One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
$400 range. What do people here suggest?
Thank,
Richard
Richard wrote:
> One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
> Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
> has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
> a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
> should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
> there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
> wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
>
> Thank,
> Richard
I wouldn't plan on doing much resawing with a 9" bandsaw.
14" is the minimum but still light. 20" is better because you can get
resawing blades, which are much wider and track better.
Also, used equipment is cheaper and works just as well. Possibly
better because for the same money you get a bigger & better machine.
For comparison, I see the ryobi 10" selling for $199 at the the
homedecrap. I just picked up a 14" delta wood/metal bandsaw (variable
speed) for under $400. Sure, it's twice the price, but way more than
twice the machine.
Richard wrote:
> One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
> Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
> has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
> a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
> should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
> there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
> wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
>
> Thank,
> Richard
I have resawn 4" lumber on my 12" Jet with 1/2" blade getting Ok
results. By Ok, I mean don't expect to sand and go. It will still
need planning and/or jointing. You can also do this width and
sometimes a bit more on a table saw. I would not suggest the 12" saw
for anything wider than 4" unless you leave a whole lot for clean up.
Also not if you're going to do this with any regularity as it can be
painfully slow on hardwoods. Last the 1/2" blade is inadequate for
attempt to slice consistent veneers that are too thin to subsequently
plane.
Daryl
Richard wrote:
>
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
I'll suggest you buy a used saw. Last winter I finally made room for a
bandsaw and ran a want ad in the local paper (I live in a community of
about 50,000 people). I had offers for about a half-dozen saws, ranging
from a 14" Grizzly to something like a 25" Rockwell industrial saw that
required 3-phase power (my add said "minimum 14" woodcutting bandsaw").
I had several good 14" saws to choose from, all in very good condition,
and all under $300.
I ended up getting a 14" Jet with a mobile base, Carter guides, Jet
fence, 3 speed kid, and a few other odds-and-ends for $225. The
original owner had all the receipts and had taken very good care of the
saw for the five years he'd owned it, basically cutting nothing but
some small holiday patterns before deciding he'd be better off with a
scrollsaw. Buying the same saw w/the extras new would have run me
about $900 as I recall. I bought some new blades and added the Iturra
tension spring and hand wheel. I've been resawing 6" hickory with it
this week and couldn't be more pleased with the saw.
So run a want add-- mine cost about $15 to run for a week, and it saved
me about $600 that I was planning to spend on a new saw.
-kiwanda
In regards to the Ryobi 10" bandsaw, I can say from experience it will
cut through 2" of hardwood without serious problems. I cut probably
100 linear feet of 2" thick white oak, and it worked. Pretty slow feed
rate. Bearing blade rollers are nice, and dust collection is OK.
Tension spring is wimpy - will be replaced soon. However, if I were
buying again, and I were on a tight budget, I'd look seriously at the
10" Rikon or Craftsman (almost identical as far as I can tell) models
for less than $150. These seem like nicer machines for significantly
less money. If, like you said, you can spend up to $400, I'd
definitely look for a 14"er - Grizzly or used, as other people have
suggested.
Good luck,
Andy
I've heard arguments against getting the riser block later. That is,
get it up front. Otherwise, you have to restock all new blades. WIth
the riser installed from the start, it's one size start to end.
Jack
Lowell Holmes wrote:
> "Richard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
>>Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
>>has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
>>a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
>>should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
>>there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
>>wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>>
>>I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
>>$400 range. What do people here suggest?
>>
>>Thank,
>>Richard
>
>
> I would opt for the Delta 3/4 hp 14" bandsaw at Lowes if my budget is $400,
> It is a pretty good saw and you can add a 6" riser block later to get 12"
> capacity.
>
>
In article <[email protected]>,
Richard <[email protected]> wrote:
>One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
>Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
>has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
>a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
>should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
>there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
>wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>
>I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
>$400 range. What do people here suggest?
>
>Thank,
>Richard
>
Grizzly might have something if you want new, but I would look for a
used 14" As matter of fact, I saw a Rockwell (Delta) for sale on the
local Craigs list for $200. I'm cussing myself because I have the $
but for personal reasons no where to put it for now.
--
Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland
[email protected]
On 25 Jul 2006 18:16:28 -0700, "A.M. Wood" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>Richard wrote:
>> One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
>> Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
>> has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
>> a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
>> should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
>> there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
>> wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>>
>> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
>> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
>>
>> Thank,
>> Richard
>
>I wouldn't plan on doing much resawing with a 9" bandsaw.
>
>14" is the minimum but still light. 20" is better because you can get
>resawing blades, which are much wider and track better.
>
>Also, used equipment is cheaper and works just as well. Possibly
>better because for the same money you get a bigger & better machine.
>For comparison, I see the ryobi 10" selling for $199 at the the
>homedecrap. I just picked up a 14" delta wood/metal bandsaw (variable
>speed) for under $400. Sure, it's twice the price, but way more than
>twice the machine.
Let me second this suggestion. I had a 12" Craftsman I inherited from my Dad. After using it a
while, I stumbled on a used Jet variable speed for $250. Bought the Jet, and have no regrets. Put
the effort into looking, and good buys of used equipment are there to be found.
The Craftsman sits in storage for the first son who gets out of an apartment and into someplace with
a garage.
Regards,
Roy
Richard wrote:
> One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
> Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
> has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
> a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
> should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
> there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
> wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
>
> Thank,
> Richard
>
I'd shy away from a 9" bandsaw.
For resawing 2" to 3" boards look at the 14" Grizzly G0580 at $379.25
with shipping:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0580
For under $500 look at the G0555 at $484.25 with shipping.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0555
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
[email protected]
(Remove -SPAM- to send email)
On 25 Jul 2006 16:11:37 -0700, "Richard" <[email protected]> wrote:
>I don't know if a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement
No, it wouldn't. Go for 14" as a minimum.
In article <[email protected]>,
"Richard" <[email protected]> wrote:
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
To echo the other replies, you won't be sorry going with a 14" - much
more versatile and accurate than a 10".
If my sleuthing is correct, you're in Portland? Have you scanned
Craigslist for a used saw? I've seen several local (I'm in Newberg)
saws that I'd consider looking at if I was in the market over the last
month or so.
<http://portland.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/search?areaID=9&subAreaID=0&query
=band+saw&catAbbreviation=tls&minAsk=min&maxAsk=max>
I'd not hesitate to consider a used Delta, Jet (w/white paint blue
models may not be of the same quality), General or Powermatic. If you
like to refurbish older machinery, don't dismiss Walker-Turner, Oliver,
etc. They're pretty simple machines with easily replaced wear parts.
What can go wrong? Needs tires, belt, maybe wheel bearings, thrust
bearings? All simple to change out. Even replacement motors aren't that
pricey.
--
Owen Lowe
The Fly-by-Night Copper Company
__________
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
Corporate States of America and to the
Republicans for which it stands, one nation,
under debt, easily divisible, with liberty
and justice for oil."
- Wiley Miller, Non Sequitur, 1/24/05
"Richard" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> One of the first tools I bought was a cheap clearance bandsaw from
> Sears. It works well for somethings, but uses an odd-sized blade and
> has very little power. I am going to upgrade soon, but I don't know if
> a 9" (or the Ryobi 10") bandsaw would be much of an improvement or if I
> should just start saving for a 14". I don't do a lot of resawing, but
> there are times I would like to cut some thinner stock from a 2" or 3"
> wide piece of maple, oak or mahogany.
>
> I have a pretty limited budget, so I am trying to stay in the under
> $400 range. What do people here suggest?
>
> Thank,
> Richard
I would opt for the Delta 3/4 hp 14" bandsaw at Lowes if my budget is $400,
It is a pretty good saw and you can add a 6" riser block later to get 12"
capacity.