Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 18

Thread: Grizzly 17" Bandsaw Feedback

  1. #1

    Grizzly 17" Bandsaw Feedback

    I'm thinking of buying a Grizzly G0513X2 - 17" Bandsaw, and looking for some feedback from anyone who has owned this saw. Are/were you pleased with how the saw functions? What are the pros/cons. Thanks.

  2. #2
    Hi Edward,

    I absolutely love the saw. Once tuned (Alex Snodgrass method) it’s butter smooth. I’m running a 1/2” Timberwolf blade for most things. It cuts fantastically well.

    My only con would be the fence. It free floats on one end, so it takes some back and forth to get it right where you want it. Not a big deal. I snagged a Carter Magfence II and their FAST measuring magnets, and that’s worked well for quick thin cut setups.

    Overall, I couldn’t be happier with the G5013X2. I’d highly recommend it.

  3. #3
    Thanks Corey

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    north, OR
    Posts
    1,160
    No major complaints (I have the 513X2F because I wanted a foot brake). IMHO its happiest with a 1/2" blade or less, I've run a 3/4" on it but it was at the top end of what it really wanted to tension. I mostly run a 3/8 3tpi blade which is pretty useful for most things I do but have run as small as a 1/4" as well (never tried a 1/8"). I didn't really have to tune mine to speak of, it was real close to spot on out of the crate.

    I like having the foot brake because I tend to do a lot of small cuts sometimes and prefer to be able to have the blade stopped while setting up the fence. Its also gotten me out of trouble a couple of times when resawing larger chunks for bowl blanks and the wood started closing up or twisting on me I was able to kill the motor and stop the blade without letting go of the workpiece.

    IMHO the bearing guides work best at medium/large size blades, I grew up on a saw with guide blocks so I'm probably a little biased there. I don't think the bearing guides work very well at 1/4" or below. You'll get a lot of varied opinions on this part.

    If I was doing it over I'd have to think about dropping the extra $300 on the 514 series, but that's a slippery slope


    Edit: the 3/4 was a 3/4 carbide tipped and a bit thicker.. I think the thickness of the blade was perhaps what threw it to the high end of the saw. With the side loading blades (minor gripe) its also a bit harder getting larger blades like that on and off the saw than it would be with a front slot saw, but you do get used to the technique fairly quickly. With a front slot saw I wouldn't have to push the guides back as far to get the stiffer blades in and out.
    Last edited by Ryan Mooney; 03-19-2018 at 12:20 AM.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    2,796
    I purchased my G00513X2 the year before the foot brake was available. Definitely a feature I wish I had. The cast iron wheels do take a while to spin down. It has cut everything I have asked it to. From 1/8" thick curve work to 12" thick resaw to resawing 2"x6"x8' fir (for building a Wood magazine based lumber rack). I mostly run 1/2" blades. I have some 3/4" blades, but the only difference I have noticed is price. I do not find the 3/4" blades to cut straighter, cleaner, faster, or to last longer. So I stick with the less expensive 1/2" blades. I own everything between 2 and 10 TPI.

    I have not had issues with the fence for the G0513X2 that Corey mentions. Just have to remember that when the resaw fence adapter is installed, the built in tape measure doesn't "work".

    I highly recommended the G0513X2 version
    Last edited by Anthony Whitesell; 03-18-2018 at 9:29 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    SoCal
    Posts
    22,492
    Blog Entries
    1
    I have an X, dad has the X2. No trouble tensioning a 3/4” blade here but, I use the flutter method. The fence does ok for me but, I aligned the saw and don’t find I need to readjust anything but the guides when changing blades. This may have to do with the tension method as well since I hear a lot of people complain about drift on their saws. Dad and I pretty much change blades with impunity.

    I’ve run Timberwolf, Ellis, woodslicers and carbide tipped blades with good success. I should say the carbide tipped blade is only a half inch blade. Like others have mentioned I find a half inch blade to do everything I need and so haven’t bought anything larger for quite some time. I do have a smaller saw for curvy and small, quick cuts.

    A quick mod under the blade makes dust collection at the bottom port unnecessary. I have sealed that port with a piece of sheet magnet.

    G0513X-DC-mod 002.jpg . G0513X-DC-mod 001.jpg

    I went a step further and built a little cowling with magnets for directly under the table. This took hardly any time and stepped the dust collection up to excellent.

    G0513X-DC-Add 006.jpg . G0513X-DC-mod 003.jpg

    The cowling slips easily out of the way for blade changes.

    P.s. I spent another 30 minutes and set the wheels co-planer and slipped a section of link-belt on. The noise level went to near zero; it is spooky-quiet now. This may also have contributed to my total ignorance of "drift". What is that any way?
    Last edited by glenn bradley; 03-19-2018 at 8:58 AM.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    sykesville, maryland
    Posts
    861
    I own it. I've only run 3/4" blades as I use it almost exclusively for re-sawing and straight cuts. It is excellent at that. The tires could be better quality. I had to replace mine in short order when one got damaged by a sliver of wood that got pulled into the band. I bought urethane replacements from a third party. Dust collection not great, especially under the table. Adjusting guides bearing is OK. I love the fence and convertibility of it. Mine stays square and I don't use the scale for absolute measurements; only for relative movements.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Duvall, WA
    Posts
    706
    I bought the G0513X2BF as my first and likely last bandsaw and have been completely satisfied. Of course, bigger is always better but for my money this saw offers the capability to do just about everything I could envision it needing to do. When I bought it, I was building a bed from ash and needed to be able to resaw 8" widths of 8/4 ash at lengths up to 80+ inches (for the supporting rails). I've been using Timberwolf blades--1/2" and 3/4" 3-TPI rakers for resawing, a 1/2" 10-TPI for smooth cutting, and a 1/4' blade (I forget the TPI and profile) for curve cutting. It was easy to setup, and is easy to operate and maintain. The dust collection doesn't seem stellar (Glenn's upgrade sounds like a possible solution), but then this is my first band saw, so I can't compare it fairly to anything else at this point. I only know that after resawing several hundred feet of lumber, I still need to vacuum up a small bit around the back of the saw and inside the lower cabinet. But that seems entirely normal.

    The lower center thrust bearing did seize up just a few weeks ago. I'm guessing it got clogged with fine dust particles as part of normal use/wear and tear. But for less than $10 US I was able to replace it with a third-party sealed bearing, that should last at least as long if not longer. That's been the extent of my 'trouble' with this saw, which is really nothing.

  9. #9
    Thanks for all the feedback. Sounds like the machine is an excellent value.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    New Hill, NC
    Posts
    2,568
    Count me in as another satisfied owner of a 0513XB2. Going on 8 years and loving it!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Location
    Kansas City, MO
    Posts
    832
    While you're counting satisfied owners, count me in. It is a great saw and 1/2" is enough blade.
    Chuck

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Pottstown PA
    Posts
    972
    I've had the previoius version the g0513, and had it for over 10 years. I've got it set up with laguna blade for resaw. Great saw. Sure the x2 is even better.

  13. #13
    I almost pulled the trigger on this saw,. But... Laguna had there Black Friday sale that made the 18bx hard to pass up. Picked it up same day had it making sawdust same day as well. I don't think you could go too wrong with either. I just didn't want to wait for shipping on the grizzly. I also like the Laguna guides better.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Cache Valley, Utah
    Posts
    1,722
    I had that saw for nearly 10 years and liked it fine. My next door neighbor was so impressed with it that he bought one as well. I used mine for resawing and similar cuts exclusively and used my 14" saw for general purpose and scroll work. For general work, and the right blade I think you'll be happy with the saw.

    I was using a 1" Woodmaster CT blade in the saw. It was OK, but really too much blade for the saw. I don't think the saw can really adequately tension a 1" blade, although my resaw cuts were generally fine.

    The only problem I had with the saw was the tires got loose and needed to be replaced. I think that was completely due to the 1" blade and the high tension I was running. I planned to put a 1/2 or 3/4" carbide blade in it when the Woodmaster wore out, but I sold the saw to my (other) next door neighbor before that happened. The stock motor is also a little small for that big a blade and making resaw cuts over 3 or 4" was VERY slow.

    I eventually replaced the Grizzly with a MiniMax 20", which works fine with a 1" blade and has plenty of power.

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Modesto, CA, USA
    Posts
    9,882
    To the OP: where do you live I have a lead on a Doall 1612 variable speed BS with welder for $500 in Van Nuys. It may need some work. Seller is pretty clueless. I have only seen photos and it will weigh about 1200 pounds. Is the grizzly really under 500 pounds?
    Bill D

    http://www.vintagemachinery.org/pubs....aspx?id=13768
    Last edited by Bill Dufour; 03-21-2018 at 9:13 PM.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •