So apparently the 14" Professional woodworkers bandsaw from Harbor Freight does not like cutting osage. First my on/off switch burned up last week, then last night while trying to cut out the profile on another piece I think I killed the motor. It was only a 3/4 hp. and it was belt driven (2 belt setup). So I'm looking at the Grizzly Bandsaws, and I am thinking about getting their GO555x 14" extreme series bandsaw and adding a riser kit so I can get 12" of cutting height. Or for the same money (actually cheaper, because it does not need the riser kit) they have their 17" 2hp. anniversary model.
What do you all think?
17" might as well go all out. Soon as I win the lottery, my new bow shop will be a showroom for grizzly tools. :)
(http://yoursmiles.org/msmile/sad/m1513.gif) (http://yoursmiles.org/m-sad.php) (http://yoursmiles.org/msmile/sad/m1510.gif) (http://yoursmiles.org/m-sad.php)
sorry fella!!!
QuoteOriginally posted by timbermoose:
17" might as well go all out. Soon as I win the lottery, my new bow shop will be a showroom for grizzly tools. :)
X2
I have a 19 inch Grizzly and I love it.
Dave.
I have a 14" Grizzly with a 1hp and it does all I ask of it. I make selfbows, preferably osage.
I was lucky and found a used but new...iron wheel 2hp 16" grizzly 1073 on C=list. It is pretty nice and cuts well. it could be more saw than I need but its enough saw for everything I am currently doing...I still have and use a $50 1980's 12" 1/2hp Craftsman bandsaw, it has a carbide blade for glass work. I will replace the 12" Craftsman with a 14" Grizzly when it pukes..
QuoteOriginally posted by Pat B:
I have a 14" Grizzly with a 1hp and it does all I ask of it. I make selfbows, preferably osage.
Same here. Just a guess? Id say I've ran near 70-80 staves through mine. Plus a bunch of half logs. Not to mention oodles of odd ball cuts and such. Its still like new. Keeping a sharp blade on helps with motor and bearing labor.
I just wanna make sure I have the power and cut clearence to make sure I can resaw some logs if I want. I have some that would make good boards.
Suggest stepping up to a grizzly. I'm not a fan of HF unless it's for a certain task and cheaper than a rental. They just don't last under real use IMO. If you want to do any resawing, I suggest as much power as you can afford. Remember that not all Chinese hp ratings are equal.
This one....
http://www.grizzly.com/products/17-2-HP-Bandsaw-Anniversary-Edition/G0513ANV
I'm thinking this one with the riser kit, it would pretty much be the same as the one above, but it would have the cast iron trundles. with my understanding would be better.
http://grizzly14-px.rtrk.ca/products/14-Extreme-Series-Bandsaw/G0555X
plus the table is actually bigger and comes with the 6" resaw fence
Warren, I had that same saw and sawed literally miles of lams with it. It was very good to me, but I wonder if the added height will keep the same accuracy or if you'd be better off with the 17"?
the bigger wheel will be easier on blades and you will never regret more horse power-ever!
I love my Grizzly G0555
I use mine for more than bow building, so bigger is better in my case. My buddy brought over some big pieces of reclaimed doug fir to be ripped down. I put on a 1 1/2 inch blade with frighteningly large teeth and we cut those beams into lumber in no time. I barely felt any resistance. The large capacity and big HP motor allow me to do just about anything I want with that saw. When I have more space, I intend to get my buddy to build me a jig to rip small logs into lumber. At the same time I can put on a small blade and cut tiny little detail parts with ease and accuracy.
Dave.
what do you all think about this one? I think it should do everything I need, plus I can pick it up at Woodcrafters less than an hour from my house.
http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaws/1412-Bandsaw
Laguna makes awesome bandsaws and I would consider them a step up from Grizzly and several steps above HF. You will find their bigger models in commercial cabinet and furniture shops. I'm not familiar with that model, but I'd do it if you can swing it. You'll appreciate all of those extras when it comes to precision work. Much easier to tune a saw like that.
That's a really nice saw. Huge capacity in a 14 inch saw. I wouldn't spend $100 on a light though.
There are a lot of magnetic work lights out there for a fraction of the cost.
Dave.
I think the fact it was a Harbor Freight might have been the problem not cutting Osage. :rolleyes:
This is a tough decision, every time I think I up my mind, I find another option. I think I have it narrowed down to the Laguna 14/12 or the G0513X2.
http://grizzly14-px.rtrk.ca/products/G0513X2
I can get the bigger Grizzly for the same price as the 14/12, and it comes with cast iron wheels, trunions, and full length cast iron fence with the resaw fence. Plus more horse power. Like we say in the Fire Service " Go big or go home". Kinda leaning towards the grizzly
I got the go513x2 not to long ago and haven't put very much through it yet but sure do like it so far.
I recently bought a G0555 and was considering the 17". The sales guy told me that unless I plan to do a considerable amount of resawing, the 14" would do everything I need.
However, you mentioned that the 17" would be cheaper when factoring the riser kit.... So, at the same money, I would have gone for the 17"
I have the 2015 Grizzly Catalog.. The GO513X2 looks pretty good and is a solid 446 #s..
Check out Woodworking if you want to hear about experiences from a much larger pool of folks. In particular, I would check customer service reports before buying (!).
I've got the Jet 14" JWBS-14DXPRO, which has a 12" resaw capacity without a riser block and a 1.25 horse motor. I've been quite pleased.
I don't know how that happened...
I meant to say ``Check out woodworking forums...''
A couple years ago I lucked into a MiniMax MM16, locally on CL. If you have time it so far above the consumer grade saws. 600# 5 HP motor. Laguna (not the consumer grade) Agazzani and Hammer are some other Italian made saws. Just another option.
looks like bologna sandwiches and mac and cheese for awhile. I bit the bullet today and it should be here on Thursday. (http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/wdigby71/Screen%20Shot%202015-03-09%20at%209.15.19%20PM_zpstcgzrpwk.png) (http://s928.photobucket.com/user/wdigby71/media/Screen%20Shot%202015-03-09%20at%209.15.19%20PM_zpstcgzrpwk.png.html)
:thumbsup:
Dave.
Either will work well. I would go with the bigger motor and wheels, also a timberwolf 4 tpi hook or skip blade. I have used a 18" jet with 2 hp I bought new for the past ten years with no trouble
Nothing worse than waiting on a new toy to arrive. Ordered monday and UPS freight says it won't be here until the following Wednesday .
One good thing about living 2 hours from Springfield Mo. Just drove,down and picked it up.
Coarse it was all the wife and I could handle to unload it.
Used my deer hoist to put the top on.
macbow, I was half tempted to drive to Springfield and pick it up, My family roots are traced back to Missouri. I have a sister in springfield and my Dad and Grandmaw are in Raytown. I could have made a family re-union out of it and still got my saw faster. lol!!
Finally showed up today, Got wire up some 220 in the garage and we are in business .
(http://i928.photobucket.com/albums/ad129/wdigby71/IMG_1032_zps3moyifxu.jpg) (http://s928.photobucket.com/user/wdigby71/media/IMG_1032_zps3moyifxu.jpg.html)
Awesome! Congrats.
wow that IS nice!
Now that's a nice friggin' saw right there!!!
Sweet......
I got the big Grizzly catalog in the mail yesterday. Holy CRAP they have some serious equipment in there.
That one is gonna cut Osage and any other wood like a hot knife thru butter!
Allright, nice. Bue--.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bowjunkie:
I got the big Grizzly catalog in the mail yesterday. Holy CRAP they have some serious equipment in there.
Yep, my wife calls that catalog my porno mag.
I have very little brand loyalty with tools. I usually do my research each time. But for large tools, my shop is starting to look like a mini Grizzly showroom.
I'm up to 3 Grizzlies in my shop and I'm drooling over several more. One at a time!
Dave.
Buying power tools is like getting tattoos, once you get one you want another. Got my eye on a thickness sander next. This year was the first year I hunted strictly with a self bow I made. I think I may sell my wheeled bow to cover the cost of it. No sense in it collecting dust. Besides I had way more fun hunting primitive.
ooooooh nice saw!
Nice saw! After seeing your Grizzly, I hate to admit mine is A Craftsman! It is only 4 years old, what a piece of crap!
Mine is a Craftsman too, an older decent one, and has served me well, but I sure wish I knew about Grizzly tools before I bought it.
My band saw is an older craftsman too, about 12 years old. Was the top of the line saw back then.. 14", 1.5 hp, made out of cast iron. Never had a problem with it and it's cut a lot of bow wood and other wood. But today I would buy a grizzly.
Craftsman saws are not what they used to be, they changed the design and manufacture them in China now. Mine is only 4 years old and already the blade tensioner bolt is stripped out, they don't sell the 89.5" blades for it at the local Sears for it either. Years ago I did have an old 12" Craftsman from the 70's and was very happy with it! It never let me down. I think I am done with Craftsman power tools.
I have that same Griz saw, love it!! :thumbsup:
Got it all set up,tuned and put the 3/4 " blade on today and made some saw dust. It cuts great, way better than the 14" saw I killed a couple of weeks ago. Took some small left over hunks of osage and walnut and resawed them into 1/4' pieces to glue together for riser blocks. it was a little pricey but is gonna save me time and get better use of my wood.