Dave Cav
03-01-2014, 3:23 PM
Last summer I had a little money left over at the end of the school year and got a Grizzly 555 Anniversary edition bandsaw for the school shop at a really good price; I recall it was quite a bit lower than the current price. Anywy, it's an OK saw. it's not a Powermatic 141, but it didn't cost what one of those would cost assuming you could even get them any more.
The problem is it's gutless when it comes to heavier cuts. We make bandsaw boxes out of 1x6 pine construction grade lumber and the saw really struggles with cutting through 5 1/2" of pine on a rip cut. I have tried a couple of different blades, but I'm wondering if the saw is just generally underpowered. We don't have the same problem with the old Powermatics. I have already changed to the slower speed, but that didn't improve things any. Belt is tight, too. I may just try to scrounge up a 1.5 or 2 HP motor.
Ideas?
The problem is it's gutless when it comes to heavier cuts. We make bandsaw boxes out of 1x6 pine construction grade lumber and the saw really struggles with cutting through 5 1/2" of pine on a rip cut. I have tried a couple of different blades, but I'm wondering if the saw is just generally underpowered. We don't have the same problem with the old Powermatics. I have already changed to the slower speed, but that didn't improve things any. Belt is tight, too. I may just try to scrounge up a 1.5 or 2 HP motor.
Ideas?