Griggio bandsaws?

[mreza Salav]

Does anybody have some experience with Griggio bandsaws, in particular SNA 600 model?

The following used one has been in our town for some time and I think the price is too high but
I'm just wondering if they are coming from the same company as Minimax? how much would it be worth
before I even go and take a look at:

edmonton.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-tools-power-tools-BAND-SAW-W0QQAdIdZ379130917

TIA

[Van Huskey]

Pretty sure that saw was made by ACM. I haven't had a lot of contact with Griggio saws so I can't say for sure.

All of the welded steel Centauro built saws I have seen have the telescoping blade guard above the guides. However, I know thay have made saws with a more standard guard as well. In the end I think the Griggio is an ACM saw, I don't know that particular Griggio but it would almost certainly make an excellent saw. The price looks decent but nothing to jump up and down about since it is what I consider a "short" resaw height for a 24" machine, 16 1/2"- 17" would be what I consider "traditional" on a 24" steel saw and 20-24" a vertical resaw.

[Jeff Bartley]

Man, all these bandsaw threads are making me crazy.....I already have bandsaws on the brain!!!! This saw looks sweet but expensive for a used saw.

[Erik Loza]

Pretty sure that saw was made by ACM....

Van is correct on that, Mreza. Motor could be 50Hz, which may or may not be important to you.

Erik Loza
Minimax USA

[Bill ThompsonNM]

Boy that saw looks like a dead ringer for my laguna lt18, just bigger. All the same hardware etc. if you could get it for $2k probably a good deal

[ian maybury]

Hi Mreza. Griggio are sold here in Ireland by one of the established distributors, and while I've no experience suspect that they are very similar to the other Italian saw lines. i.e. generically pretty similar specs at a given price point.

What potentially muddies the waters quite a bit is the fact that the several spec levels/lines aimed at differing tasks and duty cycles are hard to figure out. (Centuaro and the others also do differing specs) I can't remember and couldn't easily untangle the lines from the factory website http://www.griggio.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=8&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1 (which shows the common Italian disregard for clarity)

There's a lighter duty line with cast aluminium band wheels, lighter fences and frames etc, and then the SNA and SNAC lines. The latter may be two different spec levels in otherwise fairly similar band saws - but there are re-saws too so care is probably needed. I can see mentions of spoked and solid wheels, wood block and bearing type bottom guides, and there are possibly significant weight differences.

It's again hard to clarify, but it does look like ACM and Griggio may come from the same factory. The question is whether or not it's more than just a branding difference. The saws seem to share quite a lot of parts with Agazzani too - it's probably another case of the usual Italian networked manufacturing where differing brands buy from the same suppliers specialising in particular parts.

ian

[mreza Salav]

Thanks for the comments. It's a little bit of drive (an hour?) to see it. I might just go there tomorrow and show how much wiggle room it is.
My only worry is to get this and later feel I should have waited for a better (bigger resaw) saw.

[Van Huskey]

My only worry is to get this and later feel I should have waited for a better (bigger resaw) saw.

Not to push you away from the saw and I certainly don't know the Canadian market but I paid less for my MM20 that was only 3 years old and only used by a hobbyist, and although I felt like I got a good deal I didn't feel like I stole it. Push for a good/great price or wait if you can IMO.

[Van Huskey]

Man, all these bandsaw threads are making me crazy.....I already have bandsaws on the brain!!!! This saw looks sweet but expensive for a used saw.

That is exactly what SMC is for, it is a front for the bandsaw conspiracy. :D

[Rick Fisher]

99% that its an ACM saw.. Griggio sells machinery made by ACM.. As does Felder. That saw is the real deal.. its a 24" unit... worth about $5K - 6K new .. its 3 phase I would pay $2000 for it .. its the last bandsaw you will HAVE to buy ..

[Bill ThompsonNM]

From their website (search Griggio sna600) the current model has 14.56 inches resaw capability. Not as much as some of the current resaw machines, but if your plans don't include manhandling 24 inch logs or boasting about what a big bandsaw you have to your buddies , that sounds pretty respectable.

[Van Huskey]

That saw is the real deal.. its a 24" unit... worth about $5K - 6K new .. .

More like $4k for a ACM short resaw 600mm saw, but your point is valid, for 5-6K US $ you can get a ACM or Centauro built 24x24 saw. I still think it is high for that vintage and capability of saw (plus being 3ph) but it may all be moot since the add is down now. Again I may be WAY off since I certainly don't know the Canadian market.

[Rick Fisher]

Good point on the 14-1/2 resaw height .. I am likely wrong .. up here in Canada, the used market for big bandsaws is very limited. I am on the west coast, not sure about Ontario.

In my area, that saw would go for $2000 in a flash, because it would be the only saw of its type for sale used.

New prices on the West Coast are pretty much the same as the US now, I think there is still a spread with Felder, not sure .. The dollar is about par.. There was never much industry on the west coast like in parts of the US .. so there is no big glut of used on the market like there is down south..


I tend to take the attitude that if you really want a tool like that, and you find something suitable, that rings your bell.. A few hundred bucks either way should not stand in the way of making dust..

[ian maybury]

Over here in Ireland (which isn't a very sophisticated or differentiated market) it sounds about the same - even if it is a much smaller scene. There was a variety of Italian and other band saws of differing makes sold (or there was pre-economic collapse) to often small shops doing kitchen and bedroom furniture - for which there was a very strong market for some years.

While some are sophisticated, there was/is a bit of a tendency to treat a band saw as simply a saw that cuts curves, and to not bother too much about the fine detail of specification - finer aspects of capability like re-sawing. With a lot depending on (regardless of true needs) what the salesman thought he could offload. Which for a time was lots as the banks were shovelling money out, and the country got into a telephone numbers way of thinking on prices.

The result is that you find shops using everything from the very best, to good saws with skimped specifications (good Italian models like Centauro but with wood block lower guides etc) to what will just about do the job. (light duty Italian or Eastern models) On occasion very high quality and high spec saws pop up for sale used, with the added bonus that as of late the market for any saw is dead flat.

My almost new Agazzani B-24 (NRA 600 over here) came for very moderate money, but on the other hand was a shot in the dark as to its condition since it was offered with a totally worn out 1/2 in carbon steel blade and badly grooved thrust guides - and so couldn't be properly tested until after it was bought.

The result is that band saws can generally be bought very reasonably - having hung around for months. You need though to know what you are looking for in terms of detail specification (what options you need, and what's available from the factory), and to be able to figure out on inspection what you are looking at on a saw when you see it as as often as not the owner won't be able to tell you.

ian

[David Kumm]

Keep in mind that ACM builds two levels of saws. The 600 will be their lighter version and the 640 is generally the heavier variety. Only relevant if resawing as the stouter the frame the higher you can tension a wide blade. Dave

[Chris Fournier]

Griggio are fine saws and given your location the price is right too. A steal? Maybe not but certainly good value unless you approach buying used equipment as a blood sport where there can only be one winner in any given deal.

[mreza Salav]

Just some clarification: the saw is 3HP and single phase. It's a 24" saw (well technically 23.5") with a 14.5" re-saw. It's located near Edmonton (Alberta).
I have not seen *any* Italian bandsaw on the used market within 500km of me in the last year or so that I have watched!
I asked the seller and he says he will "go down a little" which suppose won't be like $1800 or even $2000 perhaps.
I was too busy yesterday with yard work to go and take a look (I hope to do it this weekend) but given that the saw
has been listed for over a month now I am hoping there is some wiggle room.

[Van Huskey]

I tend to take the attitude that if you really want a tool like that, and you find something suitable, that rings your bell.. A few hundred bucks either way should not stand in the way of making dust..

That I agree with 100%! I must admit I am one that often gets stuck on an specific machine, it reminds me of an auction I went to once and watch two similar and more or less equal machines go by without my bid in order to win the exact machine with the exact options I wanted, apparently there were two other guys that felt the same way, I just wanted it worse than them, final result I paid over twice what either of the other two went for but was happy...well after the initial buyers remorse wore off!

In the end IF the "short" resaw height isn't an issue and the market is seller oriented (low supply) then I would pursue it. Dave is correct that this is the "lighter" ACM but it still is a worthy saw, especially when the avaiablility of Italian or old iron saws is put into perspective in that market.

[Darcy Forman]

If I hadn't just bought a 16" Technomax elite, I would have already bought this. Wife won't let me swing both this year. Even at $2500 it is a great price for Albeta, and you know it is. Every machine here sells for a $1000 more in this province than anywhere else in the free world. That is if you can even find a machine like that here. Large used machines are more scarce in this part of the world than hens teeth. I know I looked for two years for a used Euro jointer planer. Finally had to buy one from Ontario and ship it out west.

[Van Huskey]

I think it is becoming clear based on the market there IF the saw is in good shape, it meets your needs AND assuming you don't plan to move to the US permanently any time soon I think you should jump on it, with negotiations ofcourse.

BTW where do you plan to be in the long term, I think your previous stay in Chicago was just short term and assume your "home" is in Canada.

[mreza Salav]

Yes, my stay in US (Chicago) was a temporary stay (and my home is Canada).

I know what you are talking about Darcy as I have been watching the market for a good Italian machine for quite a while (I'm glad I got that MM J/P combo while in US).
I'm somewhat torn on this. The guy selling won't go below $2k. The current SNA600 model shows it has ceramic guides (like Laguna) but I don't know what they are on this machine.
Also, the current spec on SNA600 is solid cast iron flywheels.

Just dropped $1200 on some cherry yesterday and am planning to buy a HVLP turbine system ($1k) soon.
It's hard to justify another $2k expense in such a short span....

[Rick Fisher]

I am in BC .. Its not as ridiculous here as Alberta but I admit, the prices on used machinery in the US are amazing. I suppose we cant have it both ways.. Perhaps we are better to be grateful than envious. lol

[Dirk Lewis]

Check the Kelowna kijiji, same saw in 3ph is listed there

[mreza Salav]

Check the Kelowna kijiji, same saw in 3ph is listed there

Thanks! that seems like a good price. I wonder how much would it cost to swap the motor to single phase.
When I factor that in, plus the cost of driving to Kelowna (11 hours one way) it doesn't seem like a good deal for me...