Thread: Which one should I keep?

Well done you will be able to sleep tonight

Bandsaws are the biggest pain in the bum to move!

just an update. I sold both bandsaw...

After I moved the Wadkin into its position I listed the Sicar for sale. it was gone within a day.

As I was gazing the Wadkin, I realise it is beautifully made but it is just too big for my workshop. plus I have a big panel saw coming...
so I put it on the market .... again, gone witin 24 hours!

now I am looking at a decent size European bandsaw say the likes of SCM/Felder all start at $8k NZD + gst!!?? its just a bandsaw!

All the wear items on a bandsaw are relatively easy to replace. I would be looking for an Italian 600 or 700 used, but given how quickly you sold yours they obviously go fast.

Greg

I bought my 24” Hafco early ‘90’s one for $500 and after a day of cleaning and tuning, it will do me as a big resaw for some time. I really think that having a massive bandsaw is a bit of a waste of space, in reality, you’ll probably do most of your ripping on your table saw, quick and easy to change a blade.

I think that local industry must have settled on 24” saws as their standard over the years. I am on my third Italian 24” saw and only rarely see bigger. (When I lived in Melbourne I saw a 36” Barker that ended up being given away just to get it out of the shop, and a saw so huge the bottom wheel was below the floor. That one was at an organ maker’s shop auction and I think it sold for $100. They were three days getting it out of there. I have sometimes wondered what they ended up using it for. It seriously must have had 60” wheels. And a massive open frame motor not much smaller than a 45 gallon drum.

Yes to Riverbuilder's comments. I use my saw mostly for resawing. I sometimes think it would be good to have a smaller saw for curved work, but I only do big curved work which works on my old 24” Agazzani with a 3/8” blade.

Sorry for the Imperial measurments…

Originally Posted by Greg Q

I think that local industry must have settled on 24” saws as their standard over the years. I am on my third Italian 24” saw and only rarely see bigger. (When I lived in Melbourne I saw a 36” Barker that ended up being given away just to get it out of the shop, and a saw so huge the bottom wheel was below the floor. That one was at an organ maker’s shop auction and I think it sold for $100. They were three days getting it out of there. I have sometimes wondered what they ended up using it for. It seriously must have had 60” wheels. And a massive open frame motor not much smaller than a 45 gallon drum.

Yes to Riverbuilder's comments. I use my saw mostly for resawing. I sometimes think it would be good to have a smaller saw for curved work, but I only do big curved work which works on my old 24” Agazzani with a 3/8” blade.

Sorry for the Imperial measurments…

I have two other bandsaws( in use) in my workshop, an 18” Luna which has about a 1/2” blade on it, and a 12” woodfast which has a 1/4” on it, between these three, I’m covered and don’t have to change bands much.
Unless Albert is doing resawing, he’d probably get away with a 14” or 18” and change bands every now and again and use his panel saw for big ripping.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

I have two other bandsaws( in use) in my workshop, an 18” Luna which has about a 1/2” blade on it, and a 12” woodfast which has a 1/4” on it, between these three, I’m covered and don’t have to change bands much.
Unless Albert is doing resawing, he’d probably get away with a 14” or 18” and change bands every now and again and use his panel saw for big ripping.

I probably don’t need a massive bandsaw for what I do now. Ripping a 2.4m of 8 x 1 pine into 5 x 1 and 3 x 1….

maybe one of those baby hobbyist bandsaw will do?

Originally Posted by Albert

I probably don’t need a massive bandsaw for what I do now. Ripping a 2.4m of 8 x 1 pine into 5 x 1 and 3 x 1….

maybe one of those baby hobbyist bandsaw will do?

If you’re only ripping 1” deep, just use the tablesaw, have a bandsaw for curves and that’s it

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

If you’re only ripping 1” deep, just use the tablesaw, have a bandsaw for curves and that’s it

Last night I ripped roughly 400m worth of boards within 1 hour, I need the bandsaw. I need the speed of the bandsaw...

had a quick look last night, cant believe my eyes. Hafco bandsaw cost close to $4k, SCM S540P series starts at $8k. I know Hafco will do the job but with my shop almost full of SCM gear.... might just bite the bullet and order a SCM.