Bandsaw .. how important?

[Chet]

Submitted on the old forum by bushwacked

1) I’m curious your thoughts on how important this tool is? 

Should you have one but not blow a lot aka grizzly or will a good one like PM make life so much easier ...

I sold my 14” grizzly that had like a 8” cut capacity or something like that and it wasn’t very impressive. I could have got the riser block to make it a bigger capacity but I just decided to sell it while undergoing the House Reno and little shop time this past couple years. 

Thoughts?

2) That's why I have 2 bandsaws!

If you have space issues, you'd be fine with just one saw.  For me, I wanted the extra resaw capacity but, I didn't want to change blades every time I wanted to cut a tight circle.

Both of mine are Grizzly and I don't have any complaints.  

3) with the 2 car garage being a constraint ... I would only be able to get 1 until I get everything built and worked out and maybe figure out how to fit 2, but for a long time it will only be 1.

IS a bandsaw a tool you could go with a grizzly or rikon that have 12"+ resaw capacity and be fine?

4) My shop is only a 2 car garage   

I resaw on my Grizzly 17" just fine.

5) I ‘ve had a 14” Grizz with the riser block for a couple of years and can’t see myself without one. I bought it principally for resawing asI was living life precariously, resawing on my ts. Now that I have it, I find myself using it at least once on every project. I even used it to make my first hand cut (if you will) dt’s on one of Marc’s guild builds. Also used it to slice a block of dry ice.

6) I didn't have a bandsaw for years but finally got the Laguna 1412 about five years ago and don't know how I would go without it now. It has good power 1 3/4 hp. The fit and finish was great out of the box. I really like the easy of adjustment of the ceramic bearings and it has a re-saw capacity of 13 inches, actually I think you could do 13 1/4.

7) I’m still not sure what direction to go for the bandsaw. I’m looking at grizzly rikon Jet laguna and PM still. So basically all across the board. 

I know I want to be able to resaw at least 12” at minimum. Also looking for minimal fidgeting with out of the box too. I still have plenty of time for research as I need a lot more stuff done in my garage before I pick up a new bandsaw.

8 ) Just another point of interest and I think Rikon has some form of this also but all the bearing adjustments are tool free on the Laguna.

9) Oh tool free adjustments would be great! I figured PM was the only one that would have that)

10) My thought is a bandsaw is one of those key tools for a shop. I don't think I would get a PM bandsaw, for the money you could get a MM16 from Minimax for the same price and is a better saw. I have a 14" grizzly and has served me well, but if I was going to upgrade it would be to a Minimax or Italian made Laguna. I do like the Rikon offerings though.

11) How much do minimax run? I only see a call for quote on pricing.

12) The MM16 is between $3000 to $3500. Forget the exact price when I got a quote, plus the have offers at times.

13) Ouch! And that gives you how much re-saw capacity?

14) Right around 16"

15) Wow. That is up there. Are they that much better than PM?

16) I would say it is a better machine than the PM and when looking at the PM1500, the price isn't much different. One of the reasons I haven't upgraded is the MM is just tall enough to where it won't fit in the shop in the 2 locations I can realistically put a bandsaw.

17) That’s one big mother board to be resawing. That’s in Spanky’s class now. My 14” will allow for 12” clearance but I guess the largest I’ve ever resawn was about 8”.