Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: mox1968 on April 03, 2010, 10:39:07 pm
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im looking for a bandsaw that wont cost the earth but will re saw laminations backings etc, will cut out stave outlines and generally be powerfull enough for bow making.I bought a small hobby type of bandsaw a few months back but it just doesnt cut the mustard so any recommendations guys??im based in the republic of ireland so looking for something that wont cost a fortune to get mailed too.
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Hey Mox,
Cant help you on the saw model question.......but in the meantime you may want to try changing your blade. I use my bandsaw.....a lot. My favorite blades for working down bow stock is either 1/2" 3 hook, or 3/4" 3 hook. This tooth configuration cuts every type of hardwood that I use very well and doesn't require a lot of power to do it either.
Hope that might help you out in the short term.
Rich
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check out Grizzly tools I have the 1 1/2 hp and it comes with a nice 6" resaw fence. Plenty of power as well. Not sure on shipping to Ireland though ??? Its about $70 to ship it in the U.S.
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i have a 9 1/2 ryobi and was ready to trash it untill i got a 3/8 th blade 6 tpi i think. it works fine now , you can bog it but if your careful it'll work!
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I have a 14", 1hp Grizzly and love it. I would suggest you check out Grizzly. They are a Korean import company so there may be a dealer in your neck of the woods. Grizzly sells many kinds of woodworking and metal working tools they have great tech support and a full inventory of accessories and replacement parts if needed.
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I have a Craftsman Pro 14" 1HP bandsaw, and it's great. No regrets. It cuts everything I put through it. I took me a while to get the proper blade, but once that was sorted out, no worries.
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14" Shop Fox. It has all the upgrades that make a great saw without the upgraded price.
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14" Shop Fox. It has all the upgrades that make a great saw without the upgraded price.
Agreed :)
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I just decided to give myself a bandsaw as a present and ordered this one: Güde GBS 315 UG (http://w ww.louistools.de/catalog/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=18&products_id=1293)
Here in Germany is has the reputation as a very good compromise between price and quality.
But the shipping to ireland is something around 170,- € :o
This one is very similar and has a very good reputation too: METABO BAS 317 PRECISION BANDSAW (http://htt p://cgi.ebay. co.uk/METABO-BAS-317-PRECISION-BANDSAW-240v-BAS317-BAS-317_W0QQitemZ320502386854QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM?hash=item4a9f6e50a6)
And here a model from ireland (but I don't know it): Record Power BS300E Bandsaw (http://h ttp://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Record-Power-BS300E-Bandsaw_W0QQitemZ280482928754QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BOI_Building_Materials_Supplies_Carpentry_Woodwork_ET?hash=item414e15d872)
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thanks guys I think as a general rule if I look at at least 14" and at least 1hp should be what i need.i did try to change blade but still too small and flimsy on the one i have.
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I have a 1 HP, 14" Grizzly as well. I have it paired with a 4 or 5 tpi blade. It's just fine for reduced staves, but inadequate for full log splits. (Though I push its limits often.) I'd really like something bigger for stave bows, and certainly wouldn't want anything less. There's nothing quite as exciting as being on the far end of a log, just out of reach of the off switch when the motor bogs to a stop. ???
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Hey, I have heard good things about both Metabo and Record Power in some British woodworking mags. Both should be good. RIKON also makes a hell of a good bandsaw. I have a 14" craftsman and a 14inch delta. I love both. Most of the time with bandsaws, whether benchtop or larger is that they just aren't tuned up well.....even a 9" tuned up will do 90% of what you need for making bows..
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I got a nice one off E-bay 12" wheels Electra Bekum BAS 315. There were quite a few on there, I bid for a couple near me, once they'd gone the price seemed to come down as no one wants to travel miles or pay for postage. I stuck in a winning maximum bid of £170 with 30 seconds left on the auction and I got it at £130 I gave the bloke "20 to deliver it as he had a van ;D
I spent a bit of time and £10 cleaning/tuning it.
Del
PS.Just noticed, mine is the same as Coopers, a few posts up, the manufacturer changed name a few times and was bought out by Metabo eventually. Spares are still available easy and cheap on the internet
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I have an older 12" Craftsman, that I thought was a dog, until someone in the know; told me about S.L. Fusco Bandsaw blades. Expensive, but worth the price.
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14" grizzly 1 hp with Timberwolf blades, cut lots of ipe with no problems.Love it.
Jeff
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Hi,
Got the Griz...wouldn't want anything else...get a rizer and you will have a 12 inch rize on a 14 inch saw...but since you are in Ireland...a land I hope to visit someday!...don't have a clue what to advise except to do as my Granny always said do: "buy the best you can afford at the time plus a little more". Have a great time making those bows over there and when you get ready to make a NA Flute let me know as I can head you in the right direction with web sites.:)
Rand
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just for the ones who don't know (like me; I had to look it up):
1 hp (Horsepower) = 0,745 kW = 745 W
but
1 PS (German: Pferdestärke = Horsepower) = 0,736 kW = 736 W
>:( ??? :o ::) ;D
Hm, American/English horses seems to be stronger than German ones - must be a cowboy-thing
Almost all data in Central Europe are in W or kW.
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This maybe a little of canter but I have an old walker turner that I traded a friend for it's fourteen inches about 1 hp this thing is about 400 lbs of cast iron and solid as a rock it will saw a six inch log like nobodys business. The point is that if you can find an old machine that is in good shape it will be well worth the search and save you some bucks. Nothing wrong with the new machines the others have mentioned except the price. I got about 250.00 in mine.Ronnie
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i agree with a lot of people on the Grizzly. i have a 14" "Extreme Series" and love it.
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the grizzly sounds good but I dont think it can be sourced over here , been searching a bit and can only find it in the USA.Im not going to jump in will do a bit of homework first then make my choice.thanks for all your input guys.
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decided on a metabo bas 317 1 hp looks pretty solid,does anyone have one of these hope its a good decision picking it up tommorrow.
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Dunno how familiar you are with bandsaws. I'm pretty new to them, but I found tons of stuff o the web about tuning them up, well worth the time and trouble.
Like any new tool, it pays to get to know it.
Have fun
Del
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will put it through its paces over the next few weeks, looking forward to it.