Replies

1. 
   BArnold | Nov 06, 2004 12:53am | #1

   Mike,

   I was following your other thread -- not sure why you started this one -- makes it kinda confusing.

   Only you can decide what you are doing and will do with your bandsaw.  Only you can decide whether it's more important to buy a high-dollar item for hobbist use.  Some people believe you should only buy the very top dollar, top quality, certain name brands, etc., regardless of your budget.

   Having gone through the motions on this type of issue many times, I always opt for the price/value equation.  In other words, what am I going to do with the tool?  How much is it worth to ME (not to the neighbors or other fellow woodworkers)?  There is a faction of woodworkers who would prefer to go broke buying a certain brand rather than make an intelligent purchase.  Frankly, I don't care if my tools are still around for my great-great grandchildren.  Do you think they'll care when they spend their weekends on jaunts to the Moon or Mars?

   If you want the most bandsaw you can get in the $700-800 range, look at Grizzly.  I just bought the G0513 because of its 12" resaw capacity.  Most of the resaw I will probably do will be in the 6-8" range because of available wood.  But, I got my hands on some 12" mahogany and have already resawn a piece of it for a project.  It's a solid machine as evidenced by the advice of others on the Forum.

   Good Luck!

   Bill Arnold - Custom Woodcrafting

   Food for Thought: The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.

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1. 
   MikeMD | Nov 06, 2004 02:00am | #2

   Thanks for the input Bill - I appreciate it.  I'm not one to "keep up with the Jones'" but rather like to buy the best quality tool that will meet my needs.  I'm rather new to woodworking so it's hard for me to know how "big" to go. Take my tablesaw could have bought a cabinet for 2-3k but instead bought high quality contractor - far exceeds my capabilities.  I'm just trying to avoid the "what was I thinking" phrase 6 months after I've purchased a product.  Thanks again to you Bill and all others for their help.

1. 
   forestgirl | Nov 06, 2004 11:57pm | #3

   The MiniMax you're looking at is used, right?  It's going to hold its value quite well and there will always be a market for it, so if you start making stuff that requires more blade-to-frame clearance than 14" you can always upgrade.  What I would evaluate carefully is the height capacity for resawing purposes. forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   MikeMD | Nov 07, 2004 01:09am | #4

   thanks for the input forest, hard to say whether I'll out grow it - one of those cases where it may exceed my needs the rest of my life or I may be saying "gee I wish I had a litlle bigger saw".  Either way the Mini Max name should make for easy resale should the case arise.

1. 
   jc21 | Nov 07, 2004 04:44am | #5

   Ditto to what fg said. What seems to be a bigger issue than blade to frame clearance for bandsaw purchasers judging by the posts I see here on Knots and elsewhere is resaw capacity. If the S45 you're looking at has the capacity of the current one (12"), I'd think you've got it covered.

2. 
   BG | Nov 07, 2004 03:17pm | #7

   Mikemd,

   I think the short answer to your question is you won't outgrow it...at least not as a passionate hobbiest.  Many of the professionals here have larger bandsaws to accomodate wider blades, along with wide belt sanders and wider planers...all for making veneers..and set-ups for applying the veneers to substrates. Many of them keep their 14" bandsaws in addition to the larger units for all the other bandsaw work...swapping out blades and re-tuning is too time consuming for a professional. 

     

2. 
   mudman | Nov 07, 2004 07:10am | #6

   Mike,

    I have a Delta 14" with a riser and bearing guides. I am getting closer to working in the shop full time and use the saw a lot. I really have no desire to upgrade it. It resaws 10" cherry, bubinga, whatever. I have never used a nice Euro BS and I am sure if I did I would like it!

   Hope that helps.

   please excuse my spelling.
3. 
   jc21 | Nov 07, 2004 06:20pm | #8

   One thing I'd strongly recommend is to get yourself a copy of Lonnie Bird's The Bandsaw Book. Excellent book with info on selecting, buying, setting up and using bandsaws................. think you'll find it extremely useful............ was/is for me.

   
   

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   Edited 11/7/2004 10:23 am ET by jc