Decent Benchtop BS Recommendations?

[Bruce Page]

When I ordered my MM16 last year, I was forced to part with my trusty Delta 14”, simply due to space limitations. Since then, there have been numerous times when I’ve wanted to do some light, curvy BS work and naturally, I’ll have too big a blade on the MM16. Long storey a little longer… :rolleyes: I’m getting tired of changing out the blade and the European blade guides for the cool blocks each time, yada, yada.
Ah, to the point Bruce!:o I would like to get a small (10” +/- ) smooth running benchtop that will make a fine cut and not break or throw a blade when I push it a little too hard. Does such a beast exist? Your thoughts please.

[Elliott Cameron]

Hey Bruce. You might want to take a long look at this one.
I've heard some pretty good reviews about it and you can't beat the price.

May I present to you.....

The Rikon #10-300 10" benchtop BS $179.00 out their door price, shipped to your door with UPS (the big brown truck)

http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10bandsaw.jpg


http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10intopdoors.jpg http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10inballbearingguidess.jpg http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10industports.jpg http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10intabletilts.jpg

http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10inbrushs.jpg
http://www.toolcenter.com/rikon/images/10inspecs.jpg

I hope this helps. Delta also makes a decent 10" BS but I'm not sure if it measures up to this one or not.The Delta has a plastic housing while the Rikon is steel.
A friend of mine has it's BIGGER brother en route , the 18" model.

Elliott FLA....USA

[Jim Becker]

I've seen folks mention the 10" Delta in a good light. Something like that should do fine for scrolling of flat work that doesn't need a lot of throat depth.

[Joe Mioux]

Bruce,

If you had to do it over again, would you buy a MM16 and sell a 14" BS or would you do something different?

What about 14" BS with a riser block?

Did you choose to sell your 14" BS due to space limitations?

If you had to do it over again would you do the same?

The reason I ask is that I have been debating on what type of BS to purchase for my garage/shop and any experience you have had with your choices would be appreciated.

Thanks
\JOe

[Jim Becker]

I'm not Bruce, but I too, would have kept my 14" saw if I had had the space, purely for convenience. Use the big iron for the heavy cutting and keep a 1/4" blade on the 14" for scrolling in thin materials. But I didn't have the space and got a very good chunk of my original investment back when I sold...

[Joe Mioux]

Jim:

OK since you didn't have the space. What is the next best thing?

Thanks Joe

[Bruce Page]

Jim:

OK since you didn't have the space. What is the next best thing?

Thanks Joe
Joe, ditto exactly what Jim said. I would’ve loved to have kept the 14” – I had it for over 20 years and knew it inside out but I simply didn’t/don’t have the floor space for both. I also have NO regrets on buying the MM16, it’s a incredible machine for the money, but like I said, I always seem to have it setup opposite of what I need at that moment.
“What’s the next best thing?” For me, a small benchtop that I could tuck away in a corner and pull out when needed, makes sense.
I received the new Woodcraft catalog today and they have the Rikon on sale for $149. I might have to go and take a look at it this weekend. Thanks for the info Elliott, it looks pretty nice.

Thanks guys.

P.s., can anyone point me to a review of the Rikon?

[Elliott Cameron]

You're most welcome.

Elliott

[Peter Pedisich]

Bruce,

I have a delta 9" that takes 56-1/8" blades from 1/8" to 3/8" wide.
It was free, thats what I like about it.
I would never spend $100 or more of my hard earned dollars on it, though.
Every time I use it I wish it were something better. I took a look at the Rikon on the Woodcraft site just now and it seems to be a bit of an upgrade - up to 5/8" wide blade. The table seems the same, guides look a little beefier.
You know what you need/can/want to spend but I'd advise against the Delta.
A friend of mine has a Reliant 14" and it seems like a Bridgewood 18" compared to my Delta 9", no joking.
What about the grizzly 14"?:eek:

Good luck!

Pete

[Bruce Page]

Bruce,

I have a delta 9" that takes 56-1/8" blades from 1/8" to 3/8" wide.
It was free, thats what I like about it.
I would never spend $100 or more of my hard earned dollars on it, though.
Every time I use it I wish it were something better. I took a look at the Rikon on the Woodcraft site just now and it seems to be a bit of an upgrade - up to 5/8" wide blade. The table seems the same, guides look a little beefier.
You know what you need/can/want to spend but I'd advise against the Delta.
A friend of mine has a Reliant 14" and it seems like a Bridgewood 18" compared to my Delta 9", no joking.
What about the grizzly 14"?:eek:

Good luck!

Pete
Pete, thanks for the info on the 9" Delta. I do recall reading some sour comments on it. As per my earlier post, I don't have the space for another 14".

[Peter Pedisich]

Bruce,

How about this...Palmgren 10" tilting bansaw with built in dust collection, I think sears sells a craftsman version if you want to look at in person.

http://www.palmgren.com/palmgren/p-wp-saws-tiltheadscrollsaw.html
Pete

[Lee DeRaud]

Delta also makes a decent 10" BS but I'm not sure if it measures up to this one or not.The Delta has a plastic housing while the Rikon is steel.The only "plastic housing" I see on mine is the one-piece blade cover. I'm willing to believe the Rikon is better (at close to double the price), but I'm not sure the use of plastic on a completely non-structural part is all that conclusive.

[Tim Palmer]

Hey Bruce,

I have heard that Craftsman sells a 10" bandsaw that is a copy of the Rinkon, but has a castiron table. I do not know if this is true, but when I was at Sears the other day I took a quick look at it and it looks the same. Might be worth a look. I did not check the price or anything else. It did look nice for a 10" bandsaw though. Good luck with your search let us know what you get and if it was a good purchase.

Tim

[Mike Cutler]

Bruce. I happened to look at the Rikon in a Woodcraft store. It seemed like a fairly decent unit. I don't really believe that it will tension a 5/8" blade properly though. The blade would also be subject to fatigue issues. I do believe that it woud tension a blade up to 3/8", but I would probably stick with a 1/4" and less. Since your larger one will have the beefier blade, I don't think that blade size limitation will be an issue for you.
I have the Rikon 18". For the money it was a good purchase, and Rikon has been very accesable on the phone when I needed them. I was able to fortunately keep my Jet 14" for the smaller stuff, and keep the Rikon set up for resawing, a very nice convenience.
Does Inca still make benchtop bandsaws? Anyone know?

[Chuck Hayes]

Bruce;


The 10" craftsman is worth a look as long as you are not a craftsman hater. I purchased one, and for $139 I have no complaints. It does have a cast iron table and it does look amazing like the Ricon. The fence is useless, but you want if for "curvy" stuff anyway. 70.5" blades are not common, but I was able to order them from timberwolf. I have made 3 bandsaw boxes with this saw and they have turned out OK (For an absolute beginner that is).
http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a375/Borderlinech/PBearandLeafOpen.jpg
Chuck