Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: upstatenybowyer on March 17, 2017, 07:01:25 pm
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Hello friends,
So I may finally be in the market for a bandsaw. Aside from about 2 years of high school experience (about 25 years ago) I know next to nothing about large woodworking equipment. Assuming I want something that stands on its own, has plenty of horsepower to rough out bows, and will last for the remainder of my time here on earth, here are my questions...
Should I buy something new or used?
What brands should I look for?
Approximately how much should I expect to spend?
As always, thanks very much in advance for your input. :)
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Kinda depends on your budget, you get a lot more for your money second hand but much more hassle finding a good one and getting it to your shop
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You can always check out craigs list for a used one, i got a 14" saw at a yard sale for $50 must be about 7-8 years ago. Grizzly is a good brand, just try and get the biggest you can afford , maybe the outlaw will chime in he is the king at finding good deals
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I bought a Wen bandsaw from amazon about a year ago. I've come to rely on it a lot. Makes things much easier, but then again its good to rough things out with hand tools every once and a while. Since i have amazon prime the shipping was free. I haven't had problems yet. There's definately better ones out there but this is a great deal for the price.
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Like said depends on your budget Jeff.Grizzly here with at least a 1hp motor.2 speed meaning 2 pulleys.14" bandsaw.I think mine cost around 450.00 dollars new though.Polar bear series.They'll send you a catalog if you want or are online too.They have a sale every spring too.I think in Springfield,Missouri at the plant there.Their very good about advice and parts too.I knew nothing about them in the beginning either but they're not that complicate really.I use mine for roughing out staves 5 to 6 inches thick of osage with a 3/4" blade and 3 teeth per inch on the slow speed.That and the farriers rasp roughs those staves out in a hurry.1/2" blade does a lot of the finer things.
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Buying a band saw can be tuff choice because you want to get one with all of the things listed I was in the same boat about 5 years ago I had a 14 in. Ridgid band saw that I was quickly out growing & was doing a lot of furniture work & re sawing so I looked around & really wanted to buy American but couldn't find any thing that would work for me so I wanted something that I would never have to buy again so I ended up buying a 23 in Agazani band saw and it's been every thing I ever wanted up to 18 in. Re saw capability I have actually re sawed walnut logs to make table tops plus it will take blades up to 1 1/2 in I could Easley resaw backing strips with a veneer blade with little sanding I have a complete cabinet shop but buy far my go to favorite power tool I also opted for the roller guides I can do compound angle cuts with out the blade coming off it wasn't cheap but really a great investment , regardless what you buy I would recommend Large working surface bed, roller guides heavy wheels high horse power 220 v dual dust collection sorry for the book but it's such a important tool !
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Grizzly makes a great bandsaw. I've had one for years. If you atr planning to build lots of bows get at least a 14" with at least a 1hp motor, new, used or whatever.
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Buy an OLD USED AMERICAN MADE machine. Delta, Powermatic, Walker Turner, even a Craftsman if it's more than 30 years old.
Look for cast iron, no plastic, very little aluminum.
It's possible you might have to replace bearings, but they are available for all the old machines and the old machines are far better than the new stuff. They truly don't make them like they used to.
Craigslist is a good source.
Go cruise around here for a while before buying. http://owwm.org/index.php (http://owwm.org/index.php) It's well worth joining and free.
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Thanks so much for the input guys. I know this is a big and important buy so I certainly won't rush into anything. Sounds like I need 14" minimum and at least 1hp. So that at least gives me a starting point. I don't know about power tools, but certainly with hand tools they do not make them like they used to. I guess I'll start looking on craigs list and if you don't mind I'll update this post when I find some options. My brother in law has lots of heavy equipment, trailers, and a big truck for his business so I'm sure he would help get it over here and I've got plenty of room in the garage.
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You've been cranking out all of those bows without a band saw? :o
I agree with the 14" 1 hp or more recommendation. A few years ago I bought the anniversary edition from Grizzly. It has done everything I have needed it to do. Even 4.5 hours straight resawing red oak barn siding. You can find some great deals on Craiglsist. I've bought several band saws off there over the years. If you go the used route look them over closely. Check the blade guides, tires, motor, etc. If you post any links to used saws here make sure to disable the direct link so you stay on the good side of the moderators. I would avoid the Rigid brand. I have heard a lot of bad reviews of them. The blade tensioner is made from cheap pot metal and it breaks.
After you get a bandsaw watch some youtube videos on how to properly set the blade guides and tracking. That will make a big difference in how well it cuts. Keep a sharp blade on it also. Timberwolf is a popular brand but pricey. I have been getting Olson blades off of ebay for pretty cheap and they work very well. Good luck in the search and let us know what you find.
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Great info Oultaw and much appreciated. Yeah, believe it or not I rough out all my staves with a hatchet, a 5 amp jigsaw and a drawknife. I've been saving for a bandsaw for almost a decade. With the b-day coming up the wife's feeling a little soft (B) so I think now's the time!
I'll be careful not to post any direct links cause I'm all about keeping the mods happy. O:) I've got a Timberwolf splitter that's awesome. Didn't know they make blades. They don't make bandsaws do they? Probably way too expensive anyway.
Looks like there's only 1 decent one near me on that website and it's at the very top of my price range, $1000
15" x 20-7/8" tilting table (to 45 degree) rip fence. PWBS-14CS 14" 1 phase 1.5 HP band saw motor
Adjustable miter gauge T-style rip fence w/resaw assembly 1/4" band saw blade. Goose neck work light. Chip blower
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That's a great saw but it's pretty expensive
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I was in the same position as you for a while. I'd been wanting a real bandsaw (had a small benchtop model that was useless for bows) for years.
I scoured Craigslist, and decided if I didn't find what I wanted in 6mo I would buy a new grizzly g0555lanv which was like $650 shipped.
I looked and looked, and when I finally found a 17" 2hp grizzly g0513x2 nearly mint, for $800 with extra blade and mobile base I jumped on it. That was more than I hoped to spend, but it was still just about 60% of new price when you consider tax and delivery. I'm glad I threw down the extra guap and bout the bigger saw. It's a beast. Only wish I had found a 19" grizzly with 3hp or 5hp. No man was ever disappointed with a tool that hadn't too much power or capacity. Now that I have it, I can't help but think I wouldn't have been happy with the 14" for long. I use mine for all sorts of stuff. I've even taken to using it for cutting plywood parts I would previously have cut on the table saw. It's quieter, and drastically more powerful than my contractor saw, and with a wide blade can rip with surprising accuracy.
A good deal will not last long on craigslist. Lots of crap or high priced stuff sits forever, but the real deals come and go fast, so keep cash on hand, know what you're looking for and what you can spend, and be ready to make a move. I've seen several nice saws for sale around Albany over the last year or two. Keep looking, get an idea of the market, figure everyone expects some haggling, and eventually you'll get what you want.
Lastly, 14" and 1hp is the minimum many recommend. I can tell you that after owning a relatively large 17" saw, a 14" saw looks tiny, and a benchtop saw looks like a child's toy. Keep in mind though that anything over about 1 1/2hp will require a 220v outlet, or a 30amp 110 circuit, so plan on the electrical work you'll need to do, or the cost of an electrician.
P.S. Forgot one important thing. Craigslist recognizes "bandsaw" and "band saw" differently, so make sure you search for both. Right now there's a Yates American 20" saw for $1750, but it's been for sale for a while and seller has cut price. Maybe there's a deal to be made although that is ridiculously large machine, and probably 3phase 220v
Then there's always a few old 30" crescent or Oliver bandsaws up for sale I found you're handy. Hook up a big 5hp motor and you can cut basically anything imaginable on one of them .... that is if you have the space, and a forklift to move it.
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As said above, do check the tires and guides. But both are available. Just factor them into your offer if the saw needs them. Good to get a ballpark idea of the cost of those items before you go to look at a saw.
I have three band saws: a 14" with half horse motor, a 12" with the same and a very old Delta 10" with a 1/3 hp motor. They are all I need. I could do everything with the 14", but I like the little Delta for fine/small work and I have the old Craftsman 12" slowed down for cutting metal.
The newest is the 14" Beaver from about 1960. I paid $75 for the 14", nothing for the 12", and $5 for the Delta 10". :)
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If you get one from Grizzly it'll get sent to you in 2 boxes.You can put it together then.You can get familiar with it too.Pretty easy instructions with it.They do have quite a selection.One thing I like about mine is that there is a release lever to relieve the tension on the blade when not in use.
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What you need to remember is that ANY bandsaw will requier a good deal of maintenance and adjustment (usually whan you just want to get on with the job). It will also need ocasional spare parts (drive belts etc)
So better to buy a second hand one that you will need to copletely overhaul and get to know inside out than a new one that lures you into thinking it will run forever with no attention.
More for your money.
I bought a second hand one. The lower blade guide casting was cracked... a few minutes on the internet found a new one for a few pounds.
If I'd bough new, I could only have afforded an underpowered one... mind I still wouldn't mind a bigger one >:D
Del
(I mean bandsaw....)
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A friend of mine bought this 14 in saw about 2 years ago he has been running it commercially for making molding says he loves it , it has a 12 in. Throat for wider material he got it at Rockler. It has 1 1/2 hp & 220v or 110v he said it was around the same price as the other 14 in. & said they have floor models for a real discounted price at times.
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For a machine just used for bow making you could easely get buy with a 14 in. Machine most of the time I keep my 3/16 blade on unless Im resawing but the roller guides are huge to me because it turns your machine into a carving machine , for cutting off bark & sap wood you can change angles while cutting around uneven surfaces & the blade will stay put & easy to control or if you need to free hand shape a handle area , I saved for a long time for mine too & once I got my kids out of the house I bought it.....lol
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Cheap saws are cheap. I've seen many collecting dust in the corner with burned out bearings, broken shafts and the sort. When I say cheap, I don't mean a Delta for $10, I mean a Chinese Powermatic2000 from Home Depot for $129 made from plastic. I have a 16" Grizzly I abuse the hell out of, and it loves it. Keep it tuned and keep a decent blade on it helps all saws perform and stay performing.
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I agree Pearl but every body has a budget and you have to work with in it I used a cheap ridgid bandsaw for years to get by and made a lot of stuff with it , and if I had young kids I would still be using it , so sometimes you have to make a choice and some of those 14 in. Saws are pretty good , better then no saw & replacement parts are cheap I under stand 100% what your saying buy right buy once , but you can always up grade latter as life progresses (=) Just my 2 cents !
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Hi,
I have not been able to post for a while since I have been super busy at work, so I am happy I have a weekend where I can browse through the posts on here :)
I have bought a Rikon 14" 10-326 bandsaw last year and I am very happy with it. It is a bit pricey but when cutting hardwood staves the cheaper models tend to not properly track.
Knowing that you like to use Eastern Hophornbeam for your bows, I can tell you that the quality of the saw makes a huge difference on whether you can cut the staves accurately or not.
Even with this saw I had my challenges. I am still using a chainsaw to half the log and then use the bandsaw to quarter or in a larger log to cut it into sixth.
I had to set the speed to slower speed on this saw as well in order to not stall the saw! Iron wood is tough stuff as you know :)
All I am trying to say with this is that you are better off to wait getting a band saw and save up money until you can buy a high quality one than to settle for less and have something that would be useless for your intended purpose.
Cheers,
Phil
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I strongly urge anybody thinking of buying woodworking machines to visit and join the Old Woodworking Machines.org forum. There is a complete education there about old woodworking machines and lots examples of machines bought used and put to use as is or refurbished. Also, the membership includes hundreds of people (thousands?) who own and have worked on old woodworking machines and all are eager to help.
There is the danger of taking on a whole new hobby, but once you get your eyes opened, you'll never consider a machine that has plastic parts and comes from Lowes or Home Depot.
Old woodworking machines .org http://owwm.org/index.php (http://owwm.org/index.php)
There is a sister site that has information about hundreds of different examples of old American made woodworking machines it's called Vintage Machinery.org http://www.vintagemachinery.org/ (http://www.vintagemachinery.org/)
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Another thing you need to remember is to STAY AWAY FROM THE LINES!!!! Heck i can cut a sweet straight line, but cutting too close is a mistake cause you can't put wood back on without glue😲, sometimes mine look like Frankenstein ran it through the saw but a few swipes with a farriers rasp fix it right up.
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Thanks for posting this Upstate and thanks guys for all the replies. I've been trying to save up for a bandsaw to. I went to a neighbor's and tried his once on some HHB. Wasn't the saw I needed for sure. I just kinda quit thinking about them after that. It would be very nice to have a good one that worked for what I needed for. I would definitely use it for more than just bows to.
Bjrogg
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Yes bjrogg with a fence the resawing option is handy at least for me with different projects.Example..For making arrow shaft squares of 3/8".
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Gentleman, as always, your insight is priceless. BJ, glad to know I'm not alone in pondering this conundrum. Del, what you say makes a ton of sense. Either way, I'll eventually have to learn the insides and outs of these things. Even if I buy new, I'll eventually have to replace parts and such. So why not look for an old quality machine and do all the learning up front? Hard to argue with that. Of course, part of me likes the idea of buying a new quality machine like a Grizzly and learning as I go. Man, this is a tough decision!
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Well bud you seem to be a serious bowmaker soooooo we don't want ya to make a bad decision.I built my first 18 bows I think in a year with a hatchet/draw knife/old used farriers rasp/and a pocket knife.Things will go faster making and possibly wrecking too with a band saw.
I'm told Tim Baker could get a string on a board bow from scratch in 15 minutes just using a band saw.Not your overall purpose I'm sure but you get what I mean.
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Yep BJ they are usefull for a lot of things and Really you can make just about any thing with one I told my wife if I ever had to sell off the shop it would be the last power tool to go there by far my favorite power tool ,Upstate its a tuff choice but time is on your side I cant crank. bows out like you even with one O:)
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If you need to justify it to "her indoors" I've found mine invaluable for DIY projects around the ouse too. Heeck I've even used it to slice bread that I forgot to take out of the freezer! ::)
Del
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I wore mine out, but then when I realised I couldn't fix it, I found I had to relearn how to use a hand-saw, band saws can de-skill you and make you lazy. Just a thought. Still wish I had mine though
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I just got a saw recently, it was a craftsman 14" 1HP. It didn't come with a fence like the Grizzly, but I got it very cheap as the box was damaged. I Have had lots of fun with it already, I'm sure it's very entry level but hey that's what I am so it's ok. Has bearing blade guides even. Does pretty good resaw (as far as I know) with the 3/4" blade and a homemade fence that I clamp on.
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Well guys, after much deliberation, heckin' and feckin', I made a decision and placed an order. Can't thank you guys enough for all the input and information you put out there. Here's what's coming...
Grizzly G0555X - 14" Extreme Series Bandsaw
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That's a very nice saw. You won't regret it.
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Wow can't wait to see what you make with that beautiful saw Upstate. I'm sure you'll make it pay for itself. Should save a bit of :BB
Bjrogg
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So now we'll be gettin' two bows a week!! ;D ;D ;D
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Wow nice saw you should be real happy with that congrats :OK
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Thanks guys. I'll try to pace myself and spread the bow posting out nice and even. No more than 4 a week. ;D
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I'm thinking you better sharpen up the chainsaw. Your gonna go through a lot of wood
Bjrogg
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Jeff....I see it.Got the catalog here.Very nice saw.Hope they cut you some slack one way or another.You'll really like it though.I've had a GO555P since 2012.This one's got a 1hp motor.I think yours is a 1.5hp.You should have a larger working table too.Easy enough to assemble and get to know.Keep a 5/32" ellen wrench around....lol.
Just replacing blades mostly is all I've done besides I think 1 roller bearing guide once.Use it for arrow shaft making too along with many other different jobs.Don't own a table saw.
It roughs out stave after stave for me.
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What just checked back no bow yet.lol.
Bjrogg
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He's gotta clean the sawdust out of his eyes first bjrogg.....lol.
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Make sure to wear a respirator when using that saw. It will make a lot of fine sawdust that can fill your lungs quickly.
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bj, I just sharpened that puppy today! Cut a nice log of BL to prepare for the Grizzly's arrival.
Ed, I remembered you saying you've been happy with yours and that definitely made the decision easier. ;) Oh yeah, and I think I got most of the dust out. lol I can kinda see myself in the mirror now. :laugh:
Thanks OO. I've got one and I'll hang it right by the saw. :OK
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Curses!! >:D👹😂😂. Now, I gotta go looking for a really big, neat saw AND a traveling harp, and the little lady already has eyes on the tax return😀😂! That looks like a real nice saw, been following this thread and lots of good advice and insights from folks who know what they are doing. I'm sure a lot of us learners will benefit from the input! Grizzly may see an uptick in orders😀. Do they have a "got it at the factory" option? Springfield, MO is only about 600 miles or so from here😀👹! used to be "Get your kicks on RT 66" - now I think it is "You can do more on I-44"! Enjoy the new man toy
Hawkdancer
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Thanks OO. I've got one and I'll hang it right by the saw. :OK
don't just leave it hanging there put it on haha. Cheers- Brendan
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Nice saw. I love my old 14" grisly. Arvin
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I was just thinking I haven't used a power tool on the last 3 bows I'm working on I can work at 3:00 am & not wake any body up but had more time then usual this year but that saw will be a real time saver for ruffing out future bows for you but things can go south in a hurry especially for belly tappers I think OO mentioned about tuning the saw it can make a huge difference in performance & different blades on my saw have different tunes , I don't know about that saw but be careful after you turn the power off the blade keeps turning on mine for like 3 minutes from the inertia of the wheels I cut my finger bad enough that I need stitches before , I like the larger work surface on your saw !
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Great choice, keep it tuned and keep a shape blade on it and you will run it for years and years.
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Very nice, hope you saved a few bucks for a shop vacuum. That thing is gonna make some dust. Don't even try without dust collection unless you're workshop is outdoors lol.
I use a large shop vacuum for mine and it works fine. Just need a 2.5" to 4" adapter. A dust collector would be better but not strictly necessary.
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Dust collectors are easy to rationalise to the wife , you get lots of fine saw dust for garden mulch if she gardens , I think there is some economical portable dust collectors on wheels for about the same price as a shop vac , its surprising how much saw dust you create !
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Very nice, hope you saved a few bucks for a shop vacuum. That thing is gonna make some dust. Don't even try without dust collection unless you're workshop is outdoors lol.
I use a large shop vacuum for mine and it works fine. Just need a 2.5" to 4" adapter. A dust collector would be better but not strictly necessary.
I've got a shop vac. where do I pick up an adapter?
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Woodcraft or any wood working store :KN
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Well either someone's got a serious drinking problem in the parts department at Grizzly or I'm just incredibly unlucky. When my bandsaw arrived it was missing the feet and some washers and nuts. I called, told them what I was missing, and they sent it out. I got it today and they sent the wrong washers and nuts! I'm sure it's a great company and the saw will be great but this has been sooooo annoying! >:( >:( >:( >:( >:( It's all stuff I can get at a hardware store so that's what I'll do. Sorry for the negativity guys, I just had to vent. Thanks :)
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That stinks. I would give them another call.
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Thanks for the empathy OO. I called them just to let them know what happened. The woman on the phone was a sweetheart. I just thought they should know so it doesn't happen to anyone else.
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Sorry to hear that.I'm sure they'll make it right with ya.Squeeky wheel gets the grease.Remember that.
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I will. Thanks Ed ;)
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Mine came with all the parts but I struggled with the blade tensioner assembly. Also, the sliding rip fence on mine had sharp corners where it slid across the front. It put deep scratches in the aluminum when I tested it out. I took it off and used pliers to curl back the corners so it wouldn't make any more scratches.
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Well guys, I'm just about as happy as a pig in... well, you know. (-_) This thing is absolutely amazing. I had a friend who makes electric bass guitars come over and show me all about it before I tried it out. I just roughed out a bow in about 30 minutes! 8)
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Go slow. You'll probably find a few more in the OPPS! bin now :D
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Good to hear.I roughed out a winged elm bush nock bow to dry good in a little over an hour with my Grizzly today too.
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Congrats I was waiting for your report ,go slow if you get to comfortable and fall asleep at the wheel things can go south in a hurry , I bought a couple of those cheap clamp on lights from Harbor freight so I could see thin pencil lines well :KN