Thread: Which bandsaw is better, single speed or 2 speed?

Hare & Forbes had a 4 speed 14" on sale last week for about $349 which was good value for money. The fence was a bit dodgy though. Not sure what you would use the 4 speeds for?

Have you used your BP-16A yet.
Maybe you could just run a bit of box section Al through it to give it test?:eek:

I have an old Carbatec 14" with 4 speeds. Can't remember ever using anything but the fastest speed.

Felix
They rang me up last Wednesday to say it was ready to pick up so had to do a quick dash to the dump to empty trailer of rubbish and off to get my hands on new pride and joy but when I got there they fa#ted around with paper work for awhile and then came back and said 'ahem' - you will have to take the floor stock as others have been back ordered to other more deserving woodies, so to speak. I was not happy as the one on the floor was made back in Dec 2005 and I was really after a Just-Made one. They suggested that I take it with a couple of new blades thrown in for good measure but after taking a 2nd look at the floor one I wroung my hands and said No and would wait for new stock to come in. As much as I wanted to take one home I didn't want one with a bent fence and bits fallen off that the rep couldn't tell me where they came from. Talk about a scratch and dent sale. I must have looked pretty stupid to them 1st time to think they could palm off old floor stock and concidering it had been sitting there under tension for the last 12mths with everyone elses green eyed finger prints on. Will let you all know when the new baby comes home. Took the serial number down just in case someone thinks I really am as stupid as I look.
Assembled my dust collector yesterday and fired it up with a test piece through the GMC thicknesser and I'm sure it tried to suck the GMC off the bench. No chips or dust left on bench and lots in the plastic bags so at least somethings do what is asked of them even if I don't.
David

Originally Posted by AlexS

I have an old Carbatec 14" with 4 speeds. Can't remember ever using anything but the fastest speed.

I'd only ever used mine on the low speed until recently. I've been milling some small logs & seemed to have to fight the damn thing all the way. Following a brain wave, I bumped the speed up to the fastest and was pleasantly surprised by the difference in cutting ability. Full speed ahead for me from now on!