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For year's I've relied on my Dad's huge and ancient bandsaw to rough out necks. It is incapable (in its present condition) to do anything beyond that. I've grown tired of a 20+ mile drive to the saw and finally landed on to have in the shop.

Shop space and budget are both limited and I setteld for a new Ridgid 14". (My shop is in the parlor of a Victorian cottage. I can justify using the space until the kitchen cabinets are finished.)

I'd used ridgid tools for years in Dad's tinshop and was delighted to find that they've produced a decent line of power tools.

I set her up on Thursday night. I had to play in Ann Arbor Saturday and hurrried back Sunday to set things up and begin to use my saw.

I am delighted! I picked up a 3/4" Timber Wolf resaw blade. I'm having a ball. I think I've split every board I can lay my hands on. Set up was a breeze and everything tracks extremely well.

It's a little underpowered, but with a little patience I've been able to slice everything that I'm going to need to.

I've attached a photo of a nice beewing mahogany set that I was saving to cut with this saw. Remember...these are tiny soprano uke sets. I'm getting almost twice as much wood (and much nicer) than I was getting using a tablesaw.

I've got my eye on the Ridgid Jointer. Any thoughts>

Looks like a great tool Geoff!
Hey, where in A2 did you play?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Geoff,

Congrats, I have the exact same saw and love it. It will do everything you will ever need to build guitars and then some. I don't think it's designed for resaw, but heck, I might give it a shot now after seeing you.

I also have the ridgid jointer and love it. It is a great tool right out of the box. I use it for squaring necks, thinning fingerboards, jointing tops, backs, squaring sides, blanks, rosette making... This is one of those tools I would not do without.

Cheers!

JohnJohn Elshaw38783.3416203704

Lance- I was at the Kerrytown Concert House on Saturday night. What a great venue and neighborhood. I come up and play every winter and have a great time!

[QUOTE=hoosierukes]Set up was a breeze and everything tracks extremely well.
[/QUOTE]
How much re-saw capability does it give you?

[QUOTE=hoosierukes]I'd used ridgid tools for years in Dad's tinshop[/QUOTE]
O.K., you've gotta 'splain that!

The saw...out of the box...has 6" capability. Limiting for a guitar builder but enough for most uke jobs.

There is a riser block available to extend to 12". There are some guitars (a tenor Weisenborn is first) in my future so I will probably pick one up.

Again...there's not a lot of power so the going is slow, but the cut are smooth and square. I put a 6" slab of curly cherry through. That's the toughest so far.

I want to state FOR THE RECORD...that the Ridgid tools mentined above were wrenches and thread cutters.

[QUOTE=hoosierukes] I want to state FOR THE RECORD...that the Ridgid tools mentined above were wrenches and thread cutters[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but I grew up in a small city--what's a tin shop do?

Rigid makes some really nice machines...I plan on buying some very
soon...

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I have the same bandsaw and love it. But I don't have it setup very good. I can't seem to get good resawing straight. I know I just need to play with it, but just don't have time right now. It does everything I need for now though. Great tool!
Tracy

I have the same saw, with a riser block (special order from Home Depot took about 3 weeks) resaw capacity is 12", and I have used all 12. It does a good job, as long as you don't force it. I've resawn cocobolo, ziricote, maple, walnut, and lacewood. It doesn't like 3/4" blades. I use 1/2" for resawing.
I also have the Rigid planer,laminate trimmer, and jointer. They are all quality tools.

Al

Tin Shop = Sheet Metal Shop making ductwork for heating and air conditioning.

[QUOTE=hoosierukes] Tin Shop = Sheet Metal Shop making ductwork for heating and air conditioning.[/QUOTE]
D'oh! Of course! I can sleep now, thanks.

John-

It was your endorsement of a Ridgid bandsaw that made my decision.