Thread: Advice need for buying small bandsaw

Have you thought about a SCROLL SAW, ??

I have a small chinese bench top unit , which has served me for many years, it has an alloy table , (which is not flat) , but with standing that it has never failed me.

Ryobi , Makita, Draper, all have small bench type machines, and can be found regularly on e-bay, also at Bunnies.

Jeff
vk4

I would agree with jeff on this one. A scrollsaw will fit the bill nicely as you already have a large bandsaw no need for duplicating.

You can get a wide range of blades for doing fine and intricate work like you mentioned. And does not take up too much room in the workshop

Ditto - finding a decent quality small bandsaw would be tricky; even a mid-priced scrollsaw would be a better option and more versatile.

It can be frustrating trying to run very small blades on a bandsaw !

Thanks for the responses, yes I have considered a scroll saw ( perhaps I need one of those as well?) I have used a scroll saw, and for the work I have in mind I think they might be a bit slow and go through too many blades.
While I mentioned a bench top unit, I am thinking of a unit smaller than the usual 14" size. A two wheel unit seems more applicable/better?
Perhaps a Metabo 260, or Durden ( I think they are a B1200?)

I run a 1/4" blade on a larger 14" bandsaw from time to time, but anything smaller than that gets very fiddly in terms of guides, tracking, etc.

There are some fairly aggressive blades available for scrollsaws - give Jim Carroll a call and see what he recommends for the kind of work you will be doing.

With fine blades you'll probably break a few whichever way you go, and scrollsaw blades are generally cheaper than bandsaw blades !

I have a small Chinese Bench BAND SAW , as I mentioned , tthere is a Ryobi on e-bay, and a few others, I Know that a business in Redcliffe has a similar saw in stock, I believe they have a price of $199.00, on it

Pic of my saw attached, wheels are 230mm/9", the table is cast alloy, and ribbed, I have had this saw for around 12 years, and have only recently replaced the tires.

Jeff
vk4

sorry I picked up the wrong PIC and the correct would not load.

Jeff
vk4

trying again!!
Not happening , other Pic's load , the 1, I want just refuses

Thanks for posting the photos, I noticed that Carbatec and Leda sell a 10" with a cast table etc. I wonder if anyone has experience with the Carbatec unit?

I recommend you this trajan saw - Trajan-125 Utility Horizontal Band Saws and Vertical Bandsaw Machines • TrajanSaw.com . It is a portable band saw built with good quality. I have a bigger version of that saw in my shop but since you mentioned about space problems, the smaller type could fit your needs.

Thanks for the reply, interesting unit, but I already have a metal cutting version of those, I am after one with a proper table/fence etc.

Try checking other models of that brand, you might find what you need.