Bandsaws

[Greg Just]

I posted this question in the Power Tools forum, but I probably should have put it here. I'm looking at a number of bandsaws which will mainly be used to cut bowl blanks out of logs for my lathe. A nice 14 inch 1 hp runs $400-500 while a 1.5 hp goes up to the $700-800 range. I know more is better, but is the extra .5 hp worth the cost?

[Bernie Weishapl]

IMHO yes it is better. Of course a good blade is a must. I have been using a Timberwolf 1/2" 3 tpi for a number of years now.

[Reed Gray]

One of my best tool buys was a Laguna 16HD with a 4.5 hp Baldor motor. I use it to cut slabs (up to 16 inches high), and a smaller saw with a 1 hp motor to cut the circles.

For occasional 12 inch high cuts, a 1 hp motor can get the job done, but for a lot of cutting, you really need more hp. Kind of like a lathe. You can turn 16 inch bowls with a 1 hp motor, but it is a lot less work with 2 hp.

robo hippy