Official Luthiers Forum!

So I bought this 9" Grizzly bandsaw last year, thinking it would be a good upgrade from my 9" Ryobi, and still be sized right for my upstairs bedroom shop.

But I haven't used the Grizzly yet, as I'm still sorting out the table. I'm either missing a part or some parts, or else this may be the worst bandsaw table design ever.

Here are the two bolts that support the table, shown without the table for clarity.

The one on the left has a collar that the table gauge rides on and is stationary, fits relatively tight in the slot on the table. The other one has the handle and the threaded portion does not fit tight at all in the slot on the table.

Here it is with the table on it.

The round gauge part with the curved slot is the only support connecting the table to the bandsaw frame. Neither of the bolts are that tight in the slot, especially the one with the handle. The table's pretty flimsy anyway, but even just a little force on the edge of the table will cause it to move out of position.

So am I missing something? The manual's illustration leaves a lot to be desired, it's hard to tell if I'm actually missing any parts.

It's just been sitting because so far the Ryobi still serves my needs so I haven't messed with this one too much.

Any ideas?

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

The obvious questions...Did you contact Grizzly? What do they say?

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

I've emailed the pics to tech support, though I just did that tonight so haven't heard back. I guess I'm also curious to see who else here has the saw and how it's worked out for them.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

[QUOTE=Grizzly Tech Support] I am sorry to hear you are having trouble with your Grizzly purchase. Our Technical Department has advised that a washer should be used on the lock lever bolt. They suggest you may also consider replacing the cap screw to the left of the lock lever with another lock lever. The part number for the lock lever is #P1052053, Lock Handle Assembly, currently priced at $5.75 each plus shipping and handling. Shipping and handling for all orders under $25.00 is $7.70. [/QUOTE]

So I guess it's just a bad design (I've tried it with and without a washer, it doesn't make much of a difference). Aside from the attachment issue, the table's still much flimsier than my Ryobi. Too bad, because the frame itself seems very sturdy, which is why I bought it.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

I have the same saw and the same opinion of the table.
Since I'll be using it for 90° cuts 99.9% of the time my plan is to make a new
fixed table. On the odd occasion I want to make a bevel cut I'll have to
switch to the original table.
Shame they put such a flimsy table on an otherwise sturdy tool. The "rip
fence" and bevel gauge are jokes too.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

Yeah, it was a good initial idea (sturdy small bandsaw) that was poorly executed in the details.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR