I'm going to need a bigger Bandsaw

[BigJim]

I have a friend with the 17" grizzly bandsaw. I've seen it run and thought it might be a good addition to my shop... but I don't know where I would put it. 

[Roy from Pa]

Add on, Jim.

 

[Forwardhandle]

I bought this saw about 15 yrs ago its been good to me ,I replaced the guides to carter roller guides when I first got it , I like the bigger saws work table being big and the big heavy wheels keep the power to the blade with all the inertia for resawing timber, I never really had a problem with the roller guides but Its not a dedicated resaw saw , but have sawed thousands of feet of veneerer & a lot of osage logs with it and no issues , its heavy enough to handle what I do but can still move it around the shop !

[Shredd]

  Pretty Shweeet...  First thing I noticed was that heavy wheel...

[BigJim]

That looks like a good one. Very similar to my Laguna Italian. Heavy and large cast wheels and a big motor. It makes a difference.
I was told by Carter that the bearing guides were superior to the ceramic for resaw… That might be, but not my experience. I love the ceramic guides on my Laguna saws.
BigJim

[Forwardhandle]

I have never tried the ceramic guides but for resaw on wet wood I just open up the roller guides I have my blade set dead center of the wheel and the guides dont do much any way during resaw other then the thrust bearing , most times now a days for bow related work I just leave a 1/2 " blade on , I have a 1"
Lenox venerre blade that will cut paper thin veneerers works good with this saw !
I had a smaller 14" saw I got rid of that now I wish I had of keeped for smaller blades ! I can run any blade on the Agazzani but kind of a pain to change blades all the time !

[Flem]

Damn, your setting the bar pretty high with that Agazzani! That's a beauty. That thing must have some serious hp to spin those wheels.

[Forwardhandle]

It only has a 4 hp motor ,at the time I questioned the Agazzani dealer about it and he said that with the heavy wheels once in motion that they need very little HP to keep them turning he said it's the same saw the Smithsonian & some top notch furniture makers use ,I was skeptical but he was right when I shut it off the wheels will keep spinning for 4 minutes if I don't touch the brake, I have cut some big logs with it and it never bogs down it has been a great saw for me ,I bought it with the intention that I would never need another !

[wood carver 2]

I used to run an Italian bandsaw when I worked in a woodworking shop. A Centauro,if I remember correctly. I loved it. I would have long pieces of two inch pine with curves for window and door frames. I would hold them from one end and walk them through the saw so smoothly,it was like pushing the wood through water. There’s nothing like Italian machinery. Great engineering.
Dave.