Jim Hill
03-16-2008, 11:13 PM
Friends,
I have scoured the older posts and am still uncertain which bandsaw to buy. I hope to buy within the next two weeks, and have about 1500 in the budget. I'm not brand conscious; I have many different brands of machinery/tools in my shop. I try to buy the best tool, that I can afford, for the job. I hope to do some resawing and sawing veneer. I also plan to use the saw to help prep blanks for my new 3520B lathe-thanks to KEN GLASS- for the info on buying the machine! From a size standpoint, I think an 18 inch saw is the largest that I can manage to get in my basement shop. I want a minimum of 12" resaw capacity. I've mainly been looking at 3 different machines; the 18" Steel City, the 18" Jet and the 17" Grizzly 513X2. Points that I'm pondering:
Is the 2 horsepower machine enough for what I think I want to do with it? Only the Jet has the 3hp option.
How important is the quick tension release, when you have a big wheel to remove the tension from the blade? The quick release is on both the Steel City and Grizzly.
Both the Steel City and Jet say they offer a tool-less guide adjustment system. Easy sounds better!
All 3 offer cast iron trunnions and cast iron wheels, although I do like the more solid Grizzly wheels as opposed to the CI spoked wheels on the other two. The Griz wheel size is not common, the SC and Jet size is. The Griz and the SC say their tires are urethane; the Jet says vulcanized rubber.
How important is the foot brake, offered on both the Grizzly and the Steel City?
I know that Grizzley and Jet have good CS and good parts inventories. Do I take a chance with the new startup SC? What if I buy SC and they go under-not wishing them ill-will, but new companies are at a much higher risk for being unsuccessful?
I have been able to inspect both the SC and Jet saws, although not directly side to side. I have not been able to visually inspect the Grizzley unit. Has anyone actually looked at all three? Specs are one thing, but really looking at the machine can show weaknesses or strengths that the specs can't show.
I've been watching, without success, CL and the local paper for used, well-maintained machines. Are there other machines that I'm overlooking? Your input is appreciated.
Jim
I have scoured the older posts and am still uncertain which bandsaw to buy. I hope to buy within the next two weeks, and have about 1500 in the budget. I'm not brand conscious; I have many different brands of machinery/tools in my shop. I try to buy the best tool, that I can afford, for the job. I hope to do some resawing and sawing veneer. I also plan to use the saw to help prep blanks for my new 3520B lathe-thanks to KEN GLASS- for the info on buying the machine! From a size standpoint, I think an 18 inch saw is the largest that I can manage to get in my basement shop. I want a minimum of 12" resaw capacity. I've mainly been looking at 3 different machines; the 18" Steel City, the 18" Jet and the 17" Grizzly 513X2. Points that I'm pondering:
Is the 2 horsepower machine enough for what I think I want to do with it? Only the Jet has the 3hp option.
How important is the quick tension release, when you have a big wheel to remove the tension from the blade? The quick release is on both the Steel City and Grizzly.
Both the Steel City and Jet say they offer a tool-less guide adjustment system. Easy sounds better!
All 3 offer cast iron trunnions and cast iron wheels, although I do like the more solid Grizzly wheels as opposed to the CI spoked wheels on the other two. The Griz wheel size is not common, the SC and Jet size is. The Griz and the SC say their tires are urethane; the Jet says vulcanized rubber.
How important is the foot brake, offered on both the Grizzly and the Steel City?
I know that Grizzley and Jet have good CS and good parts inventories. Do I take a chance with the new startup SC? What if I buy SC and they go under-not wishing them ill-will, but new companies are at a much higher risk for being unsuccessful?
I have been able to inspect both the SC and Jet saws, although not directly side to side. I have not been able to visually inspect the Grizzley unit. Has anyone actually looked at all three? Specs are one thing, but really looking at the machine can show weaknesses or strengths that the specs can't show.
I've been watching, without success, CL and the local paper for used, well-maintained machines. Are there other machines that I'm overlooking? Your input is appreciated.
Jim