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Hey all,

I need to replace the cheapo Skil band saw I bought a couple of years ago with a newer, bigger and better one. Like many, I'm on a pretty tight budget. This one looks like it has some interesting features, particularly at this price. I'd love to have your thoughts about this saw, or others I should consider.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-1-HP ... ies/G0555P

Thanks,

Chris.

Chris-
I own a very similar Grizzly (got it in '07?) and it's a pretty good saw. The blade tensioner (lever mechanism) broke soon after I got the saw and I just repaired it with some steel plate. I use it for utility cutting and sawing molds - nothing very critical. I have a bigger saw (Laguna 16 with a carbide tip blade) for resawing and jobs where I need a straight cut.

What did you plan to do with your new bandsaw?

Cheers
John

That saw has some good features.

I use a 14" Rikon.
Love it!
Easy to set up and use.
I can resaw Coco sides 5" with it.
Mike

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Mike Collins

Thanks for the replies so far. I expect to use the saw for misc. luthierie chores, rip bracing stock, cut back and side sets to rough size. cut tail and neck blocks, that kind of stuff. I don't really expect to resaw wood. My biggest problem with the cheapo Skil is that it won't saw a straight line.

As far as budget, I don't really have a hard limit, I want to spend as little as possible. For sure under 1000 bucks, and I'd really like to be under 700.

Chris.

At the upper limit of your budget is this:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200522 ... ndsaw.aspx

and at the lower end is this:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202004 ... ndsaw.aspx

I bought the 10-345 model last spring and couldn't be happier with it! Does require 220 to run. The 14" will fit your budget better and for what you are describing will be perfect for you. Check your local store to see if they have them in stock or a store in a short driving distance and can save the shipping fees.

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Bobby Masten

I recently bought a Rikon 14" Deluxe Bandsaw. It was easy to put together and was easy to setup. I liked that it came with 13" resaw capability out of the box. No need for a riser. As shipped, I was happy with the guides, it has a fast belt tightener and every thing shipped in alignment. I switched from the blade shipped with the saw and put a timber wolf 10 TPI 1/4" blade for day to day work. I also have a 1/2" 2 tpi blade for resaw, but being lazy I have been resawing with the well tensioned 1/4 blade with good results.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

On sale:
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020041/18855/Rikon-14-Deluxe-Bandsaw.aspx

I have the Grizzly G0555. I got it when they first came out and being a carver I added the 6 inch riser. So far it has cut everything I have tried. I have not cut any wood 12 inches thick yet but it seems to cut all the woods that I have attemtped.

I have cut 4 inch hardwood with it and it did fine. I have also changed the blade, actually blades, so that I could cut thicker wood without the blade getting the saw dust caught in the wood and getting stuck or slowing down.

I just bought a 3/16 inch blade for cutting thicker wood up to 12 inches as the master carver I know uses a 3/16 inch blade and cuts 11 1/2 inch alder and cedar with this blade but he has the Delta 14 inch and has changed out the motor to a 2 horse. He suggested this blade for my cutting thicker stock. I believe it is also a skip tooth blade.

So far I have been quite satisfied with the saw. The one horse motor has not bogged down yet when I have cut hardwood.

Chuck

Thanks Chuck, great to hear from an owner. The Grizzly appears to have many features for the bucks.


This all very helpful. Can anyone tell me reasons that I should buy the more expensive Rikon instead of the Grizzly saw? I'd spend the extra couple of hundred bucks now, if I'm going to be glad I did further down the road.

Chris.

$100 goes toward a riser kit if you are ever going to resaw greater than 6". Also I found the guides on the Rikon to be better quality so maybe factor in after market guides. The extra 1/2 hp will help if you ever resaw.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Any saw mentioned is a big step up from what you have. I would search out used on Craigs list, there are always saws available and at less than 1/2 price so you can buy a higher quality, larger saw for less money. I have not purchased any new power tools, and have managed to avoid the eastern import tools. Most of the machines I have bought were hardly used by the 1st owner. Maybe PaulK will post about the resaw bandsaw he was able to buy for pennies on the dollar of a new unit.

Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks everyone, for all the help. I think I know what I have to do.


Chris.