forty_caliber Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 You might remember that a couple of weeks ago I replaced my workbench with a smaller one. This change opened up enough floor space to add a free standing bandsaw. I have a ShopSmith bandsaw currently that does not meet my needs, mainly this is due to the 6" depth of cut. The new saw needs to have 12-14" depth of cut to rough out bowl blanks. I am limited to 120v and 7'8" overall height. I've been doing some research and found one that looks like it might fit the bill. I'm asking for the benefit of your experience in choosing the right saw. Has anyone used this saw? Any concerns about the Grizzly brand? This saw is the runner up but I know virtually nothing about the ShopFox brand. Any reason to choose one over the other? I would much rather buy American but I'm not sure that's possible anymore. Do you know of a better choice for this specific application? .40 lew and Cal 2 Quote
Gene Howe Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 I make do with my Shopsmith Band saws but, if if I had the space, I'd sure be looking at a Laguna. Artie, lew and Cal 3 Quote
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 How about that? HD selling Grizzly products. I have no qualms about the Grizzly brand at all, the few things I've owned from them where as well made as any on the market, and the times i needed CS it was good. That said, the Shop is literally the same basic saw with a different paint job, Grizzly introduced the Shop Fox brand as one that was sold by other retailers. While I have no hands on with either saw, I do like the specs they laid out....except for the 2 HP motor being prewired for 120V. I think I'd want 240V for a motor that size. Cal, Gerald, lew and 1 other 4 Quote
Gene Howe Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 1 hour ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said: How about that? HD selling Grizzly products. I have no qualms about the Grizzly brand at all, the few things I've owned from them where as well made as any on the market, and the times i needed CS it was good. That said, the Shop is literally the same basic saw with a different paint job, Grizzly introduced the Shop Fox brand as one that was sold by other retailers. While I have no hands on with either saw, I do like the specs they laid out....except for the 2 HP motor being prewired for 120V. I think I'd want 240V for a motor that size. Can't it be converted? Asking for a friend. Cal, lew and Gerald 2 1 Quote
Fred W. Hargis Jr Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 I certainly think it can...my surprise it's prewired at 120. Cal and lew 2 Quote
lew Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 https://lagunatools.com/classic/bandsaws/14-12/ Quote
Gerald Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 I have a Grizzley GO555 with riser. My only complaint is it would be nice to have a bigger motor. Have heard nothing bad on their BS but lathes have some problems. If I bought one now Laguna would top the list. lew and Cal 2 Quote
Smallpatch Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 I have a different thought on your question....If you are planning on running a log 14 to 16 inch in diameter through a band saw I will tell you that will be very dangerous. Thats a lot or weight you will be pushing through the blade . Just one false move and you might be eating a flying busted band saw blade...and using two people will not make make it that much more safer. But now if you are planning on resawing that wide of board forget what I said. But this will be almost impossible unless you get a band saw with maybe a 5 hp motor and that will cause the price to shoot up through the roof. But don't worry the band saw will already have caused a large hole up there! Smallpatch lew, forty_caliber and Cal 3 Quote
forty_caliber Posted September 14, 2022 Author Report Posted September 14, 2022 Thank you for all of the responses. 7-8 years ago, I bought a Laguna Fusion table saw, let's just say that it was a mistake and I could have made a better choice. I know that they are sponsors and all but I'm a bit leery given my experience with it. Maybe I got a lemon but I kept running into problems with it. Small problems at first like rattling access panels, ineffective dust collection, then the trunnion bolts came loose. Thankfully it had to go when I moved into the small shop. @Smallpatch, I plan on cutting 1/2 logs into a circle as the primary use. Right now I do just the corners with a reciprocating saw. It kind of works but it's time consuming and hard to be as accurate as I would like. .40 Cal and lew 2 Quote
Smallpatch Posted September 14, 2022 Report Posted September 14, 2022 Okay, that sounds better than what my little brain was telling me! Cal and lew 2 Quote
Smallpatch Posted September 15, 2022 Report Posted September 15, 2022 Hey, check out this Grizzly band saw G0 701 lew and forty_caliber 2 Quote
Popular Post RustyFN Posted September 15, 2022 Popular Post Report Posted September 15, 2022 I have a Rikon 10-324 14” bandsaw. I run 12” logs through to cut the pith out and also cut my blanks round before I put them on the lathe. I have had it a couple of years and has done everything I have needed it to do. Artie, Gerald, Gunny and 2 others 5 Quote
forty_caliber Posted September 15, 2022 Author Report Posted September 15, 2022 10 hours ago, Smallpatch said: Hey, check out this Grizzly band saw G0 701 I'll take it....right after I win the lottery, move to the new ranch, build a barn, drill a natural gas well, install the power plant, and outfit my dream shop. .40 Cal, Larry Buskirk, lew and 1 other 4 Quote
forty_caliber Posted September 15, 2022 Author Report Posted September 15, 2022 10 hours ago, RustyFN said: I have a Rikon 10-324 14” bandsaw. I run 12” logs through to cut the pith out and also cut my blanks round before I put them on the lathe. I have had it a couple of years and has done everything I have needed it to do. Does the fence lay down flat to create a lower profile fence for smaller work? .40 lew and Cal 2 Quote
RustyFN Posted September 15, 2022 Report Posted September 15, 2022 16 minutes ago, forty_caliber said: Does the fence lay down flat to create a lower profile fence for smaller work? .40 No. lew 1 Quote
forty_caliber Posted October 15, 2022 Author Report Posted October 15, 2022 What blade type/width is the best all-around for roughing bowl blanks? What has been the most successful for you? .40 Quote
lew Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 (edited) 3/8” about 5 tpi Edited October 15, 2022 by lew forty_caliber 1 Quote
John Morris Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 I am completely biased, with an unashamed plug for our sponsor, the Laguna bandsaws are nice, my cousin has one, I've seen it and used it, and loved it, below your price point with the Shopfox at 1600 bucks, but it has a resaw capacity of 12" not 14". Cousin has had his for about 6 years now and still loves it. 14|12 Bandsaw | Classic Machinery | Laguna Tools LAGUNATOOLS.COM The 14|12 Bandsaw is a 110 Volt saw that feels like a 220. Features include pyramid shaped spine, 1 ¾ HP TEFC Motor... Gunny, lew and forty_caliber 3 Quote
HandyDan Posted October 15, 2022 Report Posted October 15, 2022 I always used the chainsaw to split the logs. I have just used my Delta band saw, which has a 6" limit, to trim the bowl blanks. When trimming edges the 6" limit doesn't become a factor when the radius is factored in. A 5" or 6" slab of wood makes a pretty big bowl. Gunny, lew and Artie 3 Quote
Gerald Posted October 16, 2022 Report Posted October 16, 2022 I use a 1/2 3tpi blade in my 14 inch Grizzly Quote
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