For some time I have wanted the Grizzly G0555 bandsaw. The price is now
down to $395 (before shipping costs). When I started looking it was $495.
This seems like the time to make the plunge. Does anyone out in this group
know why that might be a bad idea (e.g., new model coming out, much better
14" bandsaw for equivalent price, etc.)? I researched this pretty throughly
a year ago but a lot can change in a year.
TIA.
Dick Snyder
On Sun, 20 May 2007 10:53:13 -0500, "Michael Faurot"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I bought a G0555 last November when they were on sale for $395. I
>also got the mobile base, riser block (which I haven't installed yet)
>and the resaw fence. I'm very happy with mine and have used it quite
>a bit on a variety of different projects.
Before you installed the riser check and rechecked the wheels' coplanar, and the
guide post. B'cuz after you installed the riser everything will change. You will
find that the guide post won't align properly with the ball-bearing guides and
the bandsaw will not remain on top of the crown's tire. I found the clearance
between the guide post and the bore of the upper casting excessively loose.
Take a good look at the raiser block (both ends) before you install the raiser
block. You will find the dowel pins and the mating holes on the raiser and the
upper or lower frame sections are not good fit but rather loose fits, thereby
after reinstalled the upper frame section it can rotate somewhat either side.
This slight movement will cause your bandsaw to be out of alignment and
prematurely worn out the blade guard. I also found the table twisted after a few
months lightly used, the section where the taper pin inserted onto the front
split casting twisted and it will stop the lumber from move smoothly forward. I
have to file the edge "round" to cure the problems. I also have a lot of other
nagging problems with the band saw. I finally sold it cheap and bought a used
Delta in craigslist.
>Before I bought my G0555, I saw that my local Woodcraft had a class
>on setting up and tuning a bandsaw. I'd never owned one before,
>so this turned out to be a good investment as I learned how to do
>all the various adjustments that insure the saw works properly.
>One of the other important things I learned was that not all bandsaws
>have a quick release for the blade tension. So when I started
>comparing features amongst the various 14" sized saws out there,
>the quick release on the G0555 was a big incentive for me.
It looks good and feel good when it's new and unfamiliar, but after a while you
will learn what "REALLY" good when you start looking around. I now come to
appreciate a good American-made Delta. I am not saying Delta is the best and
there are no faults, but as you try out more machines, you get smarter!
For more information you might be interested in Iturra Design bandsaw accessory
catalog. It's free if you call 888-722-7078 or email [email protected]
You might want to buy something from them to speed up your free catalog, it's
worth the trouble, the wealth of information in the catalog will help you to
decide which bandsaw to buy and how to make the best use a 14" bandsaw. I have
no interest in Iturra Design, but someone who had learn a lot since start using
a bandsaw a few years ago.
>From looking at Grizzly's web site, they've now got an updated
>version of the G0555 called the G0555X. It looks like the chief
>differences are that they've put the resaw fence[1] on this saw,
>instead of having to buy it as an add-on; it's got a 1 1/2 HP motor,
>instead of a 1 HP; the wheels are cast iron instead of aluminum;
>the stand is a little beefier and they've mounted a light to it. If I
>was buying new today, I might look at the G0555X a bit more closely
>since it comes stock with the resaw fence.
>
>If you do opt for the G0555, you'll probably want to spend some time
>and add some brushes to the wheels to keep the saw dust from getting
>caked onto the tires. I made my own, but you could probably use
>something like the ones that Lee Valley[2] sells. The only other
>thing I've needed to do to mine was to reset the tension adjuster to
>provide more tension[3]. I found I needed to do this, after putting
>on a new blade, but couldn't get it to tension at all, even after
>cranking the tension knob fully. When I put this blade on, I
>initially thought I had purchased a blade that was too big and then I
>thought there was something wrong with the saw, that I couldn't
>tension the blade. After reworking the tension adjuster, all was
>well.
>
>[1]: This fence is really two fences in one. If you don't need to
>resaw you can just use the cast iron part of the fence which is about
>2 1/2" inches high. This will let you cut smaller pieces with the
>guide bearings down lower. If you need to resaw, it's aluminum piece
>that clamps on in a couple of seconds. Very easy to switch back and
>forth.
>[2]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=56044&cat=1,41036,56060
>[3]: This is documented on page 38 of the manual, which can be
>downloaded from Grizzly's web site.
Dick Snyder <[email protected]> wrote:
> For some time I have wanted the Grizzly G0555 bandsaw. The price is
> now down to $395 (before shipping costs). When I started looking it
> was $495. This seems like the time to make the plunge. Does anyone
> out in this group know why that might be a bad idea (e.g., new model
> coming out, much better 14" bandsaw for equivalent price, etc.)? I
> researched this pretty throughly a year ago but a lot can change in a
> year.
I bought a G0555 last November when they were on sale for $395. I
also got the mobile base, riser block (which I haven't installed yet)
and the resaw fence. I'm very happy with mine and have used it quite
a bit on a variety of different projects.
Before I bought my G0555, I saw that my local Woodcraft had a class
on setting up and tuning a bandsaw. I'd never owned one before,
so this turned out to be a good investment as I learned how to do
all the various adjustments that insure the saw works properly.
One of the other important things I learned was that not all bandsaws
have a quick release for the blade tension. So when I started
comparing features amongst the various 14" sized saws out there,
the quick release on the G0555 was a big incentive for me.
From looking at Grizzly's web site, they've now got an updated
version of the G0555 called the G0555X. It looks like the chief
differences are that they've put the resaw fence[1] on this saw,
instead of having to buy it as an add-on; it's got a 1 1/2 HP motor,
instead of a 1 HP; the wheels are cast iron instead of aluminum;
the stand is a little beefier and they've mounted a light to it. If I
was buying new today, I might look at the G0555X a bit more closely
since it comes stock with the resaw fence.
If you do opt for the G0555, you'll probably want to spend some time
and add some brushes to the wheels to keep the saw dust from getting
caked onto the tires. I made my own, but you could probably use
something like the ones that Lee Valley[2] sells. The only other
thing I've needed to do to mine was to reset the tension adjuster to
provide more tension[3]. I found I needed to do this, after putting
on a new blade, but couldn't get it to tension at all, even after
cranking the tension knob fully. When I put this blade on, I
initially thought I had purchased a blade that was too big and then I
thought there was something wrong with the saw, that I couldn't
tension the blade. After reworking the tension adjuster, all was
well.
[1]: This fence is really two fences in one. If you don't need to
resaw you can just use the cast iron part of the fence which is about
2 1/2" inches high. This will let you cut smaller pieces with the
guide bearings down lower. If you need to resaw, it's aluminum piece
that clamps on in a couple of seconds. Very easy to switch back and
forth.
[2]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=56044&cat=1,41036,56060
[3]: This is documented on page 38 of the manual, which can be
downloaded from Grizzly's web site.
--
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remove ".invalid".
I bought a G0555 with riser block about a year ago. I installed the riser
block with no problems. I have sawed several logs for bowl turning blocks. I
have done a lot of other things with this bandsaw and I have never had a
lick of trouble with it. I like the saw very much and am very satisfied with
it. When I was in Springfield Mo recently I bought a resaw fence for it.. I
haven't used it yet.
The price is right for the saw and I think you'll like it a lot. If you are,
say within 2 or 300 miles of a Grizzly store I would drive there and pick up
the saw. I drove 300 miles to get all my Grizzly stuff (lathe, Go444Z TS
with table extension, G0555 BS, 1029 dust collector, and several other
toys). I've been to the Springfield, Mo store 3 times after visiting
Branson, Mo. To a woodworker,visiting this store is like a kid being in a
candy store.
Dick Snyder <[email protected]> wrote:
> . . . I will think hard about the Woodcraft class.
When I took the class it was $40. Last time I looked at a flyer,
it looks like it might be $45 now. I think it was a great investment,
as I had no prior experience with a bandsaw at all.
> I currently have no plans for doing resawing so I think I will go for
> the lower price.
I've done plenty of resawing with my G0555 and it hasn't stalled
or bogged on me. It's really nice to be able to take a board that's
say 12"Lx4"Wx3/4"H and then turn that into two boards that are
12"Lx4"Wx5/16"H. Before getting the bandsaw, if I needed some stock
that was 1/4" thick, I'd have to run something like 3/4" stock
through the planer and essentially lose 1/2" of useful material to
the process.
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In article <[email protected]>,
"Dick Snyder" <[email protected]> wrote:
> For some time I have wanted the Grizzly G0555 bandsaw.
I would look hard at the 555X, the extra 50% power could be useful
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"Michael Faurot" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Dick Snyder <[email protected]> wrote:
>> For some time I have wanted the Grizzly G0555 bandsaw. The price is
>> now down to $395 (before shipping costs). When I started looking it
>> was $495. This seems like the time to make the plunge. Does anyone
>> out in this group know why that might be a bad idea (e.g., new model
>> coming out, much better 14" bandsaw for equivalent price, etc.)? I
>> researched this pretty throughly a year ago but a lot can change in a
>> year.
>
> I bought a G0555 last November when they were on sale for $395. I
> also got the mobile base, riser block (which I haven't installed yet)
> and the resaw fence. I'm very happy with mine and have used it quite
> a bit on a variety of different projects.
>
> Before I bought my G0555, I saw that my local Woodcraft had a class
> on setting up and tuning a bandsaw. I'd never owned one before,
> so this turned out to be a good investment as I learned how to do
> all the various adjustments that insure the saw works properly.
> One of the other important things I learned was that not all bandsaws
> have a quick release for the blade tension. So when I started
> comparing features amongst the various 14" sized saws out there,
> the quick release on the G0555 was a big incentive for me.
>
> From looking at Grizzly's web site, they've now got an updated
> version of the G0555 called the G0555X. It looks like the chief
> differences are that they've put the resaw fence[1] on this saw,
> instead of having to buy it as an add-on; it's got a 1 1/2 HP motor,
> instead of a 1 HP; the wheels are cast iron instead of aluminum;
> the stand is a little beefier and they've mounted a light to it. If I
> was buying new today, I might look at the G0555X a bit more closely
> since it comes stock with the resaw fence.
>
> If you do opt for the G0555, you'll probably want to spend some time
> and add some brushes to the wheels to keep the saw dust from getting
> caked onto the tires. I made my own, but you could probably use
> something like the ones that Lee Valley[2] sells. The only other
> thing I've needed to do to mine was to reset the tension adjuster to
> provide more tension[3]. I found I needed to do this, after putting
> on a new blade, but couldn't get it to tension at all, even after
> cranking the tension knob fully. When I put this blade on, I
> initially thought I had purchased a blade that was too big and then I
> thought there was something wrong with the saw, that I couldn't
> tension the blade. After reworking the tension adjuster, all was
> well.
>
> [1]: This fence is really two fences in one. If you don't need to
> resaw you can just use the cast iron part of the fence which is about
> 2 1/2" inches high. This will let you cut smaller pieces with the
> guide bearings down lower. If you need to resaw, it's aluminum piece
> that clamps on in a couple of seconds. Very easy to switch back and
> forth.
> [2]: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=56044&cat=1,41036,56060
> [3]: This is documented on page 38 of the manual, which can be
> downloaded from Grizzly's web site.
>
> --
>
> If you want to reply via email, change the obvious words to numbers and
> remove ".invalid".
Thanks for the excellent post Michael. I have saved it for future reference
and I will think hard about the Woodcraft class. I currently have no plans
for doing resawing so I think I will go for the lower price.
Dick