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Jeffrey Fusaro
09-11-2007, 10:16 AM
i finally got around to ordering the combination birthday/father's gift that LOML and the kiddies wanted to buy for me.

i know. father's day (and my birthday) was back in june. what can i say? sometimes i over think things a bit.

i wanted to be sure that i got the right saw - one that would fit my needs now and for the foreseeable future. i also had to work within a reasonable budget. that, and the fact that grizzly's summer sale was about to end prompted me to finally make my decision.

i ordered the G0555 bandsaw and the 6" riser kit on the last day of the sale. i had it everything few days later. the bandsaw came via ups freight, and the riser kit came via ups standard ground service. both trucks nearly collided with one another in my driveway. the delivery times were that close together.

assembly and set-up adjustments went very well. two people are needed for the assembly - unless you are extremely stubborn (who? me?) overall, i am pleased with the quality of the saw's construction. i've only made a few quick test cuts with the standard blade, but so far, i am pleased with my new toy.

i was quite surprised with the amount of dust that was produced just by cutting a 2 x 4. last night, i purchased a dust collector fitting that will allow me to attach my shop vac to the dust port on the saw. that should take care of that.

so far, i give it two thumbs up!

Ken Fitzgerald
09-11-2007, 10:19 AM
Congrats Jeffrey! IIRC that was reviewed by FWW recently and received a pretty good rating! May it serve you well!

Christopher K. Hartley
09-11-2007, 10:24 AM
Wow Jeffrey, Great gloat! Congratulations on a super band saw. I'm jealous.:D :)

Frank Kobilsek
09-11-2007, 10:35 AM
Jeffery

You'll will like this saw, but there will be days that you'll wish it was bigger/more powerful. My wife bought this for me for Chirstmas a couple years ago. Get yourself a couple extra sets of blade guide bearings. You'll wreck a set or two before you master setting them. Big bowl blanks are a bit of a challenge.

I guess that doesn't sound all that positive. So my message may / should be my GO555 has done everything I have asked it to do despite my abusive behavior toward it. Enjoy

Frank

Dennis Peacock
09-11-2007, 10:51 AM
Congrats on the new bandsaw Jeffery!!!!! http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/sawdustar/dancing_banana.gif
Now all you need is a couple of Timberwolf blades to put on it and you're all set. :D

Jeffrey Fusaro
09-11-2007, 11:51 AM
Jeffery

You'll will like this saw, but there will be days that you'll wish it was bigger/more powerful. My wife bought this for me for Chirstmas a couple years ago. Get yourself a couple extra sets of blade guide bearings. You'll wreck a set or two before you master setting them. Big bowl blanks are a bit of a challenge.

I guess that doesn't sound all that positive. So my message may / should be my GO555 has done everything I have asked it to do despite my abusive behavior toward it. Enjoy

Frank

good advice about the bearings, frank!

this is another one of those slippery slope things. once you start shopping for something, it's all too easy to get sucked into the "little bit bigger/little bit better" vortices. this time, i made up my mind that this wasn't going to happen.

i'm going to use the saw primarily for pen and bowl blank prep for my jet mini. so, i hope to avoid having to cut anything too large from the start.



Congrats on the new bandsaw Jeffery!!!!! http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/sawdustar/dancing_banana.gif
Now all you need is a couple of Timberwolf blades to put on it and you're all set. :D

grizzly supplied one free timberwolf blade with the saw purchase. unfortunately, the blade was for the saw without the 6" riser block, so it's gonna wind up on the swap meet table at the club meeting this weekend.

would have been nice if they had sent the longer blade when they saw that i ordered the riser kit. i even called to ask if they would swap blades. no deal.

grizzly needs to rethink that one just a bit...

Patrick Taylor
09-11-2007, 1:42 PM
Great gloat! Do you have a good bandsaw book? I have a good one at home but can't remember the title. The author is Mike D. and the instructions for adjustments are great.

glenn bradley
09-11-2007, 2:06 PM
Congrats! I do that combo b-day/f-day thing too. It helps me talk myself into all kinds-o-stuff. Enjoy!

Frank Kobilsek
09-11-2007, 2:39 PM
Jeffery

Cutting for your mini it is perfect, forget everything I said. Its the 8" thick 15" diameter chunks that I 'abuse' mine with that dims the lights in my shop.

Frank

Jeffrey Fusaro
09-11-2007, 3:33 PM
Great gloat! Do you have a good bandsaw book? I have a good one at home but can't remember the title. The author is Mike D. and the instructions for adjustments are great.

patrick--

if you don't mind, please let me know the title of the book.



Jeffery

Cutting for your mini it is perfect, forget everything I said. Its the 8" thick 15" diameter chunks that I 'abuse' mine with that dims the lights in my shop.

Frank

frank--

i've been pretty luck, so far. a fella in our turning club has his own saw mill. he brings a trailer load of free wood to club meetings several times a year - lots of cherry, ash and other nice hardwoods. most stuff is cut to about 18" in length, or less, and he saws them lengthwise into 6" to 8" thick slabs. makes it pretty nice for handling on normal shop equipment. i try to get as much as i can, without looking greedy.

Ken Fitzgerald
09-11-2007, 9:01 PM
Jeffrey,

The book Patrick is probably talking about...is "The New Complete Guide to the Bandsaw" by Mark Duginske.

I just ordered and got the book 2 weeks ago. I read it once and am on my way through it the 2nd time gleaning technical details. My background is technical/engineering. I have worked on everything from disiel engines on oil rigs, air traffic control equipments including precision approach radar, equipment aboard fast attack submarines, x-ray equipment, ct scanners and mr scanners. This book in my opinion is good! You can order it from Amazon or directily from Fox Chapel Publishing like I did.

I am not in any way connected to Mark Duginske or Fox Chapel Publishing...just a happy customer.

BTW....I ordered my bandsaw last Friday and received shipping info today. I asked them to not ship it until this week as I wanted to get my shop finished first.

Good luck with your bandsaw!

Patrick Taylor
09-11-2007, 11:42 PM
Jeffrey,

The book Patrick is probably talking about...is "The New Complete Guide to the Bandsaw" by Mark Duginske.

I just ordered and got the book 2 weeks ago. I read it once and am on my way through it the 2nd time gleaning technical details. My background is technical/engineering. I have worked on everything from disiel engines on oil rigs, air traffic control equipments including precision approach radar, equipment aboard fast attack submarines, x-ray equipment, ct scanners and mr scanners. This book in my opinion is good! You can order it from Amazon or directily from Fox Chapel Publishing like I did.

I am not in any way connected to Mark Duginske or Fox Chapel Publishing...just a happy customer.

BTW....I ordered my bandsaw last Friday and received shipping info today. I asked them to not ship it until this week as I wanted to get my shop finished first.

Good luck with your bandsaw!

That's the one... here it is at amazon for dirt cheap:
http://g-ec2.images-amazon.com/images/I/21qjGH-e9SL._PIsitb-dp-arrow,TopRight,21,-23_SH30_OU01_AA115_.jpg (http://www.amazon.com/New-Complete-Guide-Band-Saw/dp/1565233182/ref=sr_1_1/102-5394434-2309748?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189568664&sr=1-1)
The New Complete Guide to the Band Saw: Everything You Need to Know About the Most Important Saw in the Shop (http://www.amazon.com/New-Complete-Guide-Band-Saw/dp/1565233182/ref=sr_1_1/102-5394434-2309748?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189568664&sr=1-1) by Mark Duginske

Jeffrey Fusaro
09-12-2007, 8:08 AM
thanks, ken!

good luck getting things finished.


thanks, patrick!

i think i'll add that one to the library.