Thread: Jet or Carbi-tech bandsaw

There was a recent article in Aust Wood Review where both these bandsaws were tested. Phil Ashley came down slightly in favour of the Jet however if you read the article there was no POS amongst the four tested.

I have the Jet and am very happy with it. Good resale value with Jet equipment as well.

For what it's worth Paul, I'm now Jet man. After considerable research on carbatec vs Jet I think the Jet stuff is better and more expensive.

I will be buying a Jet 13 inch thicknesser and Jet 6 inch jointer.

Cheers Conwood

At the end of the day, you'll be a happy chappie.

All the tests are subjective, but so am I! If you look carefully at the Jet stuff, you'll see a slightly better finish everywhere, and while that may not translate into better work, it's nicer to own .

I haven't heard a bad report about a Jet product, but then I can't recall a bad Carbi-tech review either.

Depends on whether you see "value" as "more bang" or "more quality" for your dollar.

Cheers,

The ever so helpful,

P (Jet Pilot)

I notice Major Woodworking Equipment at Padstow:

http://www.majorwoodworking.com.au/catalog/

have the Jet 18" Bandsaw on special for April at $1,750. That is only $55 more than Carbatec's cattledog price for the SBW-4800CE.

At that price, I'd go for the Jet. I bought a Jet drillpress from M.W.E. recently and had a play with the bandsaws while I was there. The controls on the Jet had a feeling of smoothness and precision that was missing from the run-of-the-mill machines.

regards
Coldamus

G'day.

I'm going for a Jet JWBS-18X & hoping for a 'show discount' at the Timber & Working with Wood Show in Brisbane next month.
If Major Woodworking Equipment have it on special now, then there's a chance that there's a price drop on for the shows.

I have a Jet 1014 Mini lathe & one of their DC1200 2Hp Dust Collectors & I'm happy with the quality of the gear.

I must add that in my experience, MWE have been good to deal with at all times. In the article I spoke of, the one major Jet advantage besides what you have read above is the better guides. A big thing for a bandsaw.

Oh and I forgot to mention, they're white!!!! Very nice...............

It might be way out of yr budget at around 4K , But its an awsome machine.
Sinjin

As Paul McCartney said - JET!

My workshop is entirely Jet propelled. Everything in it except the Makita Mitre saw and my drill press are Jet products and I did a lot of research and heaps of looking. With all the gear you're looking at buying, get your prices together from Carbatech and then ask your nearest Jet dealer to give you a package price. You'll be pretty amazed at what can happen to Jet prices if you're ready to buy and might be gonna buy somewhere else. If you were in Brisbane I'd suggest you talk to Gregory Machinery or Gary Pye. Come to think of it - why not send a list of what you're after to [email protected] and ask him to give you a competitive price on the gear you want. They have a Sawmaster's Club which entitles you to 5% off Jet gear and dollars back on any purchase over $125.00. It mounts up. They are part of the Woodman Group which has dealers all over the place so it might be worthwhile. At the least it will give you a bargaining point. Guess where all my gear came from...

Cheers and good luck.

Thanks for the responses everyone. I think I'll go with the Jet, it's the one I really want anyway. Going with the carbi-tec one just so i can get a better deal on bunch of other stuff is probably a mistake. Especially if everytime I look at it I'll be wishing it were the Jet. If the deal is right I'll be spending about three or four grand at Carbi-tec anyway, if that ain't enough to get a decent price break I can always buy somewhere else.

Cheers,

Paul

Hi guys,
Well here we are a little bit further down the track and I also after reading all this good stuff about Jet gear have just recently attended the Melbourne woodworking show and did a deal with Ryan mentioned above and then finally with Robert Gregory from that group and should receive my Jet 18" and 1 HP dust extractor on Monday next week.
Waiting with baited breath.

Nico.

You won't be disapointed.

Its all good

I have been using my Jet saw since August and have been very pleased with what it can do. My skills have a little bit to go still.

Cheers,

Buz

Paul,

Most of my machinery is Carbatec but if I was in the market for a 19" bandsaw I'd probably opt for the Jet over the Carbatec....

Phil Ashby's recent big bandsaw review in AWR is recommended reading.

Cheers Martin