Should I sell my band saw??

[Carl Beckett]

Quick poll.

I recently upgraded to a beautiful Laguna LT18.

And then posted my prior Jet 14" saw for sale. But before it sold, I have been leaving it setup and using the smaller blades. Of course I can do this on the Laguna - but its kinda nice not to have to switch blades back and forth all the time.

I dont have a lot of space, but do many of you have TWO bandsaws and leave them set up for this purpose? (or do you find you do most of your work on one, and leave a particular blade in it all the time?)

(because of course, you cant have too may bandsaw threads.....)

[Jerome Hanby]

I've technically got two band saws, but one of them is currently being refurbished. Once it's finished, I'll still have two. My Shopsmith band saw is the best little saw I've ever touched!

[Neil Brooks]

If you need neither the room, nor the money, I wouldn't sell it.

[Brian Kincaid]

If you need neither the room, nor the money, I wouldn't sell it.

Great advice and I agree.
-Brian

[Joe Cowan]

I have a Delta and thinking of upgrading this summer. I am going through the same thought process, leave a small blade on the Delta and a bigger blade on the new saw. Looking forward to all the responses.

[Van Huskey]

Wonder what people think I will say?

In my opinion 2 is just a start and going back to one would be a shame.

If you have the room and don't need the cash keep it, you will know pretty soon if you like/love having two or the Jet just becomes a dust magnet. You can always sell it later.

[Bruce Page]

I sold my 14" Delta when I bought my MM16. I wish I had kept it. I ended up buying the little 10" Rikon just to do small stuff on.

[Richard Jones]

I have 2, an 18 and a 14. Keep 'em both if you can, you won't regret it.

[glenn bradley]

This question is often asked by those who upgrade. Speaking as one who sold his smaller saw before getting the larger saw, and then bought another smaller saw to get that function back; keep it.

[Mike Archambeau]

Keep it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mike Heidrick]

Yep - like the others said keep it unless you want to upgrade the small saw and can make a profit doing it.

I seem to bring small bandsaws into town for my friends LOL.

[David Hawxhurst]

i would say keep it. i started out with a big bandsaw, it does everything i want it to. however there are sometimes i feel it would be nice to have a second bandsaw.

[Patrick McCarthy]

It really depends upon where you live. I have a 20 Agganazzi and love it but keep thinking it would also be nice to have a smaller 14 or so for the smaller stuff, etc. So, if you live close to me, my candid and completely objective and disinterested response would be: Best to sell it (to me); so very sorry it isn't worth much.

Now, if you live outside my geographical sphere, my response would be: Are you nuts? We only acquire tools, never discard. If one is good, two are great, three - though- might be a bit much. Wouldn't want to be viewed as a hoarder.

My vote: keep it and see how you feel in a few months, the value won't change much between now and then. Your use or lack of use during that time will give you the answer and you won't have to second guess yourself.

[Mike Heidrick]

Good point, wait till Jet raises their prices $100 to $200 this year and sell it for half of new.

[Jim Matthews]

I'm inclined to agree with Mike - if it's not a daily user, ask a high price and see if it sells.

If it's not in the way, it might come in handy. If someone really wants it, that will buy lots of new blades for the Laguna.

[Van Huskey]

Good point, wait till Jet raises their prices $100 to $200 this year and sell it for half of new.

Do like I do hold onto something then try to see it when the manufacturer decides to put the new ones on super extra sale...

[David Micalizzi]

I agree with the others here. I sold my 14" saw when I upgraded to a MM16. I should have kept the 14" for curve cutting. Now I am on a quest for another 14" bandsaw. If you have the room hang on to it.

[Carl Beckett]

Thanks all

Perhaps the most unanimous bandsaw thread ever...... ;)

[Bruce Kohl]

I have 2, an 18 and a 14. Keep 'em both if you can, you won't regret it.

+ 1 on that. When I got my 18" Rikon I kept the old 14" Rockwell with a 1/4" blade on it for cutting curves. If you have the space and don't need the money from selling the Jet then by all means keep it. As was noted in an earlier post, you can always change your mind later.

[John Coloccia]

I'm late to the party. I haven't read the rest of the thread. Without even reading any of the responses I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that I almost certainly agree with all the responses you got. It's a no brainer.

I have a large bandsaw and I'm thinking of bringing in a second one to dedicate to ripping and resawing. I'm not sure I need 50 bandsaws like Van, but two seems quite reasonable....almost minimalistic, actually. LOL.

[Van Huskey]

John, with the prices of industrial machines so low today you may get lucky and find a straight line rip saw, given the way they are designed they are even safer than a BS for ripping. A few years ago the prices would have made my suggestion ridiculous for anyone that didn't rip all day long but today you see machines like that go for the price of a good bandsaw, but they aren't as easy to find.

[eugene thomas]

I would keep them both. I sold my 14" grizzly band saw before bought my 17" grizzly. got tired of changing blades and a 14" Delta deal fell my way...

[jonathan eagle]

I would think everyone could have a different answer and it would depend upon your own personal situation.
I think you should figure out for your own situation as everyone else's is going to be different.
You need to ask yourself:
How long does it take to change the blade on your saw?
How often do you need to change blades to do curves?
How much space do you have?
We all have different tradeoffs, but I suppose given plenty of space and money, I'd have at least 3 bandsaws, never mind 2.
Jonathan

[Van Huskey]

I would think everyone could have a different answer and it would depend upon your own personal situation.

But the only right answer is more bandsaws!

I think you should figure out for your own situation as everyone else's is going to be different.

Everyone will have a different answer and the correct ones will be two or more bandsaws.

You need to ask yourself:
How long does it take to change the blade on your saw?

Too long.


How often do you need to change blades to do curves?

Often enough to need at least two bandsaws.


How much space do you have?

If it is not enough for all your bandsaws you need additional shop space or use the living room, who really uses their living room anyway???


We all have different tradeoffs, but I suppose given plenty of space and money, I'd have at least 3 bandsaws, never mind 2.

Now thats what I am talking about!!!
Jonathan

All in jest, well kinda. :D

[Rory Misener]

You're crazy if you get rid of it! Someday, when I have more money and space, I'll buy a 17-20" saw. Will I sell off my Delta 14"? Never. I do a lot of curved work, so the Delta would keep a 1/4" or smaller blade at all times, while the bigger saw would only see rip/resaw duty.

[Mike Archambeau]

Can you have too many tools? Kind of like asking can you have too many friends, or too much money, or too many guns etc.........

[Steve Kohn]

All in jest, well kinda. :D

I agree with Van. I have a 10 inch Delta Shopmaster with a 1/4 blade, a 10 inch Delta Homecraft (I just finished restoring it) with Carter guides and an 1/8 blade, and a 19 inch Grizzly with a 3/4 inch Woodslicer resaw blade. I use them all.

[Paul Johnstone]

Ok, I am going to be the lone dissenter.
It really depends on how much BS work you do and how much space you have.
I have an 18" now. I used to have a 14". The 14" was a really nice saw.
I initially regretted selling the 14", but now I'm glad I did.
Get a Carter stablizer for the larger saw, that makes using smaller blades (1/4") much easier. (Maybe this isn't necessary for a Lugana).
Seriously, changing blades on a bandsaw and readjusting the bearings takes maybe 5 minutes, if that.
This reminds me of people that use combination blades in a table saw, because they think it takes too long to change between ripping and crosscut blades. If you just have a hobby shop, why the big hurry? Why are blade changes seen as such a PITA? I guess I just don't understand.
A bigger PITA for me is having a big machine in the shop that seldom gets used. No matter how big your shop is, a seldom used machine will get in the way.

Unless you spend a ton of time on the BS, I don't see the need for two saws. Organize your workflow to minimize blade changes.

[Neil Brooks]

Paul's trying to hammer you on price, and buy your old saw ;)

Just kidding !

[james bell]

I gave away my old Craftsman 12" bs when I got my MM16, only to find that small blades don't work on the MM16. Luckily the person wasn't using the 12" so I got it back, put a 1 1/2HP grizzly motor on with Carter guides and use it more than the MM16. I keep a 1 1/4" Resaw King on the MM16 and use the Craftsman for most everything else. Much easier to use, blades are a LOT less expensive since they are shorter, and really doesn't take up much room.

Naturally my suggestion - KEEP the old one, you won't regret it.

[jonathan eagle]

All in jest, well kinda. :D

HaHaHaHaHa!

[Mike Wilkins]

Sold my Delta 14" BS after I got my LT18. Did'nt take me long to miss the smaller machine. I eventually got the Rikon 10" benchtop machine that has a 1/4" blade for the small stuff. I can use 1/4" blades on the Laguna machine, but the blade guide setting dance gets old quick.

[Charles Bjorgen]

My bandsaw is probably the last power tool I'd sell. I have the Jet 14" with riser equipped with 1/2" 3 tpi blade and a nine-inch Ryobi bench top with a 1/4" blade. Saves a lot of blade changing to have two. Space, of course, is a real consideration.

[Ira Matheny]

I have a 36" Yates American w 1.25" blade and 7/8" spacing, dedicated to breaking down small logs and lg timbers. A Laguna 16 with a carbide blade, dedicated to veneering and other fine wook. A Delta 14" w 1/8" blade for small detail work, and a 10" Rockwell [old] for general work with a 1/4" blade.
I would not get rid of any of them.

[Bernie May]

I bought a 14" Rikon that I use for a variety of tasks and periodically have to change blades (mostly 3/8, 1/2, and 3/4). Then I bought the 10" Rikon to keep a 1/8" blade for small cutting. As soon as law school is paid off for my daughter in another year I will be buying the biggest, most expensive band saw I can afford with a carbide blade for resawing short logs. And yes I will be keeping the other two in my two car garage show. I do not like changing the blade to make one cut and then having to change it back.

[James Carmichael]

Great advice and I agree.
-Brian

Ditto. Use the jet for curves n joinery and the laguna for the heavy, straight line work