[GMedic]

Ok Ive been searching on here and haven't quite found the answer to my questions so here goes. I'm a novice at woodwork but have been learning as I go, project by project. The ones I want to do next however pretty much require a band saw and my inherited-from-dad BS died a sad death. SO looking around I saw a lot of promise in the Grizzly Deluxe (http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-Deluxe-Bandsaw-Anniversary-Edition/G0555LANV, $524 with shipping), that is until I started reading comments about bandsaws on this forum. Now I'm wondering should I spend the cash and get something more expensive? Will I find myself a couple years down the road wishing I had?

Right now my projects are pretty basic, chairs, a bed etc... but I hope to be doing more in the future. Not to a buisness level, just obsessive hoby.

Anyway I keep reading about the Rikon 10-325 (http://www.rikontools.com/productpage_10-325.htm) on here and how much people love it and I'm thinking, should I just spend the money and get that (and consequently buy the dewalt planer I was going to get as well at a later date) or will the basic Grizzly serve me just fine and I'm just trying to find an excuse to by the nicer toy? I can spend right around $1,000 and I was going to get a grizzly and planer but..... thoughts? Suggestions? Other ideas?

Sorry to ramble... just finished a 36 hr shift, time to pass out for a few before my next shift. :sleep1: :wacko:

GG

 

[GMedic]

About the best I could afford is the Steel City 14n Granite Deluxe... (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Steel-City-14-in-Granite-Deluxe-Band-Saw-50130/203233749#more_info).

 

[Dave Paine]

I started wth a Grizzly 14in bandsaw and within a couple of years upgraded to the G0513.

Grizzly have a special version of the G0513 on sale for $800.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/17-2-HP-Bandsaw-Anniversary-Edition/G0513ANV

The extra width comes in very useful. I get more out of the extra width than the greater resaw capability.

 

[GeorgeC]

Get the biggest, best you can afford.

George

 

[woodnthings]

advice from a guy who has a few

I started with a 1980's era Craftsman 12"...junk, but I didn't know any better. Next was a top end Mini Max 18" 3 HP. what a difference. It will do anything I need especially resawing up to 8" thick stock.
I have some Craftsman 14" Professionals, with different blade widths, 3/8" and 1/2". I hate changing blades on a bandsaw. :wallbash:
Then there's a little 10" Craftsman I got for my 8 yr old son who I later found out wanted nothing to do with woodworking. I use it for tight radius cuts and it works just fine with a 1/4" wide blade.

Finally there's a Grizzly 19" 3 HP with a motor brake which I have yet to use because of limited shop space. Too many tools and not enough room to use them. :thumbdown: The Grizzly saw is every bit as good as the Mini Max which cost about the same. I have other Grizzly tools and they are well made and the fit and finish is above what you would expect for the price.

A 14" saw will do almost everything you need for basic and advanced woodworking even furniture building. The only limitation is the resaw height and some of the newer 14's can resaw 12" ...wow! It may be just me but when you see 10"or 12" of exposed saw blade racing around it's a bit intimidating. Sometime your hands get pretty close to that blade ..... just sayin'.

 

[Bweick7]

Oliver 117/Oliver 217/Tannawitz 30/Wadkin/Yates.....etc...etc...

Anything OWWM .....


JMPO ,


B,

 

[Seenya]

I have the Grizzly bandsaw mentioned by the OP. It is a great saw for my needs. I don't have the extension yet as I haven't needed to resaw anything over 6". It's only $80 and I'll order it if I see the need. It's a well made saw and does everything I need it to do and more.

 

[Chris Curl]

The big thing for me with band saws is how much the blade "wanders". In general, the smaller (cheaper) band saws tend to wander much more than a the bigger (better) saws. I had a Ryobi 9" saw and I could not for the life of me get it to cut straight.

 

[gus1962]

Get the biggest band saw that you money and space allows.

 

[rrich]

A band saw is like a jointer, get the largest that you can afford.

With a jointer you can always run a narrow piece of wood through a wide jointer.

With a band saw, you can always put a narrow blade on a band saw. And when you're re-sawing you want the widest blade that the saw can handle.

 

[Wizard1500]

Good discussion, because I also am looking at the Grizzly 14" Deluxe.....

 

[PSDkevin]

I have a grizzly G555. I love it. Take the time when you get it to set it up/tune correctly and it will run with any other 14". BUT...the blade that comes with it is crap so get a good blade or 3 at the same time.