Justin Meyer
02-29-2012, 4:01 PM
This is my first post, so a little background / intro.
I've been getting into woodworking through house projects and become reacquanted with how rewarding it was back in high school. At this point, I've run into needing a bandsaw. I have been keeping an eye out on Craig'sList for nearly a year, but after being ignored on the one good-looking deal to come up (Powermatic model 81 for $300, 1 town over!) I've just decided to buy new. After reading the numerous (too many?) band saw related threads, I've more or less cut the list to the Rikon 10-345 (18") or the Grizzly G0514X2b. There are some differences and at full price I think I'd go with the Grizzly...but the Rikon is on sale at woodcraft for most of March, and that 5-year warranty sounds sweet....now it's not so clear.
I've seen the Grizzly at the showroom in Muncy, PA, but I can not find a Rikon within ~100 miles, it seems. I was hoping to see one at the Somerset, NJ woodworking and DIY show, but over 14" I only saw a Jet and a Hammer. Local voco schools have not been helpful, and I feel like I've run out of options, so I plead: are there any creekers in the central-ish NJ area who wouldn't mind a born-again woodworker stopping by with a 6-pack of your favorite refreshment?
Justin
I've been getting into woodworking through house projects and become reacquanted with how rewarding it was back in high school. At this point, I've run into needing a bandsaw. I have been keeping an eye out on Craig'sList for nearly a year, but after being ignored on the one good-looking deal to come up (Powermatic model 81 for $300, 1 town over!) I've just decided to buy new. After reading the numerous (too many?) band saw related threads, I've more or less cut the list to the Rikon 10-345 (18") or the Grizzly G0514X2b. There are some differences and at full price I think I'd go with the Grizzly...but the Rikon is on sale at woodcraft for most of March, and that 5-year warranty sounds sweet....now it's not so clear.
I've seen the Grizzly at the showroom in Muncy, PA, but I can not find a Rikon within ~100 miles, it seems. I was hoping to see one at the Somerset, NJ woodworking and DIY show, but over 14" I only saw a Jet and a Hammer. Local voco schools have not been helpful, and I feel like I've run out of options, so I plead: are there any creekers in the central-ish NJ area who wouldn't mind a born-again woodworker stopping by with a 6-pack of your favorite refreshment?
Justin