Bandsaw - 19" Grizzly or 18" Rikon

I went through this same process back in October, between the Rikon 18
and the Grizzly 17 inch models. I went with the Rikon after reading a
few reviews. Main selling points for me were the cast iron wheels and
the ball bearing guides. Also, as I recall, reviewers said the Rikon
guides were easier to set up after a blade change. Clincher was when
Woodcraft had it on sale for $900 that month.

The saw runs great and I am very pleased with my purchase.

-jj.

Tex wrote:

>
> Can anyone please enlighten me as to which is the better choice? I
> guess it's fair to say I'm a serious woodworker but don't make a living
> at it and I don't plan to buy another bandsaw. Also, I'm not going to
> pop for the Laguna - too pricey for me.
>
> Thanks,
> Glen

I will add that the cast iron wheels (on the Rikon) make a huge
difference. I've used a big Jet (Pretty sure it was the 18") with
aluminum wheels and the Rikon cuts a lot better. My guess is that the
Grizzley has aluminum wheels.

I've got some vibration on my Rikon, but it's not a huge deal. I've cut
bowl blanks out of maple logs roughly 9" thick with no problem on the
Rikon.. that's the main reason I bought it.

In article <[email protected]>, .@. says...
>
> <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >I went through this same process back in October, between the Rikon 18
> > and the Grizzly 17 inch models. I went with the Rikon after reading a
> > few reviews. Main selling points for me were the cast iron wheels and
> > the ball bearing guides. Also, as I recall, reviewers said the Rikon
> > guides were easier to set up after a blade change. Clincher was when
> > Woodcraft had it on sale for $900 that month.
> >
> > The saw runs great and I am very pleased with my purchase.
> >
> > -jj.
> >
>
> I'll second that. I just bought one last month. Very happy with it.
>
> Very happy with there customer service also. My motor gave me trouble a
> week after owning it and they sent me a new motor and told me to keep the
> old motor for parts. So far, no problems with the new motor. I think I
> just got a damaged one originally.
>
>
Thanks to both of you. That's the kind of info I was looking for. I've
been leaning to the Rikon but that Griz caught my attention and I
thought I'd better bounce it off someone who's "been there".

Thanks again,
Glen

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I went through this same process back in October, between the Rikon 18
> and the Grizzly 17 inch models. I went with the Rikon after reading a
> few reviews. Main selling points for me were the cast iron wheels and
> the ball bearing guides. Also, as I recall, reviewers said the Rikon
> guides were easier to set up after a blade change. Clincher was when
> Woodcraft had it on sale for $900 that month.
>
> The saw runs great and I am very pleased with my purchase.
>
> -jj.
>

I'll second that. I just bought one last month. Very happy with it.

Very happy with there customer service also. My motor gave me trouble a
week after owning it and they sent me a new motor and told me to keep the
old motor for parts. So far, no problems with the new motor. I think I
just got a damaged one originally.

--
Stoutman
http://www.garagewoodworks.com
(Featuring a NEW look)

[email protected] wrote:
> The saw runs great and I am very pleased with my purchase.


Ditto. I bought my 18" Rikon right after they first went on sale at
Woodcraft... pretty much the minute they had the 10% off sale. That brought the
price down to $899. I've never had a bit of trouble with mine and now that I
have it, wonder how I did without for so long.

I will not be trading up; I think I bought enough saw right from the start.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN

[email protected]