Bandsaw help

[Razorbak]

Ok I had it..after many years of failing to make a bow that didn't explode or break and over a 100 failures .Im taking the plunge again to build a bow that will work..I have most of the tools and  books and video's and have read every build alongs for the past several years since I have been laid up from a work injury since I was unable to do much...I have been inspired by many of you guys with these amazing talents and I want to join your ranks now...I can make or build anything else for archery but build a bow!!!
The other day I said that's it..went to lowes and went thru the red oak and brought home 2 near perfect boards and one with 1" of reflex with perfect lines and grain..laid them out per the board bow threads on this site and primitive archer..had a friend cut them out on his bandsaw the rough dimension and just glued on some tip overlays and handle and have thickness measured out and now I have to have him cut that part out and then I can start using my hand tools and the tillering gizmo that Mr. Krewson shared with many...well got to thinking I need a bandsaw and I do not want to pay big bucks until later..I would like to know for those out there do any of you have a hobby or small one and would it cut the boardbows and a occasional stave and maybe splices and bamboo..I know I would have to buy blades..I would like to work mainly with handtools but in a pinch I know I can use the bandsaw...one I was looking at from home depot was a Ryobi 2.5-Amp Band Saw and a few others that was same price or a hundred or so more..I don't have much space to have a  one and don't have plans to build glass bows at this time which I know I will need a heavy duty version...so will a littler one suffice for what I need to do?

thanks in a advance
Art

[Roy from Pa]

It might cut board bows but I wouldn't expect a lot on a stave. But I've never used one of those. I do know that Grizzly tools has a pay me later plan. You have 6 months interest free to pay off a tool.
 http://www.grizzly.com/products/category/420000

[Razorbak]

Thanks Roy. Will look into it. I wasn't sure what HP I would need  I figure something heavy enough to do a occasional stave or two. I look at my space availability unless I store it out side under my car ported section of my shed and tarp it when not in use

[Roy from Pa]

What's wrong with the living room, Art?    

I wouldn't get less than 1 HP.

[heartlandbowyer]

Art I have that Ryobi 9 inch and it will work, but don't expect to be cutting a lot of wood with it. A stave with a depth of 3 inches will be all it can handle. If you are doing any more than 1 or 2 bows I would definitely go the route Roy suggested, your band saw is gonna be one of your most used tools so don't skimp on it if you are gonna be doing a few bows. And as far as storing it outside. if you get a nice saw I would find something else to put outside ( like the wife's car)!    

Cory

[Roy from Pa]

Cory that was so wrong to say. But I loved it:)

[Razorbak]

LOL  guys. Looks like I will sell a bow and upgrade to a larger bandsaw. Just got to reorganize the shed again to put it in or something on that lines. If I get rid of my boat then I can build a new room behind my shed that would be perfect   First I got to finish this board bow first. Gotto bring my board to my buddy's this week to cut the thickness and fades

[michaelschwister]

If you get a bandsaw for bow work it must be at least 14" and 1 hp, that is the bare minimum.  I have a 18" 2hp and glad I went that size. Got it new in the crate from the auction site for less than half of new price.

[Razorbak]

looks like I need to research more saws out on the market...I was looking at small ones but now Im gonna look for bigger ones..so its true size does matter  

[JamesV]

I would stay away from the Ridgid 14" saw or the Porter cable 14". Both are made in China and both use the same top wheel adjuster that is pot metal and will break easily. The replacement is pot metal and will break too.

[Roy from Pa]

Grizzly makes a nice saw, Sears isn't bad either. 1 1/2 hp and 14 inch is sweet.

[John Scifres]

I made 100 plus bows with a 1985 Craftsman 12" 1/2HP saw.  I paid $50 for it 12 years ago and sold it to another bowyer 3 years ago and it is still going.  But you have to get the older stuff.  The new stuff is crap.  Check out craigslist.com.

That being said, you won't regret getting a more substantial saw if you can find a way to do it.

[Razorbak]

Thanks everyone for info. Will look on Craigslist first. Was looking at a sears craftsman 14" that is on sale right now and I believe that's a 1 HP   Choices choices

[Echatham]

My grizzly 14" 1hp will be here tomorrow between 1 and 4..... sweeeeeet!

[Daniel Audette]

I have a house brand band saw I got from Canadian Tire up here in Canada. Spent about 125.00 on it about 8 years ago.  I think it is a 9" not sure what size motor.  Seems to be cutting the red oak nicely.  Right now I have my 1X3 on end thinning it down to just over 1/2 inch and I am taking it slow and it is cutting fine.

[John Scifres]

The new Craftsman stuff is crap compared to the old.  On sale or not...pass.  

I had a 12" newer Craftsman at work a few years ago.  It barely cut boards and I could not get it to track.  I tried a 1 HP, 14" Craftsman, that's maybe 6 years old, a couple weeks ago and could not get it to cut through green staves without bogging down to the point of near non-usability, new blade and all.  There is an "industrial" 14" at Sears now that still looks like crap but is supposed to be better.  I still think I'd find something older.  Or be prepared to lay out some cash.

[eflanders]

For the occasional bow stave, you can get by with one of the older Sears band saws for $100 or so.  But if you ever want to do resaw work (thin veneers) you are going to need a decent saw with a good fence, blade, guides, and some horsepower.  That all costs money.  Grizzly seems to offer a pretty good value on some of their models but there are other options too.

[Razorbak]

really looking at the Grizzlys right now..like I said so may choices..nothing in my area on craigslist yet..figure I got time as I work on my hopefully successful bow

[Roy from Pa]

John lay off my craftsman band saw:) LOL
Mine is a good 12 years old, 1.5 hp and 14 inch. Works great.

[dfrois]

FWIW, the blade is the most important part in a bandsaw. The rest is just to keep the blade in place... I believe that most (but not all) commercial bandsaws can be tuned to saw properly, although many will not retain their tuning very long. I also believe that older machines tend to be better built than newer, slimmer machines, as a general tendency. JMHO, of course...and I have more experience with lathes and such than with bandsaws, anyway.

DF