I'll keep an eye out...Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"

4. 
   aew | Sep 28, 2006 04:24pm | #18

   I tried to post a reply earlier that was deleted some let me try again. I bought the 18" BS last fall and the quality of the unit left a lot to be desired. I was unable to align the lower blade guides and although the Rikon engineers promptly answered my questions, I had to ream the holes in the lower frame to get enough room to adjust the guides. I also had to ream some holes in the upper housing to get enough adjustment room for the upper guides. I think the one I got missed the quality checks in Taiwan. However, although I put many hours into the set up, after I got it aligned, it works well with the right blades. I likely should have returned it to Woodcraft but the idea of repacking and reshipping the 500 pound gorilla wasn't something I wanted to do.

1. 
   Glaucon | Sep 28, 2006 06:11pm | #19

   <"I was unable to align the lower blade guides and although the Rikon engineers promptly answered my questions, I had to ream the holes in the lower frame to get enough room to adjust the guides. I also had to ream some holes in the upper housing to get enough adjustment room for the upper guides. I think the one I got missed the quality checks in Taiwan. However, although I put many hours into the set up, after I got it aligned, it works well with the right blades.">I think that this points to a common problem with many large power tools (BS, TS, etc). The machines are shipped in crates over long distances (and at considerable cost) and have to be reassembled, calibrated and adjusted by the end user. Most of us end-users are handy, even mechanically inclined, but often the new machine represents our first experience with that device or manufacturer. The manuals are frequently a joke, and we are often at the mercy of customer service, which may or may not be very good.I for one would not mind paying a hefty delivery and set up fee if at the end I would have a machine that was turn key and if I could go over adjustments with the installer. I am a cyclist and I cannot think of many high end bikes ($1-3k) that you buy in a box and spend a weekend assembling and adjusting. I've done it with bikes I've rebuilt, but I wouldn't if I were buying new.Even the local distributors of machines don't seem to offer much in the way of a setup service, although I have not asked at Woodcraft. If the local distributor is a shipping drop point only, then I can't see much reason for using them. Might as well order on the web.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

2. 
   philip_r | Sep 29, 2006 11:19pm | #20

   I too, had an alignment problem on the lower guides… I feel like we’re brothers :0)…  Other than that, the machine is pretty good.  I took about a day to go through the machine and realign everything.  Since then, it works like a champ.  <!----><!----><!---->

    <!----><!---->

   FYI – I take a woodworking class at my local Community College and get to use a MM16 and a Laguna 18” – These are both serious machines and are built to last… however, with that said, I would not have changed my decision (unless I regularly had to resaw 100’s of board feet, on a regular basis).  If you are just looking for a large bandsaw for general hobby use, you will not be disappointed in the choice.

1. 
   aew | Sep 30, 2006 11:56pm | #21

   Yeah - I thought about buying a more expensive BS but in the end couldn't justify it given my needs. The Rikon seems well thought out and sturdy enough but it seems that the quality is random. Maybe you and I got the only two bad ones in the world? I have to admit that Rikon customer service was really good about helping. I emailed them about 3 pm and they phoned me within about 2 hours to talk through the problems. Of course, they stated that the adjustments should have been made during manufacturing - doesn't do us much good!