Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: Stickhead on September 04, 2020, 12:42:04 pm
-
I’m think I’m starting to get too old to do it all with hand tools. Thinking about getting a Grizzly bandsaw, based on recommendations I’ve seen here. There’s a used G0555X for sale nearby. It appears to be in good shape, and he’s asking $525. It’s 1-1/2 HP, 13-1/2”, with some blades. Is this a decent price?
-
What's the price for a new one (or it's equivalent?).
My one was certainly one of by best investments, it's not the biggest, but I don't have much room :(
Del
-
What's the price for a new one (or it's equivalent?).
My one was certainly one of by best investments, it's not the biggest, but I don't have much room :(
Del
It’s out of production, but I found a 2011 price for a new one at $820.
-
Tom that doesn’t sound too bad if it’s in real good shape. I have the 1H.P. GO 555 13-1/2” bandsaw and it is really nice for roughing out bow blanks and reducing staves with a 3/4” blade. The new Grizzly catalog has my saw (1H.P.) listed for $625 plus ~$100 to ship it from Grizzly. You will appreciate having one. Good luck
Will
-
That makes it sound pretty good... supplementary question for a bonus point:- ;D
Are spares readily available?
Del
(PS Go for it, you know ya want to... we won't tell honest ;) )
-
It's been a maxim for decades that an item in good useable condition is worth 1/2 the new price. So, no that's not a good price, especially when people are out of work and short of cash.
Further, if you are a little bit patient you can find a used American brand such as Delta or Craftsman band saw on craigslist for much less and it will have no plastic parts and will have ASAE fasteners.
Visit and join owwm.org to learn the possibilities. (Just don't ask them what a machine is worth--against the rules.)
-
Grizzly makes a great bandsaw. I've heard they have good customer service if you ever need it. I've had mine for several years now. I resawed oak boards for 4.5 hours straight one time. I would see if they would take less for it. Maybe go look at it and throw out an offer. Cash talks. Good luck. Post some pictures if you get it.
-
Thanks for the update bouts, guys. So the consensus is “maybe.” I think I’ll take a look at it and try to bargain a little. If it looks as good as the pics, I’ll probably snag it.
...Tom
-
Lots of youtube videos about this saw, looks like a good one to me, perhaps a little overpriced as a used one. Grizzly will always have parts even for a saw no longer in production, they change the name but use a lot of the same internal parts.
I have a similar Griz but a different model, it is a good one.
-
I tried looking on Facebook, Craigs etc a while back. If a bandsaw showed up it was gone in an hour or less. As a result there was high prices and no bargaining. Must be a local thing. People around here think anything old is an antique. Drawknifes are never seen cheap or even reasonable.
-
If it is in good shape, not too bad a price depending on how many extra blades go with it - those are not cheap. You will need a couple buddies to help move it if it doesn't have casters!
Hawkdancer
-
From my experience looking at and buying 4 used bandsaws on craigslist over the years, if that one is in good shape, I would buy it for that price, but try and talk them down a little if I could. I think most sellers expect to come down some off the asking price.
-
Dang it, somebody else got it first. Back to search mode.
-
I have had two different band saws, ,they are depenable machines,, if you get a good one,, will last forever
-
Dang it, somebody else got it first. Back to search mode.
That's what happened to me every time I phoned someone. They seem to be a popular item. I finally just settled for what I have.
-
Dang it, somebody else got it first. Back to search mode.
Ah, maybe that tells you the price was reasonable...
Del
-
Haunt craigslist.
This one needed tires (they're available for any saw) but I got it for $15 and cleaned and painted it.
-
Watch craigslist, Facebook marketplace, letgo, offerup, etc. You will find one eventually.
-
I bought my porter cable for a reasonable price but having used a jet and a grizzly since I will buy one the next time it pops up. Game changer.
-
I got the Grizzley bandsaw and table saw during the summer sale, have to set up the dust collection system and learn how to use them! Good luck in your search!
Hawkdancer
-
The only saw I had that was pure junk was a Rigid, this was years ago and I bought it from a friend down on his luck. It was so bad Rigid replaced it but with a factory return that was missing half the parts. I gave this saw to my brother, it took him months to get it running.
Fed up with sorry saws I bought a Griz.
-
Really, if you want to learn about the best saws for the money, go to "Old Woodworking Machines: http://www.owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=530100838282b06f25dc40fda81f17aa
and or Vintage Machinery http://www.vintagemachinery.org/
and get your eyes opened and you'll never look at a new machine again. Register free at either or both sites.(Warning, it could start an unexpectedly intense new hobby...).
Vintage American-made machines will still be working a century after eastern-made machines have broken their plastic and aluminum parts.
Here's a sample of a restored Delta
-
I've heard similar comments about those Rigid saws Eric. A friend had one and he ended up getting a machine shop to make a replacement part for it.
-
Those vintage Deltas are cool, but the ones I have seen on Craigslist are at least as much as a 14" Grizzly. I will fall out of my chair if I see one for $15!
-
I have a rigid,,14 inch, it works ok, I dont use it that much ,, maybe a few times a year, have had it,,10 years,, not recommending it,, just saying,,I think I paid 175
-
Timbo, the picking depends on the part of the country and whether the saw is plug and play. I think there were more home woodworkers in the Northeast. Pickings here in western Kentucky are pretty slim.
My $15 saw had been painted Rustoleum silver and was pretty dirty, had no stand or motor. The most I payed for any of my four saws was $75. That was 20 years ago, so inflation might double that??? That one is Canadian (Beaver, a branch of Delta at the time).
Patience is an asset too.
-
I had a 14 inch rigid also. Do not buy absolute junk. Worst tool Ridgid ever put out. Two years ago I ponied up and bought a rikon 10-326. 14 inch resaw capacity with a 2 horsepower motor. Worth every penny even at full price
-
Great info, y’all! Keep it coming!
-
Well, maybe this thread was good luck. After keeping an eye on Craigslist for several years, I just scored a 1979 Rockwell 14" saw in great shape. It has a riser block and 1.5 HP Dayton motor. Woo hoo!
-
I'm very glad to hear that. You avoided a world of trouble by getting the iconic make and model of American made saw.
-
I just bought a Laguna 14BX last month after 25+ years making do with a small benchtop Craftsman bandsaw (which is still an excellent saw for board bows, but not powerful enough for cutting staves or thicker wood). I'm going to keep them both because they both seem to have a useful place and time. Loving the power and capacity of the new one though.
Matt
-
A few years ago I bite the bullet and bought a 2hp grizzly G0513X2F 17” bandsaw. It is a beast of a saw and I have yet to bog it down compared to my old 12” craftsman. I absolutely love the grizzly and use it for cutting wood into laminations as well as roughing out bow staves. This big saw has definitely been a game changer for me when building laminated bows. I would not trade my bandsaw for anything at this point, it is a vital piece in my workshop 👍🏻
Cheers,
Taylor
-
Well, I finally found one I was able to snag. It’s a 1996 Delta 14”, 3/4 HP. I was hoping for a 1+ HP, but I’ll make do. I just need to get a larger blade. It’s in great shape, runs good, has wheels, fence and a light. Got it for $400. I think I did pretty well.
(https://i.imgur.com/0I3v8Mn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/GYmEUbK.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/Ip8zUWQ.jpg)
-
Nice!
-
Is there any reason not to find a one horse motor and trade them out? Or even a 2 horse?
-
Is there any reason not to find a one horse motor and trade them out? Or even a 2 horse?
That was my reasoning, too. If I eventually decide to upgrade, it should be easy enough.
-
Congratulations on your find! I have that same saw, but mine has had a rougher life. Haven’t used it on any Osage or locust, but that 3/4 motor surprised me on hickory, hackberry and elm. I’ve used it to rough out split staves and to cut split staves that had split straight down the middle to get two staves where they were a little too narrow to gamble splitting them in half. Haven’t had any problems at all, just let the saw work at its own pace. Even if it’s slower than a 1 or 2 hp motor, it is exponentially faster than a hatchet.
-
Keep your eye on Craiglist some more. I know motors come up cheap. Another place to look is hot tub dealers. A lot of the time the pump goes but the motor is good. My Bro in law had a shop and they used to recycle working motors.
-
I used a 1/2 hp craftsman for years, with a sharp 1/2" 3TPI blade it would do everything I needed it to do.
-
This one came up today on the marketplace, N/W Alabama near Florence if anyone is looking for one.
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/779944309457050