I am looking to buy a 14 inch bandsaw, and trying to compare a new Ridgid and a Grizzly “Ultimate”. Does anyone have experience with both to make a comparison?
I have been searching for a used Delta in the New Orleans area, but not having much luck. If anyone has any leads on one I would appreciate those as well.
Woody
Replies
Look in last month's American Woodworker. They have a really good review.
There's no contest between the two. The Grizzly is a far, far better machine and the customer service from Grizzly now, and years down the road, will certainly out-shine Home Depot's.
The Grizzly has more power (1HP vs. 3/4HP), a very good fence (none on the Rigid), a quick-release blade tensioner and an excellent track record on small-shop band saws.
If you ask "Grizzly or Delta?" or "Grizzly or MiniMax?" there might be some pondering to be done. But "Grizzly or Rigid?" is a slam-dunk for Grizzly.
PS:::: Don't forget the riser-block, to increase your resaw capacity.
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" .... :>)
Edited 11/15/2004 1:59 pm ET by forestgirl
Thanks, ForestGirl -- I hoped you would pick up the thread and reply! I was thinking that you had experience with both. Any other good advice before I buy one? I had an import saw (from Enco) that was very disappointing, so I am cautious about going there again. I have a Grizzly sander, and it has been OK.
I enjoy your posts!
Woody
Woody,
I bought a Delta 14" last January. It is a 1 hp with an enclosed base. I was about to buy the Grizzly when the Delta which lists for $550-$560 went on sale....$100 off from Delta, $50 off from Rockler....that made the price of the Delta with taxes equal to the price of hte Grizzly with no tax but shipping. My Delta is fine and I'm happy to have it..altough, it came with no fense, miter guage and the 'riser' setup cost twice that of the Grizzly riser setup. I think I would have been jsut as happy with the Grizzly...maybe even a little more....
Hi Woody, I see Bill has given you a 1st-hand report on the G0555. It's not the first Happy Owner Report I've seen on that saw, so I think you're pretty safe. I have the old 1019Z which is an OK saw, especially for what I paid for it when it was on sale, but nothing like the G0555.
Bill gave excellent advice about the riser block and the blades. I use my Grizzly blade to cut firewood with, LOL! Timberwolf all the way for resawing and cutting shaped parts, though I hear the Woodslicer is a great blade too.
Let us know how it goes!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" .... :>)
Woody:
Personally, I would keep looking for the used Delta, unless you have a need for the tool right away. I recently piced up a used Delta 14" saw with a 1 HP motor and enclosed stand for $270. I also have a 1940's Delta 14" with a cast iron stand that I picked up for about $200, but it came with a 3-phase motor, and a new 1 HP Baldior motor was about $140. In either case, I think I ended up with a much better saw for less than the cost of a new Grizzly.
Kevin
I agree, but am getting tired of waiting. I did just buy and old Delta Unvisaw that is wonderful, after a similar wait. It is wonderful!
I guess I'm not a patient person....
I have the GO555 "Ultimate" bandsaw by Grizzly and I highly recommend it.
Order the riser block.. but do not order any blades.
Remove the one that comes with it in favor of a Timberwolf 1/2" 3 tpi blade. Be sure to order the 105" blade if you opt for the riser block.
Oh, be sure to have a buddy on hand when you install the riser block.. and make sure you have a wrench or socket that will fit the nut on the upper housing before you get started.
Bill,
Once you fit the riser block to the saw do you keep it there for general sawing needs, or only for resawing thick stock? I could not tell if the kit extended the blade guide enough to allow it to come all the way down for sawing thin stock.
Thanks, Woody
I'm still searching for a used Delta in the New Orleans area, but no luck yet.
Woody, they supply you with a longer blade guide along with your riser. It's part of the kit.. and once installed your saw becomes, essentially, a 16 inch BS.
Hope this helps.
Woody,
I also have the GO555 with the riser block. I do not plan to take the riser block off. The kit comes with a longer guard and longer rod for the guides. The saw can be used as a normal bandsaw by simply changing to a narrower blade. As Bill said go with the Timber Wolf blade for resawing. I have either a 5/8 inch or a 3/4 inch wide Timber Wolf blade for resawing.I habe been very satisfied with the saw to date.
Garry
Edited 11/16/2004 3:49 pm ET by Garry
Thanks, it sounds like I will want the kit then as I love to resaw wood if the saw is up to it, but I didn't want the trouble of having to remove or add it each time.
Woody
Putting on the riser is not something you want to "undo." You really want to get the riser on when you buy the saw. I didn't do it that way, and ended up regretting it, because now I have blades that I can't use because they're too short.
You'll probably end up with just 2 or 3 blades that you use, and you'll get efficient at changing them. I keep a 1/2" blade on most of the time, for general work and resawing. I have one for cutting green wood that I rarely use. And I have a 1/4" blade that's for when I get involved in stacked scroll-saw work and I want to get the outside cuts done in a big bunch of items at the same time.
You'll find a chart in your owner's manual that will show you what the smallest radius is that you can cut with any given width of blade.
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" .... :>)
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