Mike Allen1010
03-19-2014, 3:11 PM
I have a 20-year-old, 14" cast-iron, two-piece Taiwanese made bandsaw (Transpower is the brand). I have been considering an upgrade with riser block and more powerful motor, but am way out of my depth here and would really appreciate any advice and suggestions:
I'm a hand tool guy and use my bandsaw primarily for resawing. My original plan was to hit the lottery and upgrade to a new, larger bandsaw, still 110 V, single phase but with larger resaw capacity. However, I recently was gifted a set of Carter ball bearing blade guides (upper and lower) and am considering trying to upgrade my current bandsaw with a riser kit and 1.5 HP motor. I spent about six fruitless hours trolling the web and talking to the Jet and Grizzly technical services people to answer a couple questions/problems, but am still no closer to a solution, I'm hoping my fellow creekerss can help point me in the right direction.
I think I can make an extension block of the riser kit fit with some fiddling with alignment pins etc. My problem is the bar that holds the topside blade guides is 3/4" diameter (with a flat spot for the locking screw). All the kits I've seen have 7/8" diameter bars. Any suggestions for where I could get a 3/4" diameter round blade guide attachment bar that would work with the riser kit installed? Could I just buy a piece of steel bar stock from an industrial supplier and grind the flat spot? Alternatively Grizzly technical services suggested I find a machine shop to turn down the 7/8" diameter bar they supply to my needed 3/4" diameter?
I would like to get some extra horsepower to facilitate resawing wider stock, however I needed to run on 110 V circuit as I can't rewire for 220 V. I spoke with Darrell Ituro and although he doesn't sell motors anymore he recommended a 1.5 HP, 1725 RPM, single phase TEFC type motor. When I Google this there is an overwhelming number of options and suppliers.
I'm happy to pay a fair price but I don't know much about electrical motors and would very much appreciate a recommendation to a source that can understand and supply what I'm looking for despite my lack of knowledge.
I guess the larger question is it worth it to upgrade my current 14" bandsaw or just save up to purchase a larger model?
Any and all suggestions and recommendations are very much appreciated!
Best regards, Mike
I'm a hand tool guy and use my bandsaw primarily for resawing. My original plan was to hit the lottery and upgrade to a new, larger bandsaw, still 110 V, single phase but with larger resaw capacity. However, I recently was gifted a set of Carter ball bearing blade guides (upper and lower) and am considering trying to upgrade my current bandsaw with a riser kit and 1.5 HP motor. I spent about six fruitless hours trolling the web and talking to the Jet and Grizzly technical services people to answer a couple questions/problems, but am still no closer to a solution, I'm hoping my fellow creekerss can help point me in the right direction.
I think I can make an extension block of the riser kit fit with some fiddling with alignment pins etc. My problem is the bar that holds the topside blade guides is 3/4" diameter (with a flat spot for the locking screw). All the kits I've seen have 7/8" diameter bars. Any suggestions for where I could get a 3/4" diameter round blade guide attachment bar that would work with the riser kit installed? Could I just buy a piece of steel bar stock from an industrial supplier and grind the flat spot? Alternatively Grizzly technical services suggested I find a machine shop to turn down the 7/8" diameter bar they supply to my needed 3/4" diameter?
I would like to get some extra horsepower to facilitate resawing wider stock, however I needed to run on 110 V circuit as I can't rewire for 220 V. I spoke with Darrell Ituro and although he doesn't sell motors anymore he recommended a 1.5 HP, 1725 RPM, single phase TEFC type motor. When I Google this there is an overwhelming number of options and suppliers.
I'm happy to pay a fair price but I don't know much about electrical motors and would very much appreciate a recommendation to a source that can understand and supply what I'm looking for despite my lack of knowledge.
I guess the larger question is it worth it to upgrade my current 14" bandsaw or just save up to purchase a larger model?
Any and all suggestions and recommendations are very much appreciated!
Best regards, Mike