Help! Sears Bandsaw Sale One More Day

[Cupcake]

The Craftsman 14" Professional bandsaw is on sale for one more day so I need a fast decision.

I am torn between the Craftsman and the Grizzly 14" Ultimate bandsaw.

I like the bigger table on the Sears saw but the blades are an odd length so that makes them harder to get.  I was going to buy the Grizzly (also on sale)until I saw the Craftsman on sale.

Help me decide,
Kevin

[legends1]

I use the Craftsman 14",I have never had a problem with it.-Mike

[StanM]

I'd go with Grizzly, in general I believe a better product.  What's the HP on each?  Don't worry too much about the size of the table, you can get, or better yet build, a table for yourself that will be better than the one that comes with either.  Having extra HP is nice, as is the ability to buy blades of a standard length.

[JBiorn]

You can buy bandsaw blade in a roll if you want---then just cut to length.

 But the Grizzy is a better saw.

[Pat B]

I'd go with the Grizzly also. I have a Grizzly 14"band saw, table saw and belt sander and love all three. Grizzly has a great support system with helpful techs and parts for all of their stuff. Find that at Sears!     Pat

[John Scifres]

If they are the same price, go with the Grizzly.  If the Sears is a couple hundred less, buy it.

[ChuckC]

Check the blade length of that Sears.  I was looking at one months ago and the blade length was basically unavailable except as custom or from Sears.  The blades were limited and it was more expensive than all their other blades.
ChuckC

[Cupcake]

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I think I will get the Grizzly as originally planned.  Both saws have the same HP and I can always add a riser block if I want to re-saw boards larger than 6 inches.  For bows I only need to re-saw 2 inches.

Kevin

[Benoli]

What is meant by "re-saw"?

[ChuckC]

benoli.  I believe you are referring to taking a board, and making it thinner.  Such as holding a 2 x 4 on its edge and sawing thru 4" (ok 3.5") of stock so you end up with a piece that you can use.  This is often done to start a lamination.  For some, this is ALL that is done to make a parallel lamination.

 It is, in my mind, a difficult thing to do on a band saw.. not so much in terms of your skill, but of the band saws capabilities to make a good straight cut thru that much wood.

If you are gonna spend the money on a band saw, may as well be able to re-saw at least 2" of board so you can make laminations.
ChuckC

[Dirty Bill]

Grizzly.yep.  

[Cupcake]

Grizzly, yes.  I ended up getting the Grizzly 14" Extreme Series.  For another $200 it came with a lot of cool upgrades.  I have been breaking it in the last few days.  Once my garage gets a "make-over" it will be time to make some bows.

[Dirty Bill]

That's cool. If I was planning on doing a lot of wood work,and I might be...I would get the Grizz also. Merry Christmas.  

[jeff w]

Grizzly, a good choice.    As mentioned, just make yourself a larger table to mount on the existing table.    Also, if you are not familar with resawing,  the wider the blade, generally the straighter it will track(cut).

[Diamondback59]

kevin  ill be honest here  iv been cutting with band saws 28 years the craftsman  is alright  the grizzly i will NOT touch too many cheapo part s made in tiwan such as plastic sprokets in their sanders etc  the very best saw iv had  is a jet after owning 13 diffrent saws  i think jet makes the best one out there  but thats just my 2 cents worth biggest thing you gotta ask is what can ya afford and what do ya want it to do haha have fun !!

[JBiorn]

Santa brought me a Ryobi 9" and I can't wait to try it out---all my other Ryobi tools have been top shelf.