Replies

1. 
   bones | Sep 10, 2004 01:51am | #1

   I went through the same situation as you a few months back. I looked at high-end and used and the rikon. I ended up going with the Grizzly 17"HD. I did look at the rikon because of the cost, but just was too afraid to take the leap due to lack of general use of the rikon. It did not receive bad reviews. On the other hand, I was able to dig up a ton of feedback on the Grizzly. I teamed the saw with timberwolfe blades and have been extremely happy with it.  I posted a thread on it back in June. At $750 plus shipping it was a good deal. The 19" is $950.00 I looked at the Laguna, but as a hobbyist I could not justify the very high cost. I put the money saved on the bandsaw towards a new desperately needed table saw.  If you search the archives you will find lots of information on this subject. Welcome and good luck on your choice.

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=tp-knots&mg=0A6E5ACA-77A6-4800-972D-6D4E42C691E8

2. 
   nikkiwood | Sep 10, 2004 07:11am | #2

   Well, that's the best reason I have yet heard for buying a big new tool ("I have a spare 30 amp circuit in my subpanel").....................

   Sure you need an 18" bandsaw? The main reason for going beyond a 14" is if you have serious aspirations for resawing boards wider than 6".

   Unless that is the case, I think I would urge purchase of a 14" in one of the standard brands (Jet, Delta). There is a ready resale market for such saws -- should you eventually decide to move on to a bigger model.

   If you are looking for a saw at the cheap end of the market, I would go for one of the more prominent manufacturers. I'm not one, but there are a lot of Grizzly owners around here who rave about their customer service. If this is your first bandsaw, you may be grateful for someone knowledgeable on the other end of the phone to answer your questions.

1. 
   sawdustysneeze | Sep 10, 2004 03:58pm | #4

   Nope, not sure, but resawing is the main objective.  When I look at the standard 14's and compare the price to say the rikon or grizzly,  I don't want to leave any room for disappointment, and don't want to upgrade very soon.  You get twice the motor nearly and double the resaw capacity.  I've ruled out the smaller saws.  As far as the 30 amp circuit goes, that's not the reason for the tool purchase, it's resawing.  And the extra circuit went to a gen aire (?) cooktop that no longer functions and we have no intentions to fix.  I actually have an extra double 20 that goes to a wall mounted oven that doesn't work either.  Hmm, what tool can I buy for that???  haha  Oh, and by the way, I've spoken to one of the head tech guys at rikon and asked some questions about the saw and was very pleased with the contact.  One concern I have about the rikon is that is takes blades 1/4-1.5".  I would think that using an 1/8" blade might be nice for fine work.  How much difference (besides an 1/8") is their between the two? 

   I am taking another look at grizzly just so you know.

   Thanks for all the replies thus far

1. 
   jc21 | Sep 12, 2004 10:39pm | #7

   Fwiw, check out the October issue of Woodworker's Journal; there's a comparision test of the Laguna LT 16, MM16, and the Jet JWBS-16. The Jet falls within your budget, the 10 1/4" max resaw size may not. Mini Max has three models priced less than the MM16, the S45, S16, and S14 but only the S14 falls within your budget, it's capacities probrably won't. If your budget is cast in stone, the Grizzly 17" or 19" is will probrably give you the best bang for your $. One thing I didn't like about the Jet is the upper wheel area- it's strictly sheet metal. On the MM and the LT it's much beefier ands its an area I'd check out on the Grizzly.

   Edited 9/12/2004 9:26 pm ET by jc

3. 
   jc21 | Sep 10, 2004 03:06pm | #3

   I'd wait for the show.I've owned, bought, and sold many tools in my 50+ year life and for me buying a bandsaw was toughest decision out of all of them. My budget was bit less than yours and I wound up with the MiniMax S14. It arrived yesterday (with a 1" blade no less!).......... got some adjustments to do and hope to fire it up today. The Rikon did quite well in the FWW review and no real negatives iirc. My concern would be parts and service down the road; Rikon has no real track record that I am aware of. That might not be the problem it seems- one factory in Taiwan may produce different versions of the same machine for different makers. If it were me, hit 'em all at the show and check 'em out (Powermatic/Jet, Delta, Laguna, Minimax), and go online and research the rest. Then you'll be just as confused and indecisive as me ;o) 

4. 
   TonyCz | Sep 12, 2004 01:56am | #5

   Andrew contact Mini-Max and have them send you a video on the MM-16. At the wood shows you can save big $$ because you will not have to pay for shipping and maybe sale tax. 

   They do have smaller units But the MM-16 will resaw 12 1/2" with no problem and the Lennox blade is a very good investment as is noted on the next post down.

   I purchased the MM-16 last year and have been very happy with it.  It has the largest motor in its class and is dead on from the factory. Its made in Italy as are most of the good band saws.

   Yes it is about twice what you are looking to spend, but let me tell you its worth every cent.

   Mini Max 800-830-2515

   http://www.minimax-usa.com 

   Tony

   in So Calif.

   
   

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   Edited 9/11/2004 6:58 pm ET by Joeseph

   
   

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   Edited 9/11/2004 9:30 pm ET by Joeseph

1. 
   Michmesquite | Sep 12, 2004 04:07am | #6

   I too have a Mini-Max 16 and it is a VERY fine saw.

   The price of admission is steep, but once you hace used a Centauri (Mini-Max) Agazzani or ACM (Felder) there is no going back. 

   I would also invest in a good Lennox 1" carbide re-saw blade ($160 ish). You'll never look at a Timberwolf blade again._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

5. 
   djcolorado | Sep 17, 2004 08:12am | #8

   Last fall I bought a Jet 18" and have been very happy with it.  I have done a lot of resawing up to 5" and with the right blade, it performs really well regarding thickness consistancy both top to bottom and length wise and has plenty of power.  I looked at 16" options, but by the time you added the Carter styly guides and a miter gage, it was almost the same as the 18" which came with those as well as a fence system.  The only negative regards the fence, as the "0" position of the scale can't be reset easily and its graduations a pretty course, so the scale feature it is not really useable.  The fence itself is fine and comes with a resaw bar that can be bolted through it.

6. 
   SRToolguy | Sep 19, 2004 01:35am | #9

   My favorite is the 18" Jet and it seems to be the favorite in my area. I sold 4 last week alone and two of the 14" Jets. Actually, I sold one Jet and one Powermatic, but who can tell the difference anymore.

   Both 14" buyers also ordered Carter guides and the riser blocks. Their problem was space although the 18" takes up only a little more than the 14". These were older gentlemen who were hobiests and quite frankly I think the 18" saw intimidated them.

   The 18" Jet (JWBS-18) with its carter look alike roller guides, good power, strengthend backbone and decent fence system is really a pretty good deal at 1099.00. The next version will be priced around 1200.00.  

   As for the 15" and 17" bandsaws, I have not had any experience with them. The blade length does peak my curriosity. The 14 uses a 93-1/2 and with the riser it takes a 105. The 18 uses a 133 and the 20 uses a 136. I would imagine that the 17 is stretched a bit in height and uses the standard 133 blade. Does anybody know the answer to that question ?

   Sincerely;

   The Tool Guy

7. 
   Mackwood | Sep 20, 2004 07:02pm | #10

   Andrew,

   I read two recent reviews of the bandsaws you're talking about, and I also bought a Mini Max 16 some months ago.

   From the reviews I gathered the obvious.  The $2000.00 saws are much more powerful, stable and thoughtfully designed than the $1000.00 saws.  The Laguna and the Mini Max both get very high marks especially since Laguna recently switched to Baldor as a motor supplier.  I personally think this was a great move on their part as there were stories of hot motors floating around.

   I had two criteria in the purchase of a new band saw.  Never need to upgrade and never regret the purchase.  I'm sure that any one of several saws would have satisfied those requirements but I am extremely happy with the Mini Max 16.  It is very heavily constructed and has adjustments at every conceivable point of wear.  It came with 4 blades and I purchased the Wood Slicer from Highland Hardware.  The saw handles the 1" blade that it came with just fine but the Wood Slicer (1/2") gives a much smoother cut with the same rate of feed.

   The $2K price tag is steep but the machine is a real jewel and I think worth every penny.  It's an industrial grade machine that's well designed, very user friendly and in operation it's powerful, smooth, quiet and virtually vibration free.  Sweet!!!

   Regards,

   Mack

   "WISH IN ONE HAND, #### IN THE OTHER AND SEE WHICH FILLS UP FIRST"