BAND SAW POLL ie: which to buy?

[hank dekeyser]

Hey everybody, YES I've read all the threads on bandsaws, NO this isnt my first new tool. OK -I'm usually really good at this BUT- Too many choices of decent bandsaws- So here's your chance to vote.

Band saw choices
A - Delta 28-682 18" for $1075
B- Rikon 10-345 18" for $1149
C- ShopFox 1707 18" for $975
D- Grizzly GO513X2 17" for $995
E- Rikon 10-325 14" for $749 (13" resaw)
F - drive 1000 miles round trip for a Rikon 10-340 (older version of 10-345) for $650

MOney matters aside, which of those listed would you buy ?

Just in case I overlooked something about them all ? Yeah , Ya can't go wrong with any of them, but then again? Please dont just vote for the one you have (or for a big $$ Laguna or similar) I don't do much resawing, mostly bowl blanks and curves / furniture legs and the like.

Thanks to all

[David Christopher]

Hank, I have the Rikon 10-325, it has plenty of power and resaws really well and does the small stuff well also. and a big plus is the blade change is really fast and easy. it has enough capicity to do most needs and if you dont do a lot of resawing its cheeper

[Brian Kent]

I had the exact same question a year ago. I stewed over it every day for months as I saved the pennies. Ultimately everything lined up for me and I bought the Grizzly, with no regrets.

[Jose Kilpatrick]

I don't have one, but I would reccomend the Grizzly. There are lots of good reviews, and many members here own the saw. (wish I had one :rolleyes: )

You say you don't do much resawing, but I would definitley buy the one that has the capability to resaw and the one with the strongest motor. I didn't check the stats to see if they were 110 or 220, but that's another consideration.

Another piece of advice I could give is basing a descision on the wheels. Cast aluminum wheels seem to the norm for todays bandsaws, but I have heard 2nd hand that bandsaws with cast iron wheels really have some momentum (and some require a brake to stop them when you switch it off) Which comes in handy for resawing.

I only mention this because it's inevitable that we ALL test the limits of our tools at some point.

[Bill White]

Or you could join the multi-orgasmic goo goo over granite. Let's see....Stone wheels? Hmmmmm? Sounds kinds cave man to me. Anybody ever see a granite countertop fracture?:eek:
Bill

[Dewey Torres]

Griz hands down out of those!

[Herbert Wallace]

Grizz here too. Love mine.

[Jacob Mac]

I have a Grizzly G0513, and I really like it. I am sure the extreme version is even better, but I was stretching things to get what I got. I am sure the other bandsaws are great, but I would give serious consideration to the Grizzly.

[John Keeton]

Satisfied Griz 513x2 owner here! Would do it again, easily. No complaints. It is smooth as silk, will resaw to 12", and is quiet!!

[glenn bradley]

I don't have one, but I would reccomend the Grizzly.

I do have one, and I would recommend the Grizzly.

[Dave Lehnert]

Anyone own the new JET 16" or 18" bandsaw? A dealer here in town has them on display and do they ever look stout. very well built with a heaver gage steel than one would expect.

http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/WMHToolGroup/710750B_main?$web_jet_main$

[Ryan Baker]

Rikon 10-345 18"

[hank dekeyser]

Well , my Jet 14" went b-bye last night ! NOW I have to buy a new saw ! I'm flippin' a coin

[Billy Chambless]

Satisfied Griz 513x2 owner here! Would do it again, easily. No complaints. It is smooth as silk, will resaw to 12", and is quiet!!


I had the exact same question a year ago. I stewed over it every day for months as I saved the pennies. Ultimately everything lined up for me and I bought the Grizzly, with no regrets.


As much as I hate to jump on a bandwagon... after laying awake at night for a month or so, I got the 513x2 and have been really happy with it.

[Jim Kountz]

+1 Grizzly

[Pat Germain]

Go, go Grizzly! Another very happy G0513X2 owner here.

[Sonny Edmonds]

Anyone own the new JET 16" or 18" bandsaw? A dealer here in town has them on display and do they ever look stout. very well built with a heaver gage steel than one would expect.

http://s7d2.scene7.com/is/image/WMHToolGroup/710750B_main?$web_jet_main$


Yeah, I have an 18" Jet. It works OK, but I wouldn't buy it again. I bought it instead of a 20" Delta I had ordered. Big mistake!
Then I found a Hitachi (http://www.arizonatools.com/tools/band-saws/detail/HITCB75F/?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=productfeeds). Holy Moly! 3" blade capacity. 1/4" to 3" wide blade capability.
Shoulda... coulda... woulda... :rolleyes:

[hank dekeyser]

WOW lots of Grizzly guys out there-

maybe I need to re-word the question.

WHich of the saws would you want if you could just pick one and take it home ? If the grizz and ShopFox are the same saw, I already ruled out the SF ,soI guess its narrowing down-

[John Keeton]

Same answer for me.

[Jim Becker]

Of those you listed, I'd likely choose the big ShopFox or Grizzly...nice machines for the money.

[Don Eddard]

Or you could join the multi-orgasmic goo goo over granite. Let's see....Stone wheels? Hmmmmm? Sounds kinds cave man to me. Anybody ever see a granite countertop fracture?:eek:
Bill
You obviously don't like granite. Fair enough. We get it. Now give it a rest. :rolleyes:

Back on-topic, I'd go with the Grizz or the Shop Fox.

[John Hedges]

You obviously don't like granite. Fair enough. We get it. Now give it a rest. :rolleyes:

Back on-topic, I'd go with the Grizz or the Shop Fox.

WOW!! Seems kinda harsh. Did something happen in another thread we're not all privy to.

To the OP. I would go for the Rikon. The ones I have seen at my local Woodcraft seem reasonably well made. You can also touch it and check it out before you buy, and since you can get one locally, you dont have to worry about the shipping hassles. Seems to be a lot of problems lately with large equipment shipping.