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Has anyone been happy using a bench band saw?I`d like to get one I can pick up and move, and still have enough power and cutting depth to cut out necks from a 30x4x3 double neck block.
                            James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I'm real happy so far with my Craftsman/Rikon 10". It's real sturdy for it's size, and has a nice cast-iron table. Nice price, too, I picked up mine for $105 as an open-box.

I've not tried it on neck stock yet, though I think it would probably work okay for a casual/hobby builder if you pay close attention to setting up the saw correctly, get a high quality blade, and go slow. I've cut through 2x4's standing up the long way, and it's done fine. I use Timberwolf blades, Suffolk Machinery will custom make them to length, and the cost is not prohibitive.

If you've got the $$$s, space, and power requirements, I'd go for a 14". If you're putting the saw on it's own stand, it takes up about the same space that a 14" would.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I should add... I wouldn't want to heft this saw up and down off the bench very often if at all, it's pretty heavy.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

[QUOTE=James W B] Has anyone been happy using a bench band saw?I`d like to get one I can pick up and move, and still have enough power and cutting depth to cut out necks from a 30x4x3 double neck block.
                               James [/QUOTE]

James, ideally the answer would be no, however, when I just had a small shop I used a small bench mounted bandsaw with a 1/2hp motor, and while not ideal, it did cut 3" mahogany on many occasions. Good sharp blade, slow feed rate and don't force it. In an ideal world, you have a bigger machine, but sometimes compromises need to be made. If that's all you have space for then get the best one in the size you can handle.

OK I now have a 13" 80kg machine and a 21" 400kg one, but I built 10 guitars with just the samll bench machine.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.