Help wanted for choosing a bandsaw

**stef1611** · 30th October 2006, 12:42 PM

Hi Everybody,

My birthday is coming up and my missus suggested she would buy me a bandsaw (am pretty sure I'll have to do a whole bunch of stuff to repay the favour). Anyway, I have had a look to what's available on the market and I am not sure about the specifications that are most important as there seems to be a lot of variation in the available products. I'd like to get a 14" bandsaw, I have seen a couple on the Carbatec catalogue. I was wondering about what importance to give to the engine power since one has a 0.75-1 horse power engine and another a 3 horse power engine for basically the same price, some have parts that can be replaced (does that mean that for those who do not have this option, the bandsaw's life expectation would be reduced?). Basically I'd like to know what are the features that really matter when settling up for one bandsaw. I intend to use it mainly to slice boards into thin enough pieces so that I can bend them and make some more curvy furnitures. Besides, I would use it also to make more intricate and curvy feet for the various projects I have in mind. Can anyone tell me of a brand or feature that would be desirable?
THanx a lot for your assistance..
Cheers
Steph

**meerkat** · 30th October 2006, 01:05 PM

Gday,

try having a look around the bandsaw section of the forum.

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...splay.php?f=27

there are some recent threads that might help

**AlexS** · 30th October 2006, 03:17 PM

As Meerkat says, have a look on the bandsaw forums.
Power is important, particularly if you're ripping thin boards. If you start to force the wood through because of lack of power, the blade will start to twist and cut off line (to say nothing of the time you will waste). However, some manufacturers are a bit flexible with the way they measure power.

The other things to look at are the quality of the castings & bearings, balance of the wheels - listen to it running before you take it home if possible - flatness of the table and alignment of the wheels. Be prepared to do some tuning when you get it home.

**Ross** · 31st October 2006, 02:13 PM

Steph

If you go to Epping Library at the end of next week I will have returned a copy of the DVD "Mastering Your Bandsaw", watch it and then search this forum.
I found if you understand what you can do with a bandsaw first, you will know what questions to ask and then what features you will want in your saw.

Ross

**stef1611** · 31st October 2006, 02:48 PM

Thanx alot for your inputs, I am sorry i didnt see there was a part of the forum dedicated to bandsaws.... apologizes for that.
Ross, i'll go to the library and get the CD, thanx for suggesting that, I have already discovered a fair bit by reading a lot of the postings on the bandsaw forum... I wrongly thought it was more straightforward, why isn't there a machine that does everything wonderfully for less than a thousand bucks? do i ask too much?
Cheers,
stephane

**Ross** · 1st November 2006, 10:14 AM

Steph

I'll PM you when I return the DVD so you can get it.

Ross

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