Pp

"Pawel"

08/02/2006 1:11 PM

we discussed miter saw in length , but how about band saw?

So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i am
thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw. Does
it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks for any
thought/comments

pawel


This topic has 23 replies

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 7:00 PM

"Pawel" wrote in message

> So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
> before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i
am
> thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
> a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
> of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw.
Does
> it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks for any
> thought/comments

A cabinet shop in this day and age basically _needs_ a table saw, a
furniture shop will often find a bandsaw a much more useful/versatile tool,
particularly so if you are good with hand tools (planes), or plan on being
that way.

That said, I worked with a cabinetmaker in England for a while in the 60's
who had no table saw and whose family had been operating without one for a
couple of hundred years.

So, despite all the "you must have a table saw" replies, the answer really
depends upon what you want to do as a woodworker.

Eventually you will _want_ both, but make your initial choice on what your
current woodworking goals are.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/13/05

Td

"Teamcasa"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 11:16 AM


"Pawel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
> before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i
> am thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
> a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
> of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw.
> Does it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks
> for any thought/comments
>
> pawel
>

Depending on the type of stuff you want to build. If you have a good
bandsaw and a jointer(hand or power) you can do a lot without a table saw.
However, if you start to take this hobby serious, a table saw in definitely
in your future.

Dave



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rh

"robo hippy"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 11:59 AM

My bandsaws ( one cuts 6 high by 14 deep, and the other 16 high by 15
deep) and chop saw only have one advantage over my table saw, they can
cut thicker stock. Well, I guess I can't do radius cuts on the TS. I
can do all of the straight and miter cuts on the TS. If I did trim
carpentry, then the compound miter cuts would require the chop saw.
robo hippy

MS

Matt Stachoni

in reply to "robo hippy" on 08/02/2006 11:59 AM

11/02/2006 10:21 PM

On Fri, 10 Feb 2006 09:18:17 -0800, mac davis
<[email protected]> wrote:

>I know a retired accountant that now works for a charity and writes many letters
>a day using Excel... I can't get him to even TRY word and gave up on him years
>ago.. *g*

ROFL.

I work for an architectural firm. I asked one of our clients for any
available as-built CAD drawings of their existing facitlity for a
project we were doing.

Their Facilities Management person provided me with a floor plan; it
was drawn in Excel. Yeah, really - don't ask me how they did this. It
was, hands down, one of the funniest, most BIZARRE things I've ever
seen.

- Matt

Aa

"Andy"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 12:56 PM

>i am considering band saw. Does it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop?

Sure, it can make sense for a while. As others have said, though, if
you really want to get seriously into woodworking, you'll eventually
probably want a TS. I have only a bandsaw, handheld circular saw, and
jigsaw due to space limitations right now, and of course they serve my
needs, because that's what I have. The most important consideration is
what kind of projects you'll be doing - cabinetwork would require a TS
before some other things, for instance. My opinion is that a decent
bandsaw is cheaper and safer than a decent tablesaw and takes up less
space, so it's worth it especially when you're just starting out.
Andy

rh

"robo hippy"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 2:17 PM

Dave,
I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
boards 6 inches or less.
robo hippy

rh

"robo hippy"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 6:51 PM

Unisaw, it cuts 3 inches high, so 3 inches on one side, flip it over
and cut 3 inches on the other, though I usually cut it about 1 1/2
inches at a time. I have done larger and then hand saw (the origional
cordless power saw) the middle out.
robo hippy

md

mac davis

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 10:17 AM

On Wed, 08 Feb 2006 12:11:51 -0800, David <[email protected]> wrote:

>robo hippy wrote:
>> My bandsaws ( one cuts 6 high by 14 deep, and the other 16 high by 15
>> deep) and chop saw only have one advantage over my table saw, they can
>> cut thicker stock. Well, I guess I can't do radius cuts on the TS. I
>> can do all of the straight and miter cuts on the TS. If I did trim
>> carpentry, then the compound miter cuts would require the chop saw.
>> robo hippy
>>
>I take it you don't do any resawing? Also, I find it a wee bit
>difficult to cut out shapes on my TS... <g>
>
>dave

Practice, Grasshopper... you'll achieve perfection..
Mac
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

Ba

B a r r y

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 3:05 PM

Swingman wrote:

>
> So, despite all the "you must have a table saw" replies, the answer really
> depends upon what you want to do as a woodworker.

The owner of a local fine woodworking school has a 14" band saw as the
only power tool in his personal home shop. He builds traditional
furniture of solid stock, with no sheet goods. The main use for his
band saw is resawing, everything else is done with hand tools.

It all depends...

Barry

md

mac davis

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 10:21 AM

On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:11:04 -0500, "Pawel" <[email protected]> wrote:

>So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
>before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i am
>thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
>a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
>of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw. Does
>it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks for any
>thought/comments
>
>pawel
>
If funds are limited, I'd suggest getting an inexpensive 14" band saw to start
with... my Rigid was less that $350 and gets a lot of use...

Your circular saw can fill in on the stuff the table saw is better for, and IMO,
you'll be happier with an entry level BS then you will be with the same range of
table saw..

Later, when you really need and can justify the cost of a good TS, you'll still
get a lot of use out of the BS.. YMWV
Mac
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

DD

David

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 2:36 PM

robo hippy wrote:

> Dave,
> I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
> bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
> without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
> boards 6 inches or less.
> robo hippy
>
What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?

dave

Cd

"Cyrille de Brébisson"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 11:10 PM

hello,

> So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
> before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i
> am thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
> a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
> of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw.
> Does it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks
> for any thought/comments

Although it is true that you can get by with only a band saw (snip on all
the goods of the Band Saw), I find a table saw Much easier, precise and
simpler to setup and use than the band saw which require in my opinion much
more skills than the BS.

so, unless you are already a proficient wood worker, I would strongly
suggest that you start with the Table Saw (which you can find much cheaper
than a BS), I used to have a $99 Rioby one that I finally upgraded after 4
years for a Rigid Cabinet maker (gosh, what a difference!), but you can find
good table saw in the $300 range.
the cheapest BS is the Harbor Freight one at $250 on sale + 60 for the
raiser kit (you do WANT the raiser kit, trust me, regardless of the BS) and
an other $70 for blades...

regards, cyrille

DD

David

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 12:11 PM

robo hippy wrote:
> My bandsaws ( one cuts 6 high by 14 deep, and the other 16 high by 15
> deep) and chop saw only have one advantage over my table saw, they can
> cut thicker stock. Well, I guess I can't do radius cuts on the TS. I
> can do all of the straight and miter cuts on the TS. If I did trim
> carpentry, then the compound miter cuts would require the chop saw.
> robo hippy
>
I take it you don't do any resawing? Also, I find it a wee bit
difficult to cut out shapes on my TS... <g>

dave

DD

David

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 11:00 AM

Pawel wrote:

> So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
> before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i am
> thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
> a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
> of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw. Does
> it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks for any
> thought/comments
>
> pawel
>
>
The TS is generally considered the "main workhorse" in a ww shop. I
wouldn't be w/o it; nor would I give up my band saw, or my miter saw. I
debated a bit about getting a BS but now that I have it I can't imagine
how I'd have progressed as a woodworker w/o it. Your needs may be more
limited than mine, or others. buy what you need; not what others claim
is important.

Dave

DD

David

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 5:43 PM

Frank Drackman wrote:

> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Frank Drackman wrote:
>>
>>
>>>"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>
>>>>robo hippy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Dave,
>>>>>I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
>>>>>bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
>>>>>without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
>>>>>boards 6 inches or less.
>>>>>robo hippy
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>>>>
>>>>dave
>>>
>>>
>>>He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.
>>
>>seems like the wrong tool for the job. :)
>>
>>Dave
>
>
> If you own a bandsaw it is probably the wrong tool but if you only own a
> tablesaw it is a great tool.
>
>
if you don't mind losing a ton of wood to the kerf... :) Resawing, as
far as I know the term, means you are cutting many slices from one
board, for example to make veneer, or as in my case to turn a 4/4 or 5/4
board into two thinner pieces for small projects. I wouldn't want to
give up 1/8" or 3/32" to the blade. but that's just me.

Dave

FD

"Frank Drackman"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 5:40 PM


"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Frank Drackman wrote:
>
>> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>robo hippy wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>Dave,
>>>>I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
>>>>bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
>>>>without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
>>>>boards 6 inches or less.
>>>>robo hippy
>>>>
>>>
>>>What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>>>
>>>dave
>>
>>
>> He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.
> seems like the wrong tool for the job. :)
>
> Dave

If you own a bandsaw it is probably the wrong tool but if you only own a
tablesaw it is a great tool.

DD

David

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 3:55 PM

Frank Drackman wrote:

> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>robo hippy wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Dave,
>>>I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
>>>bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
>>>without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
>>>boards 6 inches or less.
>>>robo hippy
>>>
>>
>>What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>>
>>dave
>
>
> He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.
>
>
seems like the wrong tool for the job. :)

Dave

md

mac davis

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

10/02/2006 9:18 AM

On Thu, 9 Feb 2006 17:41:15 -0800, "Frank Drackman" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>If you are a tool collector I am sure that you can justify buying a bandsaw
>so that you can save a few ounces of wood. I would not advise someone to
>purchase a bandsaw just to resaw a few boards. Resawing on the bandsaw
>takes more skill and setup time than on a tablesaw. As their skill grows
>they will probably be more interested in more complicated projects that
>might require a bandsaw but until then I recommend investing in wood, not
>shiny new tools.
>
I lived without one for a lot of years, until I got into woodturning... now I
wonder HOW I lived without one.. *g*

It's sort of like software... you tend to use the program that you learned first
for everything it will do, even if other programs will do it better...

I know a retired accountant that now works for a charity and writes many letters
a day using Excel... I can't get him to even TRY word and gave up on him years
ago.. *g*

Mac
https://home.comcast.net/~mac.davis/wood_stuff.htm

BG

Bob G.

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 1:49 PM


>>
>>
>if you don't mind losing a ton of wood to the kerf... :) Resawing, as
>far as I know the term, means you are cutting many slices from one
>board, for example to make veneer, or as in my case to turn a 4/4 or 5/4
>board into two thinner pieces for small projects. I wouldn't want to
>give up 1/8" or 3/32" to the blade. but that's just me.
>
>Dave

Dave you make a very good point...BUT honestly just how much
"expensive" wood are you giving up... ? doing veneer work You bet I
would use the band saw without a question... but to re saw a 8/4
piece of Walnut in half prior to dimensioning it I would run right to
my Table saw.. 2 passes thru the jointer then the Planner will "loose"
more expensive wood then I would loose with a 1/8 inch table saw
blade... BUT your point is noted !

Bob

BG

Bob G.

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 1:37 PM

On Wed, 8 Feb 2006 13:11:04 -0500, "Pawel" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So far I am doing O.K with only a circular and saber saw that I owned even
>before my woodworking interests, and it is not that bad. But of course i am
>thinking of upgrading. I resist the temtation to get
>a table saw, seems to me too big and specialized. But rather than thinking
>of miter saw which seem to me quite limited i am considering band saw. Does
>it make sense to have it as the main workhorse in you shop? thanks for any
>thought/comments
>
>pawel
>
================
The simple answer is that many people do exactly that....

Personally that approach just would not cut it (no pun intended) in my
shop where the Tablesaw gets used 10- to 20 times as much as my
bandsaw... To me tha Bandsaw is the more "specialized" of the
two...

Bob G.

FD

"Frank Drackman"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

08/02/2006 3:32 PM


"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> robo hippy wrote:
>
>> Dave,
>> I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
>> bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
>> without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
>> boards 6 inches or less.
>> robo hippy
>>
> What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>
> dave

He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.

BG

Bob G.

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 1:43 PM


>>>What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>>>
>>>dave
>>
>>
>> He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.
>>
>>
>seems like the wrong tool for the job. :)
>
>Dave

Depends I use the tablesaw to resaw up to 6 or so inch wide boards
more then I do the bandsaw...its just faster ,,,

Bob G.

FD

"Frank Drackman"

in reply to "Pawel" on 08/02/2006 1:11 PM

09/02/2006 5:41 PM


"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Frank Drackman wrote:
>
>> "David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Frank Drackman wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>"David" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>robo hippy wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Dave,
>>>>>>I do some resawing, but the big bandsaw is used mostly for cutting out
>>>>>>bowl blanks. It does a much neate job than the chainsaw does, and
>>>>>>without the gas or risk. I have done resawing on the TS, mostly on
>>>>>>boards 6 inches or less.
>>>>>>robo hippy
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>What mammoth TS have you got that can resaw a 6" board?
>>>>>
>>>>>dave
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>He flips the stock over keeping the same face against the fence.
>>>
>>>seems like the wrong tool for the job. :)
>>>
>>>Dave
>>
>>
>> If you own a bandsaw it is probably the wrong tool but if you only own a
>> tablesaw it is a great tool.
> if you don't mind losing a ton of wood to the kerf... :) Resawing, as far
> as I know the term, means you are cutting many slices from one board, for
> example to make veneer, or as in my case to turn a 4/4 or 5/4 board into
> two thinner pieces for small projects. I wouldn't want to give up 1/8" or
> 3/32" to the blade. but that's just me.
>
> Dave

If you are a tool collector I am sure that you can justify buying a bandsaw
so that you can save a few ounces of wood. I would not advise someone to
purchase a bandsaw just to resaw a few boards. Resawing on the bandsaw
takes more skill and setup time than on a tablesaw. As their skill grows
they will probably be more interested in more complicated projects that
might require a bandsaw but until then I recommend investing in wood, not
shiny new tools.


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