Thread: Hafco 14" Bandsaw Vs 17"

Originally Posted by Damienol

I am seeking feedback from the WWF community on your thoughts as to if the 17" is worth the extra money.

Hi Damienol, I own two bandsaws - a 14" and a 21". I had the 14" first and the main purpose it served was to prove I needed a bigger saw. I believe I have the best of both worlds now with the 14" being great for fine work and the 21" for resawing and milling small logs.

From your post you seem to indicate that you would not have the space for the two of them. I have considered in the past that if the first saw I bought was a 17" model, could I have made do with just the one saw? Well probably yes - the 17" saw is still small enough to run a fine blade, and still big enough to take on most, but not all the resawing tasks I have done or have planned for the larger saw.

A 17" saw will not take up a lot more room than a 14" saw and will do a lot more. Your blades will suffer metal fatigue from bending around the curves of the wheels a lot less on a 17" rather than a 14" saw and should in theory last longer.

If you can make the finances work, I would say go for the 17" model.

Hope this helps

Doug

I'm at the same point as you, and have similar issues with workshop space. I'd also pretty much decided on the BP-355, but I'm going to have to wait another month or two anyway to have the $$ in hand, even though that's meant missing out on the 15% off sale price that H&F were offering.

But after seeing the Laguna LT14SUV at the Sydney show last week I'm getting very tempted to wait an extra few months and go with that machine. It seems to offer the resawing capacity of a 17". Have you taken a look at that one?

Hi Doug

thanks for taking the time to reply. I suspect that all responses I get will be along the same theme as yours; that is, go for the bigger one.

i definitely don't have room for two. How sweet it must be to have that much room

See pic of man cave below to get an idea of the space restrictions I am working with.

i need to get back out to Hares & Forbes to measure the 17" unit up to see what it space requirements are. Data on the net seems to be inconsistent. I have a height restriction of 1930mm. If the unit is actually 1890mm and allowing 30mm for a mobile base I should just have enough height space.

Re the blades widths the data I have found ( inconsistent again) it can take blades somewhere between 6mm and 25mm which is a great range that will allow for great versatility in sawing tasks.

Hi Marwood

The LT14SUV is an impressive looking machine. Resaw capacity is very impressive for a 14"

At $1800 it would want to be. That is a more then double the current price of the BP-355

Bit too rich for me

Not much guidance from WWF however I have taken the plunge.

I have decided on the Hafco BP-430 (OAV SBW-4300CE). The following is the reason why

- It is available in time for my birthday.
- Resaw is 65mm greater
- It can also take 6mm blades however it can accept upto 27mm blades. (Versatility Plus)
- It has cast iron wheels
- It is made in Taiwan as opposed to the 355 that is made in China
- the overall physical dimensions are roughly the same as the 355 (meets space restriction challenges)
- Rip is 70mm greater
- the table will take my Incra HD mitre (i think)
- the larger size should future proof it


It is a stretch and I have had to call in some early Xmas money so hopefully it is worth it


Now i just need to work out how to get it down 15 stairs and under my garage into my man cave

Originally Posted by Damienol

Now i just need to work out how to get it down 15 stairs and under my garage into my man cave

Step 1. remove cast iron table. that will reduce the weight by about 50 kg

Originally Posted by doug3030

Step 1. remove cast iron table. that will reduce the weight by about 50 kg

Doug you seem to be everywhere tonight! ;-)

Yeah worked out I would remove the cast iron table but figured more likely 25kg's. 50Kg's would be great.
Was also thinking of removing the motor - maybe 15kg's and the door maybe 5kg's

This should bring it down to about 75kg's which feels more manageable for 2 small blokes

Originally Posted by Damienol

Doug you seem to be everywhere tonight! ;-)

Yeah worked out I would remove the cast iron table but figured more likely 25kg's. 50Kg's would be great.
Was also thinking of removing the motor - maybe 15kg's and the door maybe 5kg's

This should bring it down to about 75kg's which feels more manageable for 2 small blokes

Yeah, I seem to be getting round a bit tonight. I am not at home so nothing else to do and i guess trying to keep the mind distracted from why I am so far from home. Funeral for a granddaughter who did not make it to five. Its been a tough week. I fly home tomorrow morning and then I will be flat out packing up the workshop to move at the end of August. It never rains but it pours.

If you can get it down to that weight then great. I dont know what your staircase looks like but possibly one of those removalists trolleys with three wheels a side that is designed to take stairs would be the thing if you buy, beg,steal or borrow one? even a standard two-wheel removalists trolley might be enough with two of you doing it. I know I used to be able to take over 100kg up or down steps on a trolley until my back went out a few years ago.

Damienol, this might be of interest: Hafco Wood Band Saw BP-430 - 415 x 310mm | Power Tools | Gumtree Australia The Hills District - Bella Vista

Originally Posted by Marwood

Damienol, this might be of interest: Hafco Wood Band Saw BP-430 - 415 x 310mm | Power Tools | Gumtree Australia The Hills District - Bella Vista

Great work Marwood. Went out and had a look today and made the purchase.

saved a bomb. I owe you a beer

Goodluck on your purchase. Once you have the band saw, things to check are : blade guides, adjustments, dust collection, blade tensioning, power, cut capacity, table and stability, accessories, performance, wheels and tires. Get some good blades too!