Thread: JET v Carbatec

FWIW, the instruction manual that came with my Jet 14" was excellent. Not a photocopy, clear instructions and plenty of photo's.

Craig

It's getting close to the PWS and I still have not made up my mind except for the fact that I want to cut 200mm and dont want to use a riser. Timbercon have a BAS 350 with a more powerful motor than the others. H&F according to AWR lack a bit in quality control...see issue 36.
Carbatec appears under powered... I cut a lot of burl and only use a 3/16 tpi blade. So where do we go from here?
Alf

Evan,
I am interested to know if a bandsaw runs true because of the model and price ... or if it would be hit and miss what you get out of the box. The reason that I ask is that you stated that "The 1400's inside wheel diameter was out of round and vibrated considerably compared to the 3501" does this mean that the 1400 they have put on display had out of round wheels and the other stock they sell may be round and run true? It is a fault in the manufacture of all machines of this model or is it just the variations between each machine.

Is the display stock any real indication of what you would get at home?

Evan

I was thinking the same as Sir S. - partly because I own a BS 1400, and which I purchased after quite a bit of research. Indeed, one of its reputed strengths was in its trueness and allignment. I don't own shares in the company, so I really am not trying to sell the machine - just pass on Best Buy information.

Here is the review from Fine Woodworking magazine:

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi All..
FWIW Ive just purchased the 3501 from Carbatec in sydney. It was set up perfectly straight out of the box and the base was already assembled. It took me less time to assemble the rest than to fit the fence ( no instructions, not as straightforward as you would have thought!). I wonder if you are paying the extra $200 over the Gary Pye version (yes its identical) for a fence and a pre-assemble /set up.
Just a thought.

Originally posted by Sir Stinkalot
Evan,
I am interested to know if a bandsaw runs true because of the model and price ... or if it would be hit and miss what you get out of the box. The reason that I ask is that you stated that "The 1400's inside wheel diameter was out of round and vibrated considerably compared to the 3501" does this mean that the 1400 they have put on display had out of round wheels and the other stock they sell may be round and run true? It is a fault in the manufacture of all machines of this model or is it just the variations between each machine.

Is the display stock any real indication of what you would get at home?

Sir Stinkalot,

I don't think the model & price of a saw is indicative of it's running true; if it is common practice it wouldn't be in the manufacturers best interests.
Yes, the inside wheel diameter of the 1400 was out of round and vibrated more than the 3501; it was very visible.
This could be due to a machine that wasn't manufactured to specifacations, missed the quality inspection and shipped out.

You ask, "Is the display stock any real indication of what you would get at home? "
Maybe, but I'm very deterred in buying a machine that doesn't run true on display at the store. One would think store management would check these things out and tune them up before displaying them.
Would you buy a machine that didn't run true? I don't think anyone would and if they did after trying it out at home they would return it.
Posters have bought the 1400 and are very happy with it; seems like it's a bit of a lucky dip.

Cheers,
Evan

I just bought the carbatec 18" machine after having a good look at them at the Newcastle wood show. Also had a good look at the comparable Jet machine for roughly seven hundred dollars more. No comparison. Carbatec has just made a great leap forward in both design and quality, you get blade tension meter, quick release blade change, gear driven table angle, roller blade guides, two dust extraction ports, fully welded plate steel frame...I was impressed. Still waiting on delivery though. I am suprised that every body seems to be concerned at the quality of the ripfence on 14" machines. In my experience(12 years nearly every day on the bandsaw) ripfences are next to useless on a bandsaw unless its a very big one running a very big blade. And yes bandsaws are getting cheaper. The current 14" machines are cheaper than the first one I bought in 1991 and a hell of a lot better made.