Need advice on choosing a bandsaw

[Ron Clark]

I'm wavering between two Grizzly band saws, and since this is my first band saw, I need some wisdom on the pros and cons of each. I plan to do both resawing and curves.

One is a 17" and the other a 14". Most of you might say that's all you need to know and to go with the 17", but let me list a few things I've read around here that are good advantages. I'll list the main differences, and skip the things that are close enough that I don't care.

Both are 2 horsepower.

G0513ANV (https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-17-2-HP-Bandsaw-35th-Anniversary-Edition/G0513ANV)


$1,075
17"
Euro rollers
NO resaw fence included
Steel trunnion
Aluminum wheels
Blade speeds 1700 or 3500 rpm
Blade width range 1/8" to 1"
Max resaw height 12 1/8"


G0457 (https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-14-2-HP-Deluxe-Bandsaw/G0457)


$1,150
14"
Ball bearing rollers
Resaw fence included
Cast Iron trunnion
Cast Iron wheels
Blade speed 3000 rpm
Blade width range 1/8" to 3/4"
Max resaw height 10"


I'm pissed I waited on the 17" model because a few days ago it was $100 less and included a $50 gift card. Now that the prices are close on these models, I'm wondering if the better parts on the 14" outweigh the fact that it's a 14". The motors are the same.

Or if you know of another brand/model that is equivalently spec'd for cheaper, I'm all ears! Thanks for any help.

[Bill White]

The cast iron wheels are a BIG plus for me.

[Ron Clark]

The cast iron wheels are a BIG plus for me.
Is it mostly the weight? And I think I read they somehow allow you to get more tension on the blade for resawing. Is that true?

I don't think I've read a bad thing about that 17" model. What is it that makes bigger=better generally for band saws... weight and momentum?

[Tom M King]

Ability to tension a wider blade.

[Mike Kees]

I would look a little further up Grizzly's food chain. The 513 series saws with cast iron wheels and a foot brake would be much more saw. I realize this is higher than your budget however it will be a saw that you will not need to upgrade unless you start cutting up logs for lumber.

[jeff norris 2011]

I vote 'none of the above" the G513x2 is your saw. Another $75, but really is the best of everything you a looking for. The only thing you are missing with it is a Brake.

If you buy the 14" you will regret it twice, the first time when you you realized you should have gotten a 17", and the second time when you try selling a used 14" saw, and you find out 14" saws depreciate way faster than the larger BSs.

Ps. I did the buy a 14" saw, sell for next to nothing and then bought the original G513x and have had it for over a decade and no plan to change

[Jacob Mac]

The problem with Grizzly is that there are so many models it is easy to upsell yourself in small increments. Look at how much more I get for just this small increase in price. Do that a couple of times and you're way outside of your initial budget.

With that said, I would save up to get the 513x2. I think it is a worthy upgrade

[Cary Falk]

My theory is look at that things you cannot change. You an always add the resaw fence and the cast iron wheels to the 17" You can't ad the resaw height, throat depth, blade width to the 14". I didn't check the prices but if the G0513X2 is only $75 more then the G0513ANV then that is the way to go. I had the G0513X2 and it was a great saw. I only got rid of it because I wanted more resaw height.

[Bill Dufour]

There is not much to wear out on a bandsaw. As long as the trunnions are not broken a used saw will be about 50% or less of new. This money can be used to upgrade the guides and install new tires or bearings if needed.
I would rather have a 50 year old USA motor then a new china made one. Grizzly motors are not known for longevity.
Bill D.

[Ron Clark]

The problem with Grizzly is that there are so many models it is easy to upsell yourself in small increments. Look at how much more I get for just this small increase in price. Do that a couple of times and you're way outside of your initial budget.
Haha, so true. I bumped up a couple models on their jointer also.

Great points all, the G0513x2 seems to be ideal. I appreciate y'alls help!

[Alex Zeller]

If it makes you feel any better I started off at about the same place as you. I ended up well above my initial budget after getting the G0514X2. It's easy to do and as you go up in price you have to decide if the extra features vs cost make sense to you. For me I like to try and future proof my purchases. Also if there's an opinion I know I will want I look into the cost of adding down the road. For example a number of the Grizzly planers the price difference between straight blades and carbide insert heads are not that much different than adding it after the fact once you figure in the replacement carbide cost. For me I wanted the rack and pinion table adjuster on the G0514 to have extra support while cutting up heavy bowl blanks.

One thing I didn't really care about was a foot brake. Yet now that I have it I find it very useful. It has a switch so it shuts the saw off. If I'm working with something heavy I don't have to set it down to shut the saw off. The 19" saw will keep turning for quite some time after turning it off and I would expect that the 17" will also take some time to come to a stop. Of course the brake allows you to stop it very quickly (you could feed a scrap piece of wood into the blade to do the same thing). It's not something that can be added after so I would think about if it would be worth it to you. It's going to cost $200 more than the 513x2 though.

The electronic braking isn't something that I would pay extra for. I've never seen a Grizzly with the steel trunnion but the cast iron does seam like it is an upgrade. Probably more so if you adjust the table to make angled cuts. I do like the extra weight of the X2. It makes the saw feel more solid IMO. At the end of the day you have to make the choice, is a couple hundred saved really that much money over the lift of a tool? I bought my 514 with the idea that it could be the last bandsaw I buy. That helped me go over my initial budget. Of course the prices have gone up some and they gave me a 10% off coupon. If you can wait I would expect Grizzly to offer some sort of deal to spur sales.

[William Chain]

There are better saws than grizzly in that price range.

[Mike Kees]

Such as what ?

[Cary Falk]

There are better saws than grizzly in that price range.
Don't leave us hanging.

[tom lucas]

The cast iron wheels really help with resawing because they keep the momentum going without taxing the motor. I have the X2. It's a nice saw. Resaws with ease. I also have a 14" Buffalo that I've tuned up and is running nicely with thin blades but am looking to replace it with another 17" for the wider cutting throat..

[William Chain]

Laguna, Rikon, Jet, used Laguna, used Rikon....

At those numbers, the 10% sales on now put the OP in a 14/12 or a 14bx or a couple of the nice Rikon setups that won’t require the endless tweaks, upsales, and upgrades on the Grizzly. Used ones come up regularly too. I went the Grizzly route and spent more undoing all the price-driven compromises than on the saw to begin with. Then upgraded anyway. Skip a step!


Don't leave us hanging.

[Alex Zeller]

Laguna, Rikon, Jet, used Laguna, used Rikon....

At those numbers, the 10% sales on now put the OP in a 14/12 or a 14bx or a couple of the nice Rikon setups that won’t require the endless tweaks, upsales, and upgrades on the Grizzly. Used ones come up regularly too. I went the Grizzly route and spent more undoing all the price-driven compromises than on the saw to begin with. Then upgraded anyway. Skip a step!

I have yet to see any of the Asian make Laguna or Rikon band saws to be any better than those made (probably in the same factory) as Grizzly. What I have seen is that of the 3 Grizzly seams to be the best when it comes to customer service after the sale. When looking for a slightly larger saw I found the Laguna BX18 to be roughly equal to the 514 (each had some things I liked better and some places worse) and the Rikon 10-342 to be lighter and less powerful.

[Carl Crout]

I have yet to see any of the Asian make Laguna or Rikon band saws to be any better than those made (probably in the same factory) as Grizzly. What I have seen is that of the 3 Grizzly seams to be the best when it comes to customer service after the sale. When looking for a slightly larger saw I found the Laguna BX18 to be roughly equal to the 514 (each had some things I liked better and some places worse) and the Rikon 10-342 to be lighter and less powerful.

May be made in the same factory but made to each manufacturers specs. You have already read in two posts above how the motors in the Grizzly don't last. I also read that the tires are junk and need replaced. By the time I buy a new motor and new tires I am just as well to buy a better saw. Google the price of a new motor!
I just ordered the Laguna 14BX. I don't need a 18" and probably most people don't either. A 14" with a 2.5 hp motor will resaw anything you want. For that matter my Delta 14" with 1 3/4 hp motor with riser block does a pretty good job. I am taking it to my summer home shop so the Laguna will be for my home shop. The steel frame and cast iron wheels and large motor is mainly what you want.

Good luck

[William Chain]

Same line perhaps but not same specs. I grant you that Grizzly has good CS (which is good, but ideally one should not need it...), and the Grizzly is usually the least expensive entry but you get what you pay for.


I have yet to see any of the Asian make Laguna or Rikon band saws to be any better than those made (probably in the same factory) as Grizzly. What I have seen is that of the 3 Grizzly seams to be the best when it comes to customer service after the sale. When looking for a slightly larger saw I found the Laguna BX18 to be roughly equal to the 514 (each had some things I liked better and some places worse) and the Rikon 10-342 to be lighter and less powerful.

[jeff norris 2011]

For some balance, I am not a 'Grizzley' guy, but for the money, love the two grizzly machines I have. My G0513x has been great for over a decade (same tires, zero Motor issues etc), I also bought the 8" parallelogram jointer. Out of the crate the jointers fence did not meet flatness specs. One phone call and new fence was shipped out to me that day, no questions asked.

[Cary Falk]

Laguna, Rikon, Jet, used Laguna, used Rikon....

I have owned Jet, Powermatic, Grizzly, Shop Fox, Delta, Laguna, Steel City, and SuperMax. Nobody is perfect. I no longer own any Delta and I have the most of Grizzly(3). I sold My Go513X2 because I wanted a larger resaw than 12". The G0513X2 was an excellent saw. I purchased a Laguna LT18(Itallian) over the Grizzly G0701 due to a sale at the time that made it a few hundred cheaper. With all the hype that this saw gets I am a little underwhelmed for the cost. I have looked at the Asian Laguna Bandsaws in Woodcraft and don't think they are any better than my G0513X2. Jet certainly isn't any better then Grizzly.I would put them on the same level but more expensive. I hear good thing about Rikon and probably on the same level as Grizzly.

[William Chain]

One final point, you stated above you can add this and that, etc. Take the grizzly. Then add the fence, the cast iron wheels, the this, the that. What's the price now?

OP, feel free to ignore me. Enjoy the Grizzly.


I have owned Jet, Powermatic, Grizzly, Shop Fox, Delta, Laguna, Steel City, and SuperMax. Nobody is perfect. I no longer own any Delta and I have the most of Grizzly(3). I sold My Go513X2 because I wanted a larger resaw than 12". The G0513X2 was an excellent saw. I purchased a Laguna LT18(Itallian) over the Grizzly G0701 due to a sale at the time that made it a few hundred cheaper. With all the hype that this saw gets I am a little underwhelmed for the cost. I have looked at the Asian Laguna Bandsaws in Woodcraft and don't think they are any better than my G0513X2. Jet certainly isn't any better then Grizzly.I would put them on the same level but more expensive. I hear good thing about Rikon and probably on the same level as Grizzly.

[Cary Falk]

One final point, you stated above you can add this and that, etc. Take the grizzly. Then add the fence, the cast iron wheels, the this, the that. What's the price now?

OP, feel free to ignore me. Enjoy the Grizzly.


I didn't check the prices but if the G0513X2 is only $75 more then the G0513ANV then that is the way to go. I had the G0513X2 and it was a great saw. I only got rid of it because I wanted more resaw height.


Looks like the cost is $75

[tom lucas]

A resaw fence and cast iron wheels are standard on the X2 at $1250. Mine has a Leeson motor and I haven't read anything bad about them. The tires are the only issue I've read about or experienced on their 17" saws.

Count me as someone who seems to always need wider than 14".

[Ron Clark]

OP, feel free to ignore me. Enjoy the Grizzly.
No worries, I like the discussion!

[Alex Zeller]

My 514 came with bad urethane wheels. I replaced them with a different brand but I'm positive grizzly would have sent replacements. It happens. When paying top dollar I expect perfect out of the box. But I have seen nothing that says the Asian make Laguna and Rikon saws are any better or worse than Grizzly. I neither am a fan of Grizzly nor hate them. If they have a product that fits what I'm looking for I put them on my list. What I do know is when you sell more of a product than another company while trying to sell at a budget price you are going to have more tools with problems while the percentage will most likely be the same.

[tom lucas]

My 514 came with bad urethane wheels. I replaced them with a different brand but I'm positive grizzly would have sent replacements. It happens. When paying top dollar I expect perfect out of the box. But I have seen nothing that says the Asian make Laguna and Rikon saws are any better or worse than Grizzly. I neither am a fan of Grizzly nor hate them. If they have a product that fits what I'm looking for I put them on my list. What I do know is when you sell more of a product than another company while trying to sell at a budget price you are going to have more tools with problems while the percentage will most likely be the same.

It's important to acknowledge the breadth of products offered by Grizzly compared to others and the impact that has on user feedback. While Rikon and Laguna offer 2 or 3 14" bandsaws, Grizzly sells 9 different models. Now multiple that all the way from small 10" BS up to 24" models, and that's a lot of different products with opportunities for issues. Of course one would likely hear about more problems with that many different products being sold. And, just like others, Grizzly has put out some lemons but also some gems. I own 7 large Grizzly tools. All of them have and continue to serve me well, with very few issues. I'm not a brand snob. I buy what meets my needs at the best value. Sometimes that's Grizzly; sometimes it's not. At the end of the day, all of these machines basically do one thing: cut wood. If it cuts wood as expected, what more do you need?

[Mike Kees]

I owned a Steel City 18'' saw that I sold when I found a Centauro CO 600. Wish I had kept the Steel City and sold the Delta 14''with the riser block. I will say this again,I believe that the perfect one bandsaw shop should start with a saw in the 17-19 wheel size. These saws are so versatile,you can run them with a small blade for anything you do on a 14'' saw all with a bigger table and larger throat to play with. Then switch gears and go to a 5/8'' or so blade and resaw quite well. Great all around machines. As to brands check them out and pick your poison,I would recommend a foot brake on a machine of this size.