1st impressions of the BP-16A

**Waldo** · 6th February 2007, 07:40 PM

G'day,

Having just yesterday picked up my BP-16A from H&F, I thought I might make a thread of my first impressions of it, which may or may not help others considering also buying one and to also find out what others have done to counter some things I found with mine.

• the height of tabvle from floor:
my old bandsaw had a table height of 1,100mm which was great given my height, the BP-16A has a table height of 1,000mm which will take some getting used to.

• the fence:
could've been longer in length, at 500mm it's 40mm shorter than the C/T Profession Rip Fence, which I had fitted to my old b/saw, so I'm now wondering about a retro fit of the C/T fence to the BP-16A? But what I do like about the BP-16A fence is the track which the trailing end of the fence runs in.

• changing the blades:
I know that it's due to the European guides fitted to the b/saw that the blade has to be fitted from the southern side of the table, but taking off the fence to take the blade off to access the table to take off and repaloce with a new blade is a PITA, but there's nothing I can do about that.

• stability of the b/saw to the floor:
it's a bit off-balance to me with all the weight of the bandsaw to the front and the bed/base of the b/saw is to the back of the b/saw. I think I'll need to make a larger foot to distribute the weight much better and also to take out some of the vibration that results from this weight distribution.

• 100mm outlet:
the outlet is about 7mm from the internal base of the b/saw, so to my thinking and experience so far today is that it could be better to allow better removal by the dusty of the sawdust that collects down there.

With only one dust port at the bottom and none directly under the table to collect the dust that gathers around the top guides, there's a lot of dust left sitting to collect beneath the table. I could run a wye of the arm that runs from the dusty to the b/saw so that I have two ports (the 1st held by rare earth magnet to the frame of the b/saw and sitting beneath the table to collect the dust drawn dawn and around the top guides), but I wonder if I'll lose suction with a wye to create two dust ports?

• the thingymebob that moves freely that's attached within the blade guard:
it has a lip that catches within the housing for the top wheel to shroud the blade dependant on the height you're cutting at. I've found that when you wind the handle to adjust the height to which you can cut, that this freely moving shroud works fine on the down, but when you raise the cutting height that ths shroud can catch and bend as it hits the top wheel - something to be careful of andf watch out for. Not sure if there's a fix on this one or not.

All up I'm very happy so far. If it helps I'll take some shots to help describe some of the things I've written about that irk me a bit - tomorrow if they're wanted (that among try to do some paid work for a change)

**martrix** · 6th February 2007, 08:02 PM

ha, ha.....Waldo me old son, I can tell you some stories about the good old BP.

I will address them later on if needed.

I am at a basic level of happiness now with mine, but

fcuk it took some work.

Have a look at the problems I had here, and have a look at my mods here.

I have more to add to this thread later.

**meerkat** · 6th February 2007, 10:25 PM

Keep it coming waldo

**Waldo** · 6th February 2007, 10:28 PM

G'day Meerkat,

I've got a couple of more issues yet, but I need to get back into the shed to confirm a few things on them which I'll post tomorrow.

**ss_11000** · 7th February 2007, 08:25 PM

good to hear ya got a new bs waldo

**Sir Stinkalot** · 7th February 2007, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by Waldo

All up I'm very happy so far.

Which part?

**Termite** · 8th February 2007, 11:19 AM

I have had the old style BP16A for a few years now and am quite happy with it. The secret of finding happiness with it is to realise that you didn't pay $1500 - $2000 for it and don't expect it to be like one you paid that much for.

**silentC** · 8th February 2007, 11:26 AM

Agree with Termite. I also have the old style one. Must get around to thinking about maybe ordering the new upper guide assembly. But to be honest, it hasn't caused me any real problems to date. Have done a bit of resawing with mixed results but I haven't gotten serious about set up for it yet, so can't blame the saw for any problems I've had there.

**Waldo** · 8th February 2007, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by Termite

I have had the old style BP16A for a few years now and am quite happy with it. The secret of finding happiness with it is to realise that you didn't pay $1500 - $2000 for it and don't expect it to be like one you paid that much for.

G'day,

That's a fair comment. But given that I paid $789 for it, there are some things that could've been done better. You get what you pay for, but you shouldn't have to expect defaults in a machine just for this reason - otherwise why buy anything at all?

• the fence:
the handle locking mechanism is too easily bumped and doesn't lock in a tightly as the C/T version which is a better version for this reason.

• wheel to adjust blade tension:
Given that it there's alot of difference between the blade being fully tesnsioned and not, the wheel is not hard but a bit of a pain due to it's size and it takes so many turns from off to on. Would have been better in design if it were like the wheel which adjusts the height of the guide assembly, which has a handle attached to the hand wheel.

But all in all I'm very happy with my purchase. I haven't looked to find if the wheels are co-planar, with some very quick adjusting of the guides it's cutting very well and the blade is running nice and true. When I first ran it I was getting some filings from something somewhere, so I had a look behind the guides and found another guide that runs behind the blade, it was lose and had turned the wrong way around - a quich adjustment of it and np.

The fence is off square by .25mm so I have a little bit of fidling to do.

I just received 2 x 2950 1/4" 6tpi blades from Max at C&S Saw Service, so when it comes time to fit and track new blades that will be the test to how I really find the b/saw to set up.

**martrix** · 8th February 2007, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day,

That's a fair comment. But given that I paid $789 for it, there are some things that could've been done better. You get what you pay for, but you shouldn't have to expect defaults in a machine just for this reason - otherwise why buy anything at all?

.

Yes true, but I think you have to make some trade offs with this machine for the price. I don't think there is any other saw at this price that has a 2 HP motor and the slightly extra depth in the throat.
I think a line has to be drawn somewhere between genuine faults with the machinery and just average design and machine construction.

Originally Posted by Waldo

• the fence:
the handle locking mechanism is too easily bumped and doesn't lock in a tightly as the C/T version which is a better version for this reason..

Do you mean if you bump the handle in an up wards motion?
Mine has never un-locked and seems to clamp down well.

If I want it totally rigid, you can just put a clamp on the end that has the bearing which runs in a track.

Originally Posted by Waldo

• wheel to adjust blade tension:
Given that it there's a lot of difference between the blade being fully tesnsioned and not, the wheel is not hard but a bit of a pain due to it's size and it takes so many turns from off to on. Would have been better in design if it were like the wheel which adjusts the height of the guide assembly, which has a handle attached to the hand wheel..

Agreed, but once you get comfortable with the saw, you wont have to do it that often.

Originally Posted by Waldo

But all in all I'm very happy with my purchase. I haven't looked to find if the wheels are co-planar, with some very quick adjusting of the guides it's cutting very well and the blade is running nice and true. When I first ran it I was getting some filings from something somewhere, so I had a look behind the guides and found another guide that runs behind the blade, it was lose and had turned the wrong way around - a quich adjustment of it and np.

The fence is off square by .25mm so I have a little bit of fidling to do.

I just received 2 x 2950 1/4" 6tpi blades from Max at C&S Saw Service, so when it comes time to fit and track new blades that will be the test to how I really find the b/saw to set up.

When you change to your new blades, make sure you adjust the wheels for coplanar after tensioning the blade and get the band running as close to the centre of the wheels as possible. Adjust all of your guides last.,........just my 2c worth.

**Waldo** · 8th February 2007, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by martrix

Do you mean if you bump the handle in an up wards motion?

G'day Matrix,

Yes to the above. It bumps very easily and doesn't lock down to well. On your other comments, thanks.

**martrix** · 8th February 2007, 03:12 PM

Originally Posted by silentC

Agree with Termite. I also have the old style one. Must get around to thinking about maybe ordering the new upper guide assembly. But to be honest, it hasn't caused me any real problems to date. Have done a bit of resawing with mixed results but I haven't gotten serious about set up for it yet, so can't blame the saw for any problems I've had there.

IMHO, if you haven't had any problems with the old style guides, then don't downgrade to the new ones

.
I might have a spare set going cheap soon anyway.

I got rid of them all together. Does anyone have a nice clear pic of the "old" guides up close?

**Waldo** · 8th February 2007, 03:18 PM

G'day,

The other thing I don't like

• the carpy table insert:
Gave it a bump out with a screwdriver to access a guide under the table and being made out of flimsy spongy plastic it copped a bit of damage. When I can find a piece of aluminium of the same thickness I'll be cutting a new insert.

Minor gripe, but easily fixed. Some of my comments, as Matrix has commented on are more design faults/or matter of opinion within the b/saw.

For the price it's a beaut b/saw for 16" and a bit more cutting height than others on the market for near the price.

**Termite** · 8th February 2007, 04:03 PM

To put things into perspective I only paid $625 for mine, and at that price I'm real happy.

**martrix** · 8th February 2007, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by martrix

Does anyone have a nice clear pic of the "old" guides up close?

Talking to my self now.....

Are these the old guides? Tanks TTIT.

.....

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