Thread: 14" Bandsaw, What to buy.

I bought the Sherwood 14" from Timbecon at the Canberra show. Love it. As you will see from any search, the saw bands you get are crap and you'll need to buy new ones.

Only problems I had was in assembly - the 'manual' is a joke and actually often wrong and the aluminium casting that holds the upper blade guides sheared off before I could tighten up a bolt. I'm told that this has now been replaced by a steel casting.

I paid less than $600 I recall and also got 2 x extra blades and other goodies. Don't wait for a show, dilligently search the usual suspect's web sites for their 'specials' each week.

Also bear in mind that if you get the riser kit you also have to buy different blades.

Only buy from Timbecon is its a REAL bargain, their service is abyssmal.

Geez, timbecon are takign a bloody pasting lately arent they? I think they need to look at their wharehousing system and stop sellign things that they can't access.

Originally Posted by LineLefty

Geez, timbecon are takign a bloody pasting lately arent they? I think they need to look at their wharehousing system and stop sellign things that they can't access.

Lefty, its more than just that. Even when its in-stock they still manage to bugger things up.

I ordered a couple of bits and pieces weeks ago. Called them last Friday and just went the rat at some poor bugger. He picked and shipped the small parcel that same afternoon. I still haven't seen it!

My sheared aluminium casting on the bandsaw at issue has still not been replaced, despite upwards of 10 calls and emails and 4 promises to post it!

I take no pleasure in bagging Timbecon. We, the punters, only benefit from the presence of multiple suppliers. I'm afraid this one is headed down the gurgler.

What I don't understand is why their management simply don't seem to care!

Bodgy,
Thanks for the input. It will probably take me until July to muster the cash anyway, & I quite enjoy the playoff between companies even if I have already decided What to get. They all want your cash & some good deals can be had. I also think the freight would be a killer.

I am hoping to get a few more points of view, although time is on my side.

ticky

Hi all!

I feel that I ought to inject a view that's perhaps a bit different, wrt Timbecon. )Please note that I have no commercial or financial involvement with them other than as a customer).

I too have had issues with goods supplied by Timbecon - but in every single case, the issue has really been with the carriage agents, not Timbecon themselves.

Whilst I am based in Melbourne, and Timbecon are in Perth, delivery times, other than for especially heavy items, are generally within the working week - and quite often within two/three days if the item(s) are light and small enough for Express Post.

The despatch guys that I've spoken with (phone & e-mail) are helpful - and keen to help. No problems there at all.

I've seen many of the disgruntled postings here about this company, and must suppose that there is some groundings in them, but my personal experiences do not support that view.

I did recently, at the WWW show in Melbourne, have one gripe however. I wanted to buy a 25.4mm arbor 305mm T/S blade: they had the one that I wanted, but there was only one cashier - and the queue went from here to China and back - so I quietly put the blade back, and went elsewhere...

Cheers!

My budget will only stretch to about $900

Hi Steve,

I got my BP16A for less than this amount, just so you keep your options open about the size of the saw.

Also don't forget that MIK now sell on behalf of Carbatec so it gives you another reseller to throw into the mix.

I think you can also buy Hafco equipment in Adelaide, can't remember the distributors name. :confused:

Also I would like to say that my experience with Timbercon has been very good. I have baught my tablesaw, SCMS and surface grinder from them. My experience with LEDA as well as MIK have aslo been good.

hope all this helps,

Himzo.

Ticky,


You're in Adelaide so head on down to MIK in Magill Road and talk to Michael or John about bandaws. I recently bought a Carbatec 14" SWB3501 from MIK and was very pleased with the product and the service. I dont do any serious resawing so it suits my purposes.

If considering the SWB3501 I'd also buy the guide wheel kit....and if you can afford it buy a deluxe rip fence. There's a 6" riser extension kit available for this saw but I couldnt justify buying same. Assembling the bandsaw was fairly straight forward except for tightening up the belt from the motor to the bottom wheel....its a two person job or if you can get help from an octopus!

Cheers Martin

Thanks for the continued input.

I have no problem with Timbecon, I have bought a bit of gear from them & I will most likley be buying my bansaw at the ww show, so frieght won't be a issue.

I welcome all veiw on this topic at the moment.

Himzol, tell me more about your saw, who makes them & where did you buy it?

Has any body got a Leda. I bought a bit of gear from them, & I saw a fellow members Leda the other day just breifly, looks alright.

ticky

Himzol, tell me more about your saw, who makes them & where did you buy it?

Baught mine at the Melbourne WWW show last year, it's the Hare and Forbes version of the 16 inch Chinese made bandsaw. Only paid $699 for it, even with freight it still came in under what I had budgeted at the time. Do a search and you'll see that quite few members have the same saw.

However what I was really trying to say with my previous post is don't make up your mind too soon about what you want, keep an eye out in the magazines and the different distributors web sites and you may find you can get a better bargain than @ the www show. If your not going to be ready to buy until next July then it gives you ample time to research and work out what feature you want out of the saw, things like gullet depth, single or multi speed etc.

One thing though, what ever you buy, don't expect a great manual to come with it.

Himzo.

I have an opportunity to buy a 'Dimas' brand 14" bandsaw for $200
This saw has only been used a few times and I would like some feed back
on this brand and is the price reasonable.
Please help :mad:

Hare & Forbes dealer in Adelaide is General Tools. I bought a BP16A from them, cost very close to your budget including freight. They're out at Cavan and they have a lot of metalwork gear in stock but most of the WW stuff is buy-in. Ph 08 8262 6199.

Nothing wrong with Carbatec from MIK either. They have a great range of gear. As far as the Bandsaw is concerned, I think it comes down to your resaw needs.

No shares or interest in either. I'm booked into a basic WW course at MIK in Feb though, looking forward to that...

Michael

I bought my BAS350 from timbecon. I have had nothing but trouble with it. The problem is severe vibration. I am sick of going back to them to get it fixed. I have tried everything except rebalancing the wheels. The guy who sold it to me assured me I would be happy with this machine - yeah right. I don't need to bag Timbecon on these forums, I just tell every one I know about their service and products.

p.s. This is the same machine that they demo at wood shows. I challenged them to do the same with mine and they poo poo'd.

Happy saw dust making

Sawdustmike

Before you do anything at least look at the new model that Carbatec now have ... CTJ 3501.

1hp motor, bearing guides, pro. ripping fence, 4" dust extraction ... listed price $799.

Cheers,

Zoot Esq.

Hi Ticky,

Checkout the Jet range of bandsaws. I got my 14" DX back in 2004 and I'm very happy with it. https://www.woodworkforums.com/f27/baby-jet-jwbs-14dx-9757 Like the others have said, check out different brands. Its amazing the quality differences between them, especially the wheels.

Jet website http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/index.cf...s&vid=1&CID=72

Stephen