Author Topic: Band saw recommendations, please! (Read 1808 times)

Bnorma1276 · « **on:** December 06, 2018, 09:45:39 PM »

Alright gents. Decided I need me a band saw after tonight's episode of jigsaw stupidity. Are the cheapo option half decent? Porter cable, ryobi, etc etc? I have a few ryobi tools that are okay, not the best. But usable. Anybody got one?

fujimo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2018, 10:51:32 PM »

i would rather look for a reasonable used 14" saw.
it would be a lot better than a new dinky one!!

ffdiggs · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2018, 10:56:33 PM »

Love my Grizzly, 17"

Roy from Pa · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2018, 05:28:58 AM »

Check craigslist for a used saw.

Sometimes you can find a sweet deal.

Forwardhandle · « **Reply #4 on:** December 07, 2018, 05:45:21 AM »

I had a 14 " saw for years tell I upgraded to a 23" in some ways I wish I had not got rid of the 14" it was quick and easy to pull out for small jobs, with a little comon sense a 14" can do most jobs in bow work but I think you would be disapointed in any thing smaller !

skeaterbait · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2018, 07:45:24 AM »

14", as stated, is pretty much the minimum. I also have a Grizzly 14" but frequently wish I had gotten the 17". If you have space and money a 17" will keep you happy for a long while.

Crooked Stic · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2018, 08:26:26 AM »

Bigger is better. but a 14 in. Jet has served me well for 12 years.

Gitche Gumee · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2018, 08:38:51 AM »

What kind of blade do you use in your bandsaws to cut fiberglass? Anyone that I have used ruins the blade.

Pat B · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2018, 08:42:09 AM »

I've had a 14" Grizzly for years and love it.

TradBowyer · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2018, 10:07:21 AM »

i stopped using a band saw to cut bows out. I now hog it off with my edge sander using 40 or 36 grit paper. one thing with power tools is cheap will only frustrate you, but yeah, its forking over the cash for good equipment. I have a 14" band saw and i'll be going bigger when I upgrade here soon. Its fine for glass bow riser cutouts and stuff like that but I still have trouble with self bows. Last few I actually used my table saw.

Flem · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2018, 10:25:05 AM »

I have got good use out of my 14", but it has always been a compromise. 2hp and at least 12" of resaw capacity are what I'm shooting for now. Grizzly seems to be the machine people are happy with.

Keith Wolfe · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2018, 04:39:55 PM »

I have the jet 10" and I've made a bunch of bows with it and its still going strong. Slows a little cutting thru 1.5"-1.75" hickory when im cutting limbs thickness from a blank but thats when I'm going slow and careful anyways so I really dont mind. Jet makes a good product. Have a ryobi 8" for backup incase of emergencies like when i break a dull blade, dont have another, and want to keep working. Wore out my first ryobi 8" in 2 years when i first started before i got my jet.

BMorv · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2018, 05:00:20 PM »

I have a 9" el cheapo that I've gotten by with for 3 years. It's pretty good for trimming out width profiles and cutting off excess bamboo.
Resawing of any kind or straight cuts in general you can forget about. I use my table saw way more than I should to compensate for the bandsaw.
But, I've built close to 30 bows now with only that bandsaw, so I guess I got my $100 out of it.

BMorv · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2018, 05:05:11 PM »

And call me superstitious, but I couldn't leave my post number as it was

fujimo · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2018, 05:09:58 PM »

Gitche, many folk use a carbide blade- they say it lasts a long time, but no matter what blade you use, once you cut glass, its now a glass blade- and wont be much good for fine woodworking. but apparently the carbides really last on the glass cutting.

bamboo · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2018, 05:27:43 PM »

check c-list every day--use their search engine--its quick work to check a couple hundred mile circle every day!!--it must be the season--but the last few weeks i've seen some killer bandsaws--old deltas--walker turners --even some 20-30 inchers!!--be patient and the right one will turn up!![i don't even need one and i still look!]

Horsey · « **Reply #16 on:** December 09, 2018, 07:12:59 AM »

I have very successfully used Lennox 3 TPI carbidr blades for years and have cut out over 100 bowa per blade. For a 14" saw, make sure to buy a 1/2" blade and not the 3/8". The 3/8" is thicker steel for some reason and the small diameter wheels on the 14" saw causes too much stress in the thicker blade. I broke several before I figured this out. I am a slow learner.

--Mike

Shredd · « **Reply #17 on:** December 09, 2018, 08:47:55 AM »

What ever you get, don't get the cheapie 9" saw... They are worthless unless you are building model airplanes... Just starting out and considering the amount of space you can afford and price factor, If I had to choose one saw it would be the 14" with a 1 1/2 - 2hp motor... It will do most of your work... A secondary saw is nice to cut out the riser and doing tight radius work and alleviates you from changing out blades...... For that I have a craftsman 10".... It is a great little saw... But not for milling wood... Search Craigslist and FB Marketplace...

Crooked Stic · « **Reply #18 on:** December 09, 2018, 10:31:20 AM »

On my 14 in. I resaw with a 1/2 6/10 varible pitch bi-metal blade against the fence. On a good tuned saw they cut really smooth. Then when they show dulling I use them to cut limbs out.

Gitche Gumee · « **Reply #19 on:** December 10, 2018, 02:55:39 PM »

Thanks for the suggestions on the blades gentleman!

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Author Topic: Band saw recommendations, please! (Read 1808 times)

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