Osvaldo Cristo
09-06-2020, 12:10 PM
Unfortunately we do not have much alternatives for a bandsaw in my country: either you got cheap crap at low price or professional big and expensive machines for professional use. Makita BL1200F (https://www.makitauk.com/product/lb1200f) is one of the very few small and with reasonable quality machine available but usually at a substantial higher price than their cheap "cousins".
Unfortunately we do not have the alternatives (and prices) you have in the US for 14" band saws (personally I think it is generally the best trade off between size and capabilities). Actually I looked for a band saw with 12" resaw capacity but I had to compromise at 6.5" allowed by that Makita model. I never had to put it at proof until today.
I had a piece of peroba rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidosperma_polyneuron)) I brought from my brotherīs rural property around 25 km (17 mi) from home. A great and heavy piece 30+ years naturally dried. I resaw that stuff. It is 6 1/4" thick. Veeery hard wood... and it worked! Around 30ī at that thickness. I used a 20 mm Starrett 3ppi saw blade.
I had a few times with saw stucked but I am very surprised as good performer that small Makita band saw is. I had several good experiences with it in the past but I never went to so far demanding task. Its higher power motor probably made difference.
Bottom line is if you need a small bandsaw, believe Makita is a great option. Recommended.
Unfortunately we do not have the alternatives (and prices) you have in the US for 14" band saws (personally I think it is generally the best trade off between size and capabilities). Actually I looked for a band saw with 12" resaw capacity but I had to compromise at 6.5" allowed by that Makita model. I never had to put it at proof until today.
I had a piece of peroba rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspidosperma_polyneuron)) I brought from my brotherīs rural property around 25 km (17 mi) from home. A great and heavy piece 30+ years naturally dried. I resaw that stuff. It is 6 1/4" thick. Veeery hard wood... and it worked! Around 30ī at that thickness. I used a 20 mm Starrett 3ppi saw blade.
I had a few times with saw stucked but I am very surprised as good performer that small Makita band saw is. I had several good experiences with it in the past but I never went to so far demanding task. Its higher power motor probably made difference.
Bottom line is if you need a small bandsaw, believe Makita is a great option. Recommended.