View Full Version : Buying a Band saw
macca2
25th January 2003, 10:18 PM
I am very new to this woodturning game and would like to hear from anyone who has experience with the Delta 9" Band saw. Is it a worthwhile buy for a beginner or is a toy.
Thanks
Macca
DarrylF
26th January 2003, 08:34 AM
I have the Delta 12" (now discontinued) and it's a nice machine, but it's only just large enough to cut blanks for my lathe. 9" is too small. Save your pennies and buy a decent 14", there are some very nice euro style machines out now.
macca2
26th January 2003, 11:53 AM
Darry
Thanks for the advice.I better start saving or get used to the idea of roughing down blanks on the lathe
Macca
rsser
26th January 2003, 07:39 PM
You can do quite a lot with a good electric chainsaw, for fewer $$ than a bandsaw, if chunking logs into blanks is your main purpose.
On the other hand, with a decent bandsaw you'll find a multitude of uses for it and wonder how you ever did without.
Solution? More $$!
Cheers,
Ern
macca2
27th January 2003, 08:03 PM
Thanks Ern......up till now my main reason for wanting Bandsaw is to cut bowl blanks from planks etc.I am currently useing an electric chain saw to roygh out a circle and then onto the lathe to rough it down.
When they say 9" Bandsaw,where is this measured?
Macca
Red neck
27th January 2003, 08:50 PM
Macca
Across the throat (blade to post).
rsser
28th January 2003, 05:56 AM
Not sure in this case. Traditionally the measure was of the wheel diameter, but other measurements are important - partic. the max height that can be cut.
Most of the machines on the market were limited to 6" height of cut and if you're roughing out from logs, this is a bit restricting, so as a previous poster said, look at some of the newer machines coming out with 8-9" capacity.
Some machines could be fitting with a riser kit to lift the top wheel and assembly by 6" but I'm not sure how successful this was.
Cheers,
Ern