Jesse Marsden
10-06-2021, 3:44 PM
Hi everyone, first time posting after being a long time reader. I fall in the category of someone who's built up a modest basement shop over time with equally modest investments along the way. I grew up learning to use tools with my grandfather and I'm finally bringing most of what I've inherited from him up to their new permanent home in my shop (they're down in North Carolina while I'm up here in Maryland). One of those is the Craftsman 12" 1 1/8hp tilt-head bandsaw (without the digital readout) model 113.248320. 6" resaw capacity. Where I am now, I've more access to rough milled stock than ever and so resawing is a big interest. Now just as I'm ready to bring it on up and get rolling I've come across a FB marketplace post for a Jet 14cs and I imagine I could get it for somewhere in the range of $450-500.
Its been a long time since I've used the Craftsman and I'm weighing the benefits and tradeoffs. On the face of it, the Jet would let me put in a riser block if/when I decide to work with stock larger than 6", and has metal casings and finishing vs the mucho plastic on the Craftsman. The Craftsman however has a very nice-sized work surface (23x27 minus the vertical for the head vs Jet at 15x15 nominally) and tilt-head keeps the work flat vs the Jet where I'd need to tilt the table and my work. Craftsman has a 1 1/8hp motor drawing 7.6amps vs Jet 1hp drawing 10amps.
But that's all on paper specs. Things I can't really get a grip on (limited info on the 1993 Craftsman...) are comparisons like durability, build quality, stability while operating, trueness of cuts, ease of blade changes, etc. So I'm seeking advice from those who may know: Is the Jet 14cs a reasonable/worthwhile step up from the Craftsman 113 or am I just getting distracted by that attractive off-white Jet paint? If the Jet would be only a marginal improvement then I should likely stick with what I have (I hear there's an improved blade guide head I could add from Carter?) and put that $500 towards something else. Another factor is that with the small workspace I sadly can't just go for both.
And just to say too, while I'd love a Beaver or Powermatic 17", they just aren't in the cards for me price-wise - so I'm hunting for that "magic" deal that sort of maximizes the value I can get within the confines of what I can afford.
Many thanks for any advice.
-Jesse
Its been a long time since I've used the Craftsman and I'm weighing the benefits and tradeoffs. On the face of it, the Jet would let me put in a riser block if/when I decide to work with stock larger than 6", and has metal casings and finishing vs the mucho plastic on the Craftsman. The Craftsman however has a very nice-sized work surface (23x27 minus the vertical for the head vs Jet at 15x15 nominally) and tilt-head keeps the work flat vs the Jet where I'd need to tilt the table and my work. Craftsman has a 1 1/8hp motor drawing 7.6amps vs Jet 1hp drawing 10amps.
But that's all on paper specs. Things I can't really get a grip on (limited info on the 1993 Craftsman...) are comparisons like durability, build quality, stability while operating, trueness of cuts, ease of blade changes, etc. So I'm seeking advice from those who may know: Is the Jet 14cs a reasonable/worthwhile step up from the Craftsman 113 or am I just getting distracted by that attractive off-white Jet paint? If the Jet would be only a marginal improvement then I should likely stick with what I have (I hear there's an improved blade guide head I could add from Carter?) and put that $500 towards something else. Another factor is that with the small workspace I sadly can't just go for both.
And just to say too, while I'd love a Beaver or Powermatic 17", they just aren't in the cards for me price-wise - so I'm hunting for that "magic" deal that sort of maximizes the value I can get within the confines of what I can afford.
Many thanks for any advice.
-Jesse