Hey Gang,
I'm going to be in the market for a new bandsaw in the near future and was looking for any of your experiences and recommendations. I'm definitely going to stick with at least 1 hp in a 14" saw. Any opinions on the grizzly machines? Cheers, Matt
Get a Grizzly. I have had one for quite a few years and it works great. I also have other Grizzly power tools. They have an excellent support team and any parts you may need. My 14" has a 1hp motor. Pat
Seems like the Grizzly has become the favorite much like the old Rockwell/Delta of school woodshop fame. Rugged, reliable, available and relatively inexpensive. You have to almost double the price to step up much in functionality. It would be hard to go wrong. I have used them and own several Grizzly tools. No complaints here and service is good.
Lots of Grissly owners sure give them good marks, so that would be a good option. Another one to look at is Rikon. I have one and it is a well built machine. This months Woodworkers Journal has an article reviewing 10 different 14" bandsaws and rated the Rikon as their "Best Buy". If your interested send me a PM and I could send you a copy of the article. Let me know right away because I am leaving on vacation next week, or I can do it after I return.
Go with a Grizzly. I'll be ordering one as soon as I scrape up the dough. My brother has one and it works great. I seem to remember seeing a bandsaw review in FineWoodworking... I'll see if I can find he issue.
Most definitely a Grizzly... mine has stood the test of time and abuse for over 5 yrs now without a hitch...
But make sure you get Timberwolf blades for it from Suffolk Machinery...best lasting blades I have ever used...
If you plan on using a bandsaw a bunch and want the Cadillac version this is what I would buy, all the bells and whistles one can have on a band saw. They have changed the model number since I bought this one it, is now a GO457, a 2hp, 14", industrial model.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/bow%20making/100_0524.jpg)
I have a Jet 14" but I am coveting one of those Grizzly Ultimate models.
If you would have ask me 10-12 years ago about Grizzly I would have said to stay away from them. Today however they are vastly improved and have great customer service. I hang out at a couple woodworking forums and it's hard to find anyone that isn't pleased with them today.