My birthday is in 2 days and I have let it be known that I’m accepting contributions toward a bandsaw. I have narrowed down my selection (based on price and reasonable reviews) to the Ridgid BS1400 at Home Depot ($379) or the Grizzly GO555.
This afternoon, I was checking out the Ridgid BS1400 when I ran into a high school classmate who works there. He said that the lifetime warranty on Ridgid is still on until Dec 31 and that as long as I have my original sales slip, I can bring the saw back to HD at anytime for exchange for a new one. To me that is a big plus for this bandsaw. Plus it is $ 36 less at HD and immediately available. $379 vs. $420 incl shipping from Grizzly.
The Grizzly GO555 comes with a 1 hp motor, vs. 3/4 hp on the Ridgid and also comes with a fence and miter bar. The Ridgid comes with a sanding belt and perhaps a miter bar. The Grizzly has roller blade supports while the Ridgid has fixed blocks, which doesn’t bother me.
I know there are some Grizzly advocates out there; I have already used my friend’s Ridgid, which he is quite happy with and which was well rated by FWW a year or two ago.
At the moment I am leaning toward the Ridgid,, because of the lifetime warranty and the local availability.
Other opinions between these 2? I do not want to spend $450 or more on a bandsaw.
Thanks,
Bill
Replies
I've used both, the Grizzly G0555 is definitely the better value. More options and power than the Ridgid, but the frame and table are probably the same exact casting so I don't think there's much to consider.
Edited 11/24/2003 4:59:49 PM ET by molten
Bill,
I'd ask a few more questions about the warranty on the Ridgid bandsaw.
Ridgid is getting out of the stationary tool manufacturing business and the line will be made by the same corporation as Ryobi tools. At the same time that they are selling off their old line of tools, Ridgid is also introducing a new line of portable power tools along with a contractor's saw.
To promote the new line of tools, Ridgid is offering a lifetime warranty on any of the new tools bought between now and December 31st of this year. I doubt that the bandsaw is covered since it is basically discontinued and the saw doesn't appear in any of the sales literature I've seen promoting the new line of tools with the promotional warranty.
That said, the Ridgid bandsaw is one of the best made of all of the Taiwanese copies of the Delta 14 inch bandsaw. Parts for it should never be a problem, since virtually all of the parts of the import bandsaws are interchangable between any of the machines, so you could go to Jet or Craftsman if needed to get repair parts.
John W.
Edited 11/24/2003 9:13:33 PM ET by JohnW
John,
Thanks for the heads up. I just went to the Ridgid website again and the lifetime limited warrantee is listed on the page that features the bandsaw. When you click on the warrantee decal, it specifically says stationary and hand held tools purchased before Dec 31. Also, the display bandsaw at HD had a tag on it that said limited lifetime warrantee.
Since the warrantee is one of the major features of this saw for me, I definitely want to be sure. THe salesman that I talked with at HD said that the warrantee is only honored if you have your original sales receipt. Apparently most folks cant find that when they want warrantee work and that is how Ridgid can afford to offer it.
When I bought the Ridgid TS2400 table saw a couple years back, I was careful to staple the sales receipt to the inside cover of the owner's manual, which I have filed.
Caveat emptor.
Thanks again,
Bill
End of question. I just ordered a Grizzly G0555 with riser block.
Grizzly's website had a pointer to a good site on picking bandsaw blades, too
After comparing features, and seeing comments on the Ridgid user's forum that caused me some concern the decision became a no-brainer. Apparently Ridgid has the riser blocks on hold as they change manufacturers. THe Grizzly has a 1 hp motor and several other features that the Ridgid does not.
My delivery / unloading concerns were also satisfied by the nice lady at Grizzly who said that the freight company has a termnal where I can pick it up about a half-hour away.
Thanks for the feedback, which got me away from the instant gratification of running into my local HD and coming home with a Ridgid.
Bill
Bill, have you followed the thread about adjustment for the riser block installation? Important info there for when you assemble the saw:http://forums.taunton.com/n/mb/message.asp?webtag=tp-knots&msg=14871.1
forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
You did right by not buying Ridgid Bandsaw. I bought one at HD, while I have no problems with the saw itself. HD does not the miter, the fence or the riser. So I looked up Ridgid Website for local suppliers (in Toronto, Canada) found a few names, called all, no luck, nobody carries Ridgid parts. Then I ran across Ridgid representative at a local WoodWorkers Fair, guess what, he cannot provide me with supplies either, says the BS1400 is discontinued item. He gave me a number for a retailer in States, I have not contacted the retailer because of shipping and cross border tariffs
[edit: oops, sorry, didn't see the "end of question post"] Bill, have you read the warantee through and through? Does it cover normal wear and tear? Personally, I'd not be swayed by a supposed "Lifetime Warantee" -- that warantee isn't going to comfort you when you find yourself dissatisfied with an underpowered motor or blade guides that you're not happy with and decide to change out at a cost of over $100.
forestgirl Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 11/29/2003 12:09:20 PM ET by forestgirl
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