Hello,
This month I plan to add a bandsaw to my home shop. My jigsaw has taken me as far I can go with it and I’m ready for the next step. Even though this will be my first bandsaw, I also expect it to be my last. So I’m looking for the best quality for my budget which happens to be around $1000. I think I’ve narrowed it down to two, possibly 3 machines. Much of which was based the FWW 2007 14″ bandsaw review. I was hoping to hear some owner feedback, good or bad, from those who may own or be familiar with the machines listed below. I’d appreciate any input!
1. POWERMATIC 14″ PWBS 14CS : I have a PM tablesaw and love the quality and accuracy. The FWW review pointed out wheel misalignment. I was hoping that was a fluke and not a characteristic of the saw. Anyone know??
2. Grizzly G0457: Good resaw capacity, heavy duty machine. I would have to add a 230V circuit. Also, not a fan of mail order. Anyone have one that could comment on the performance, blade-changing/maintenance and quality?
3. New Jet 16″: My reservations would be the lack of track record (newly introduced), higher price, would need to purchase fence and miter. Other than that, looks like a nice bandsaw.
In a nutshell, I’m looking for an accurate, powerful vibration free saw that is relatively easy to maintain, good resaw capability, and has a good reputation. I’m open to any other suggestions.
Thank you in advance.
Shawn
Replies
Shawn, I just went through the very same decision. I wound up with the Grizzly G0555X because I have a tiny shop with low ceilings, and am very happy with it so far.
If I had the room, I would have bought the G0513X2, which I would choose over the G0457. It's only $125 more and still well within your budget, but it's a 17-inch saw with superior features that really take the saw to the next level, such as two speeds, two dust ports, cast-iron trunion, a blade-tracking window and a more conveniently sized and located blade-tensioning knob.
I wouldn't worry too much about mail order, as I have seen very few complaints about Grizzly, which has excellent customer service and quality. The hardest is getting the machine from the truck into your workshop, but you'd probably be facing that anyway.
I'm sure you'll get a lot of other recommendations. . .
Norman
Edited 12/1/2008 2:28 pm ET by nboucher
I'm really happy with my 19" Shop Fox. Maybe with the live.com promotion and Ebay, you can get a deal shipped to your door.
Mine has enough power, accurate fence and big enough table size to handle most of my resawing needs.
msp100,
My experience is that many bandsaw deals/discounts are offered in January...with the current economy all bets may be off however.
I have the Powermatic you mentioned and love it. Got it during the 80th Woodcraft Anniversary so I got the BS, 6" riser, and the mobile base for 749 + tax. Great BS and I couldn't be happier with the price, however, not on sell this BS with all the trimmings I just mentioned cost $1450 now because the BS alone is 1199.99.
I don't know much about the Grizzly, but I would look into the SteelCity 14" BS with the granite top. Seems to be pretty solid and it also has a pretty decent price tag at 749.99 and that is during their double rebate deal that runs until December 31.
Good luck!
Bio
Hadn't considered Steelcity. I'll have a look. Sounds like you got a great deal on the Powermatic. Is there anything to the wheel misalignment I mentioned that you are aware of?
I haven't had a single problem. The most difficult thing in the setup was the mounting of the motor. Kind of hard to hold the motor with one hand and get the belt positioned and the cabinet doesn't have good access to make it easier, but once you get that situated it runs like a dream. If you adjust for drift and have a decent blade then resawing is a snap too.
Bio.
p.s. I really didnt' realize until last night how good of a deal I actually got....WOW!
The Steel City 14" is an excellent BS, MSP. But.. if your $1 K budget allows the Steel City 18" is a great machine with the double rebate until December 31st which puts in around your budget. Either are very well made machines and if you have questions or need close up pictures of the 18"... let me know and I will oblige...
Good luck with deciding...
Sarge..
Great advise. Especially on the SteelCity. I think the 18" will be overkill for my situation. And even with the double rebate, it will likely push me over what I'm comfortable shelling out. I thought I saw the price around $1400? But I am very interested in the 14" . The only negative thing I've read about the SC 14" is the locking mechanism for the table. Sounds like it moves easily.
I think I'm just going to have to get out there and take a look at them in person. Unfortunately tool stores in NJ are few and far between.
Getting there and looking in person would probably be the most valuable thing you do before purchasing any tool or thing for that matter. The BS's will tell you which one you should purchase.
Sarge..
Hi Sarge,
I saw the SC 18" today and may have had a change of heart. A fantastic machine. Did you look at the 16" (steelcity 50200) before chosing the 18? The 16" also has a decent resaw capacity at 10" and is closer to my price range. The only problem is I can't find a store who has one on display, nor can I find any reviews of the machine. Did you happen to look this one?
thanks again.
Shawn
I have the 14" Rikon. I have no complaints. After I bought it, I saw a review in one of the mags that downgraded the Rikon because of the difficulty in changing blades. Maybe I'm missing something, but the blade change on the Rikon seems straight forward to me. Maybe other manufacturer's have streamlined the process, but I can change out the blade on my saw in a couple of minutes. The Rikon has a 13" resaw capacity (which is why I bought it) and unless somebody else could beat their price I'd do it all over again.
I thought you might be impressed, Shaun. I did look at the 16" and the 20". I have a 14" other brand so the 18" was just the ticket for me for mainly re-saw as I kept the 14" for curves with a dedicated 1/4" 6 tpi blade so I have the best of both worlds.
The 16" is has the large bearings.. and basic same running gear with the 10" re-saw. What is doesn't have is a brake. Most local distributors won't stock one as the 14" and 18" are the the fast movers of the line. Low inventory is necessary for survival these days. There was talk of dropping it at one time due to lack of demand of a 16" but.. I cannot say what became of that. But... I will call Jim Box at Steel City tomorrow to find out if it will stay in the line-up.
Call your dealer as double rebates go on until December 31st to see if it is still available and does it carry the rebate. I will call Jim tomorrow and get back late as I have an appointment at 2 PM EST until around 4 PM.
Regards...
Sarge..
thanks Sarge. I appreciate your help.
The rebates don't apply to the 16" which puts it at a little over a 1K. The dealer I spoke with yesterday would Knock a couple hundred off the 18" which placed it within $250 of the 16". Close, but you have to draw the line the somewhere. The other consideration is the wiring. I may not have room in the panel for another 230V circuit in my shop. That would add to the bill with the cost of the electrician. It all adds up!
As you stated these machines appear to be very close. All things being equal, I'm leaning toward the 16" if it's going to be around for a while. Whatever you can find out would be extremely helpful. Thanks again!
Shawn
ps: They both come packaged fully assembled. (minus the table) That's worth a few bucks right there!
I just got off the phone with Jim Box (head of technical department) and the 16" has been dis-continued. Jim checked and there was not one in left in inventory. But... I am going to make a suggestion on a BS that will probably fit your needs in lieu of the 16".
Go to the Steel City Toolworks web-site and scroll down to lower left on the home-page. Click on New Products and have a look at the 50130 14" BS with lower Granite wheel that was introduced at IWF in August. 12" re-saw and no riser block as it has a solid back-bone.
1 3/4 HP and with that heavy granite wheel when the drive wheel gets rolling it will result in more torque than a standard 1 3/4 HP motor will deliver with a cast iron wheel. The large roller bearings are there and not only do you get a granite lower wheel (upper is cast iron) you get a granite table and granite is flat... very flat.
Due around February 1 if you can wait at $899.99. This is a great BS as I got to use the lower granite wheel at IWF when I demonstrated SC tools. Very heavy which not only produces more torque when moving but also relates to vibration free. The one we were using was sitting on a thich carpet with thick padding underneath. That would produce vibration in some machines but it just didn't happen with this one.
Good luck...
Sarge..
Edited 12/10/2008 11:44 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Hi Shawn; I have a Delta 14" bandsaw with the metal stand, that I enclosed with thin plywood, and a 3/4 hp motor. I love it and have never had any problems in the last 5 years of use. I also use a 14" jet and like the Delta much better. Mine is very smooth operating and gets the job done. I replaced the blade with TimberWolf brand blades with a big improvement along with cool blocks. I use a number of self made jigs: an adjustable fence, adjustable circle cutter for making 2" toy wheels, and a sliding cut off table with adjustable fence for mass part production. The only think I wood change is to increase the size of the motor to 1 hp or larger and the dust vent in the back. I only have a 3/4" dust right belong the table. The new saws have a larger dust collection on the back of the bottom back plate. The saw came as about 5 parts I had to put together plus the stand. I was already to spend the day adjusting it but it worked very smoothly right after assemble. Unless you want to spend the buck for a much more expensive saw like the Laguna, I would buy the 14" Delta. I use mostly just the 1/4" Timberwolf blade, but for resawing large boards I may switch to the 1/2 skip tooth Timberwolf blade. Have fun, Roger. [email protected]
Shawn,
I am researching a bandsaw, same as you. Look at post 44012.1.
My choices have come down to two: the 18" Steel City or the 14" Laguna. Yes, a little out of your $ range, but either will be the last one I ever buy! My 10" Inca doesn't have the resaw cap. I want.
I went to a vendor day at Woodcraft, saw the 14" SC beside a 14" Jet, Delta, Rikon. The SC has a better bearing post, easier to change blades, easier to adjust bearings, etc! I was impressed with the overall construction of the SC. The Jet rep should have been selling used cars instead of machines. The new 18" Jet is unproven, the rep said it had been sold in Europe for 5 years. The store mgr. just laughed when I said this to her. Powermatic, I don't know about.
The 18" SC (not in store) doesn't need a riser block to resaw 12", nor does the 14" Laguna. I will sacrifice a little rip cap. with the Laguna, but it is a proven quality machine-although the service dept. has had bad rep here on Knots.
I think either one will fill your requirements. If you are interested about the SC line, ask SARGEgrinder47 here on Knots. Very generoous with his time. The FW article about SC 18" was proven inaccurate.
I hope this helps.
Pete
Shawn
I bought the Powermatic about a year ago, and really like it. No misalighnment problems, dead on right out of the box. Do get the riser and put it in while you are setting it up. Don't even bother putting the blade that comes with it on, get a couple good quality blades and throw the oem blades away. The only problem I had was getting the drive belt tight. After I did, havn't had to touch it again. I think PM is running some extra rebates right now. You can check there website.
Gary
I bought a Grizz 555x in October and I am extremely happy with it.
Find a used saw and spend the money saved on lumber.
Believe me I've been looking for 3 months now. Slim pickins'.
I'll sell you a like new Jet 14" with a new 1hp motor, riser block, hd spring and 10 timberwolf blade for $500 or a 15" General(made in Canada) for $450. Pickup in Warren, MI.For your budget, you can find a boat load of used saws.
I own a Powerrmatic 14" which I purchased four months ago. This was my first powermatic tool, I have other Jet and Delta tools. The built quality and attention to detail on the powermatic is fantastic. It comes with a cast iron table extension, quality fence, ball bearing guides and the carter blade tensioning system, all these features would be add ons on the other two saws you are considering which are less expensive than the powermatic but don't have these features. My saw was great right out of the box, the wheels are aligned and the blade tracking system was easy to adjust. I highly recommend you go with the Powermatic, you will not be dissapointed.
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