Matt Mackinnon
02-06-2011, 8:31 AM
I am ramping up my business and find that my current bandsaw setup just isn't working well for me.
Background
Currently i have a larger King Canada 17" bandsaw that works beautifully. I have this setup right now with a 3/4" Resaw King blade and it does my resaw work without problem. I have 4 of these blades for it so I am reluctant to re-purpose this saw.
Then I have a smaller 15" Craftex that is more along the old cast iron delta style. This saw just doesn't seem to want to work right for me. I am using small 3/16" blades, but they move too much to get the perpendicular cut that I need. The blade tends to change where it want's to track on the wheel in a random sort of way when cutting. The guide blocks were replaced with phenolic inserts and the thrust bearings are perfectly adjusted. To compensate for this, if I lower the tension on the blade, it will improve the tracking wander, but then I loose on the blade staying vertical.
I am in this to try and sell product, and spending more time to try and fix this bandsaw just doesn't seem worth it. I can sell it for most of what I bought it for and it owes me nothing.
Question
Right now I am looking at the following bandsaws.
1. Laguna LU14SUV
2. Grizley GO513
3. Grizley GO513X2B
The grizley hands down is less expensive. The GO513 for me has an advantage in that it doesn't have the ball bearing blade guides. The steel ones can easily be pulled out and replaced with phenolic that won't destroy the small blade set. The X2B version does add in the cast iron wheels and break that would be nice. Down side though is that I live in Canada, and have to deal with bringing it north of the boarder that add's to the cost of hassle.
Laguna has a better motor, magnetic switch, and is here in Canada. I am not sure about how the ceramic guides, but you can get cool block phenolic inserts for it. it also gives 14" resaw if ever I did need that.
Can anyone give some advice on what to get?
Matt.
Background
Currently i have a larger King Canada 17" bandsaw that works beautifully. I have this setup right now with a 3/4" Resaw King blade and it does my resaw work without problem. I have 4 of these blades for it so I am reluctant to re-purpose this saw.
Then I have a smaller 15" Craftex that is more along the old cast iron delta style. This saw just doesn't seem to want to work right for me. I am using small 3/16" blades, but they move too much to get the perpendicular cut that I need. The blade tends to change where it want's to track on the wheel in a random sort of way when cutting. The guide blocks were replaced with phenolic inserts and the thrust bearings are perfectly adjusted. To compensate for this, if I lower the tension on the blade, it will improve the tracking wander, but then I loose on the blade staying vertical.
I am in this to try and sell product, and spending more time to try and fix this bandsaw just doesn't seem worth it. I can sell it for most of what I bought it for and it owes me nothing.
Question
Right now I am looking at the following bandsaws.
1. Laguna LU14SUV
2. Grizley GO513
3. Grizley GO513X2B
The grizley hands down is less expensive. The GO513 for me has an advantage in that it doesn't have the ball bearing blade guides. The steel ones can easily be pulled out and replaced with phenolic that won't destroy the small blade set. The X2B version does add in the cast iron wheels and break that would be nice. Down side though is that I live in Canada, and have to deal with bringing it north of the boarder that add's to the cost of hassle.
Laguna has a better motor, magnetic switch, and is here in Canada. I am not sure about how the ceramic guides, but you can get cool block phenolic inserts for it. it also gives 14" resaw if ever I did need that.
Can anyone give some advice on what to get?
Matt.