Band saw question

[Crittergetter]

I know this has been gone over dozens of times. I've read a ton of post on the subject but I'm fixin to drop some coin on a good band saw and was considering either a jet or a grizzly 14". My old band saw is a cheap piece of crap. It was a present from my wife so I used it for the last year with less than desirable results. Cannot cut a square cut with it. Can follow a line on top but the blade angels off on the bottom of whatever your cutting. I've made adjustments till I'm ready to take a hammer to it! Will a good band saw solve this or is It operator error?

[JamesV]

Either of the saws you mentioned will serve you well. I would think even a cheap band saw could be adjusted to cut square with a good blade. I have a cheap 14" Ridgid band saw that with a little adjustment will cut perfect. My two biggest gripes with the ridgid are: first off it is underpowered and secondly the blade tentioner is built from pot metal and will break easily. Most all of the cheaper 14" saws use the same tentioner. After breaking two I built one from steel and have not had any issues since.

James

[Roy from Pa]

Ah heck, just buy the grizzly and get it over with..  

[cunruhshoot]

I have the 14" Grizzly and love it...definitely worth the investment.

[Echatham]

I also have the grizzly, and i just scored a mobile base at the flea market for $25    

[Roy from Pa]

Come on critter, go getter.. Ya know ya want too    It's just one click away.. LOL  

   http://www.grizzly.com/products/The-Ultimate-14-Bandsaw/G0555

[Crittergetter]

Lol Roy. I've been lookin em over. The 555 ultimate is just a little more than the 555lx and the only difference I see is it has aluminum wheels instead of cast. Which makes it lighter. But it also had freight charges where the lx doesn't. Is it worth a little more for the aluminum wheels? When I said cheep before I meant Cheap. Like 89.00 cheap. I bought what I thought was a decent blade from Sears but it still drifts bad! So what blade? Is a carbide worth the money?

[Crittergetter]

I was ripping a piece of tiger myrtle in half yesterday for a riser and the blade drifted on the bottom side but not the top. So in order to not waste the wood, instead of a 3 piece riser I'm gonna have to grind em down to even thickness and add 2 pieces of cocobolo instead of 1 and make a 4 piece laminated riser. Which should look good anyways!!  Waste not, want not!! I was wanting to do some radius cuts in my next riser and this saw ain't gonna "cut it" .

[Roy from Pa]

Buy the best band saw and only cry once..        

You don't need carbide, plenty of other quality blades out there. Well maybe for glass, I dunno bout glass..

Are you sure your table is level side to side?

How's it look for level up and down the along the side of the blade? How does a small square line up with the table top and side of blade? And when did ya have your eyes checked last? LOL

[Crittergetter]

Well Roy ole boy, I checked everything again for the umpteenth time. Managed to rip a piece of coco. Good thing I stayed way out side the line cause it weren't purtty!! I think my mind is made up!! Oh, had my eyes checked about 6 months ago!  

[Roy from Pa]

You don't have the blade on upside down do ya? I'm serious there, if all is square, then it must be the blade. And you have the blocks tight on the blade?

Ah crap just buy the new saw...  

[wood carver 2]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
Ah heck, just buy the grizzly and get it over with..    

Roy's right.       I had a 17 inch German built saw that I struggled with for years. Last spring I finally got rid of it and bought a 19 inch Grizzly. I put on a big ripping blade and split a damp 10 inch doug fir beam like soft butter. I put on a 1/4 inch blade and cut perfect curves in any wood I have. That 1/4 inch will also make good 1/8 inch veneers, but I'll be getting a dedicated veneer blade when I get serious about that.
Long story short, the best saw I've had the pleasure of using.
Dave.

[Crittergetter]

Yes sir, blocks are tight and blade is on right. Its a cheap 9" saw with a 1/3 hp motor. I'm pretty sure the blade is crap too so I'm fighting a losing battle!

[shooterm21]

Check out grizzly's web site, they have the anniversary edition of the 14" saw on sale till the end of the year.  Get it quick and save like $100 I think!  I bought mine at the same time last year and have no regrets!

[shooterm21]

I guess I could quit being lazy, here's the link if you're interested.

 http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-Deluxe-Bandsaw-Anniversary-Edition/G0555LANV

[Roy from Pa]

I would be willing to bet the blade is what is causing the problem. But I'd still buy a new saw as it will come with a new blade..  

[LookMomNoSights]

Every time I go down into my work area and I see my Griz G0555X,  my skin gets tight with goose bumps....and I just want to start cutting up stuff!  Sometimes even if Im not even working with it,   I just bump it on for a sec,  just to hear it pur  :cool:  .  I did somethin' right buying that sucker....best 8 and change Ive every spent. Have had it coming up on a year now I believe.  My most costly tool thus far,  but sooooo worth it    !!!

[kennym]

Originally posted by Roy from Pa:
I would be willing to bet the blade is what is causing the problem. But I'd still buy a new saw as it will come with a new blade..    

Hey Bud, save yer old saws for me when you buy a new one for the blade....  

[Crittergetter]

Kind of like buying a new bow because you missed!! Think I'll try another blade first and see!

[eflanders]

Originally posted by crittergetter:
Kind of like buying a new bow because you missed!! Think I'll try another blade first and see!

OK.  While I wholeheartedly agree with the above statement in most cases, the saw you have is not likely to produce decent results when cutting lams even with a top quality blade.  Why? 2 reasons: 1). lack of horsepower and 2). the components of that saw are likely cast or stamped aluminum.  The tolerances just are not that good and it will be tough to get consistent results accordingly.

Yes a really good blade will make a huge difference.  If you are doing just an occasional cut here and there, then by all means, just get a really good blade and tune your saw accordingly.  You will want to do both of these things on a new saw anyway.  The blades supplied with most new machines are not very good.  Personally, I like the Timberwolf blades best so far and hopefully they can supply you with one for your saw if you choose that route.