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Hi people!

I'm stressing out in choosing my first bandsaw. I would appreciate your expertise on this. Below are some of the bandsaw I'm looking at. As for me, I'm a newbie builder and on my first build. I'm currently building on my balcony but have a larger shop space at my work if needed. Weather I'm going to use it to resaw or not...I honestly don't know since I'm not too clear on what that is or if I would need to do that as a luthier. Perhaps you guys were on this boat in the past and can shed some light on me.

Sears Craftsman 10" #21400 Small bandsaw that costs under $200. It seems like a nice bandsaw but I'm afraid that one can out grow it pretty fast (got the idea from reading the archive).
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... Name=Tools

Sears Craftsman Perfessional 14" #22401 Got good reviews but it's bit larger and costs bit over $500.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... =Band+Saws

Rikon 14" deluxe has excellent reviews all over this forum and other web but costs $850 now.

I'm not asking which is better out of above three as they seem to be pretty darn different from one another.
What I would like to hear from you who have been building longer than I have are, am I likely going to waste bunch of money upgrading from 10" to lower end 14" to finally Rikon? so I should just save up and get the best?(IMO) or am I going to want both 10" and 14" down the road so just get 10" for now?

Thank you, David

David,

Your situation brings to mind an adage I saw here or on another forum whose essence was that you get a moment's satisfaction from buying on the cheap, but years of frustration with the tool's shortcomings.

I'd steer clear of the 10". It's likely to be way less than half the tool as the Craftsman 14". I had considered going cheaper on a BS, but instead bought a 14" Delta and am glad I did. It's more than I need, but has never been less than what I need. I would have considered the CM 14" that you're looking at if it had been available then.

The 14" will probably serve you well if you don't plan on doing a lot of resawing.

My .02.

Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

So much of the answer for this question depends on you. The question that I would ask myself an try to answer with as much honesty as possible is: Am I going to resaw my own backs and sides? If you are, get the Rikon 14" deluxe. If you are going to be buying tonewood for a while, the 10" Craftsman is enough to get you started sawing neck blanks, making molds and jigs. I'd personally skip the intermediate 14" saw.

I have the 10" and I like it. I spend the better part of an afternoon setting it up (Google and you will get plenty of references or go to sawmill creek's forum) and I immediately changed the blade. The drawback to the Sears saw is that it uses 70 1/2" blades and as yet, there aren't that many that are already cut. You can get the Olsen All-Pro from Peachtree in Atlanta or you can buy a 100' roll of Starrett blade and braze your own -- what I do now. Good luck!

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Both are Sears proprietary models built by Rikon. but the truth is they are both very underpowered. I have the 14" I bought it from a local cabinet shop that the proprietor passed away and the family closed the doors. It was 6 months old and had had an a 2hp 220v Baldor installed to replace the under sized 1hp motor. I love this saw, but suspect I would not pay $500+full retail for a 1 hp when for just a bit more could get a Grizzly with more hp and run it on 220v

while I have a cheap Ryobi 9" hanging a round i never use it so rather than spend 800 on two mediocre saw check Jet, Laguna, Rikon, delta and Grizzly out and get a better saw for your money It is almost always cheaper to buy quality for the long hall once than lesser quality more than once. My grandfather called doing so paying your stupid tax. I have to admit paying that tax more than once.

Hello!
If you can afford the big one, go for it. If not the mid-grade one ought to do. I would avoid the little one, I just ditched my similar one cause it wouldn't cut straight no matter how much adjusting I did. As for resawing, you'll probably be buying your tops backs and sides pre cut for a long time, so I wouldn't worry about it.
Cheers

I personally don't care for anything less than a 14". There are tasks that relate to building that they are just not going to cover. A 14" will cover just about any task we do(although occasionally heavy tasks can really tax a 14").

The main considerations are going to be your needs. If you do not plan on much resawing or heavy duty work, but maybe an occasional wide resaw and lots of necks, bindings, templates and so forth(regular instrument type stuff) then a 14" is a powerful and useful tool that will be used regulary for many many years. Buy a solid machine with comfortable reliable construction so you will enjoy working with it for all those years.

If you want to resaw, skip up to a larger machine. Something in the 16-18" range. They are better suited for the task, but not so large they have difficulty with smaller blades for normal work.

For what it is worth, the upgrade to a larger machines cost. Can be offset in short order if you go about resawing parts you would have purchased before. It is a VERY cost effective move. Also keep in mind, any good quality tool will hold a fair resale value if you keep it in good working order(say 50% of its new retail). Spend $1500 on an 16-18" model, get 10 years worth of use(probably paid for itself many times over), then sell it used for $750. The oportunity cost is very reasonable when you think about it.

Rich

I bought a 14" Jet Deluxe last November, and this is my first saw. It was between that and the Jet 12". I brought it home for less than $500 during their sale.

Last week, I was thrilled when it ripped 2" thick maple for a bench top without any signs of bogging down. I left my 1/4" 6 tpi Olson blade on there, and the cuts needed only minor cleaning after it was all said and done.

If I were getting a saw for heavy work, I wouldn't get a 14". I'd get an 18" or 20". For my needs, the saw I brought home has been awesome and I'm really glad I went for it over the 12".

I have both the 10" craftsman and the 14" Rikon. I picked up the 10" for $75 on craigslist. It was used once and didn't even have dust on the wheels or tires yet. You can find it on sale every once in awhile for $150 or less in the store.
I use it almost every day in my shop. I keep it very near my bench and have my shopvac attached to it when used. Its a simple, clean way to work in my shop. Very nice saw for daily use, has a lot of power for a benchtop model, and cuts most things very easily. I leave a 1/8" blade in it most of the time and it does nice detail work.
The Rikon 14" is in my "dirty room" with my jointer, dust collector and drum sander. I use it for resawing, straight cuts, and general carpentry stuff. I use it in lieu of a table saw much of the time. I have a 3/4" timberwolf blade in it and it works out perfectly. It is a pretty serious saw that is a really nice machine for a small builder. I just cut a dozen or so tops from billets with it last weekend and it performed wonderfully. I'm very happy I stuck with this size. Its slower than some of the larger saws, but not underpowered even with 110v. I picked it up at one of the semi-annual woodcraft sales on the "everything 15% off, even power tools" weekends late last summer and I absolutely love the thing. Its the best value I could find anywhere.

I love them both, but if I could only have one and never needed to resaw again, the 10" would be a fine saw, especially considering how little space it uses, how easy it is to collect dust from, and how often I use it. I really had no idea how often I would use it. I was surprised...now it would be difficult to work without it.

As a previous post said, the sears blades are proprietary, so you either have to stick with the craftsman brand blades, custom order higher end blades, or make your own. The Rikon is a standard size and are readily available at high-end woodworking stores and the internet.

Hope that helped. Good luck.

-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

I would recommend that you purchase a 14 inch bandsaw. They seem to be the size that is the most popular for the well supplied workshop. I don't know much about the newer names. I have an old Rockwell Delta that I purchased back in the seventies. It will do most anything that I want to do. I find that most bandsaws, when purchased, are underpowered. I have a two horse motor on my 14 inch saw and it will cut through about anything. Another important factor is having a good blade. I try to use thin kerf blades for resawing. They cut smoother, have less waste and make any motor that you have running the saw more efficiect.

Look around on Craigslist or in the local swap papers in your area. They have used saws listed for a fraction of what a new one will cost. And many times, the saws have light use on them. Just make sure it has good wheels, no cracks in the frame, no cracks or breaks in the table, decent bearings, etc.

Good luck in your hunt.

Ken

Dude...you have what I call....

Paralysis thru Analysis.

Get a 14" and be done with it....and here's why. One day you'll suddenly discover you need to cut something that your Sears 10" just isn't made for....and then you'll be wishin you had purchased the 14.

I have resawn 10 and 12 inch billets of many different woods on my grizzly...and resawing is the most arduous task you can ask a bandsaw to do.

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

check out the grizzly tool site google grizzly tools. Also look to see if there is a riser block availble for the machine. Get the most HP motor you can. I do resaw and use a 19 but to do occasional sawing you should have a 1 1/2 HP if you can get it. Also the guides are the most overlooked part of a band saw. If the blade won't track it won't cut well.
If I had to list my choices I would list them
1 Grizzly ( within 70 miles of me )
2 Jet
3 Shop Fox
4 Harbor freight Craftsman
Also if you can find older rockwell and deltas from Craigslist or Ebay they are good choices. The older tools are solid. I own a walker turner from 1960 and it is unbeatable compared to the new tools. The 19 inch grizz in my shop is descreet to resawing. My turner weights in at 280 lbs.

Yes I rate sears and Harbor freight at the same point. The yolk on the sears is pot metal. The HF unit is steel but takes alot of set up time.
14 is the better size for most average shops. 16 inch if you can afford it.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

If you get the 14", put it on a mobile base, and you can wheel it around much easier. It'll take more room inside the apt to store it, but you will eventually move, right?

Look at tools like this as an investment, and get the best one you can afford. A 14" bandsaw is a great all around tool that can handle resawing (with the riser kit) and many other tasks. I have the Delta 14" and won't part with it. Its one of the few tools I didn't choose to replace when we made our move from CT to Florida....

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Mitch

The 14" that he mentioned in his post is a solid-body euro style with 13" of resaw capacity. No need for a riser. Its got a horse and a half, which it makes very good use of. Its slightly slower than some others in a 5 and 10 lb sled test, but it keeps going and typically does not bog down and/or stop. Its got carter-style roller bearings that I think are easily adjustable and solid. Very good bang for the buck.
back to his original question....I would not hesitate to get the 10" to accomplish many jobs around the shop. Probably 75% of all of my tasks are done on that exact saw. Then if space and finances cooperate, get the 14" later. I can almost guarantee that you won't pack up the 10" when you do, though. You will still find it quite handy, even with the larger saw around.

-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

I fully agree! The old Sears 10" with three wheels was a bit of a dog, but the current one is a pretty decent little saw. The saw needs a good setup out of the box -- as does just about every other power tool out of the box and it needs a decent blade. Peachtree Supply in Atlanta has Olsen blades in 1/4" width, 6 tpi that go on without modification. If you want something else, just get a brazing kit from Lee-Valley and learn to braze band saw blades. The only trick to it is to remember to anneal the blade after brazing and then it won't break.

I may get a bigger saw when space allows, but I don't feel constrained by the Sears and Sawbuck now! --not with the Zootman around!

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC