Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | May 15, 2008 05:21am | #1

   Brian,

   How many horsies does you Sears bandsaw have?  Regardless, I don't think that you'd regret upgrading to a Grizzly or Laguna - especially if you're resawing.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   bmyyou | May 15, 2008 05:52am | #2

   It's a 1/3 horsepower and can be outfitted up to 1/2 horsepower.  I built a wooden hollow surfboard last year and resawed 12 foot basswood and doug fir 1x4's, but sugar maple has posed a challenge.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | May 15, 2008 07:57pm | #4

   I think you'll be happier with a more powerful saw.  However, if you're looking at a new bandsaw just for it's resaw capabilities and you don't do too much and it's all relatively narrow, you could manage by taking two resaw cuts on your table saw first (one on each edge) and just cleaning up whatever is left on the bandsawChris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   pzaxtl | May 15, 2008 06:20am | #3

   Get a new saw!  As a hobbiest, a 12" bandsaw may have been sufficient for the work you've done, but a newer, larger capacity saw will open up a lot more opportunities to do better work much more capably.  A 1/3 hp motor is quite anemic and putting 1/2 hp motor on the machine would be a waste of money, as would outfitting the machine with Carter guides.  Take the money you'd spend on the guides and a new motor and use that toward the purchase of a decent quality 14-18" bandsaw.  You'll get a beefier motor, greater resaw capacity, greater throat depth and the option of using a wider blade for your resaws.  Trust me, you'll be glad you did!