Tool Review: 14" Bandsaws
We tested 8 models priced at $550 or less, and found several that stood out.
If you're looking to buy your first bandsaw or simply upgrade from a benchtop model, consider a low-cost 14" bandsaw for your shop. Read on to learn what to look for in an affordable saw.
After setting up and fine-tuning the machines, we ripped and crosscut 4/4 and 8/4 red oak at various feed rates, and all models handled the tasks with no difficulty. Because bandsaws excel at resawing--standing a board on edge and cutting off thin slabs--you may use a bandsaw to get more use from prized figured or exotic stock. Most of these saws can fit boards up to 6" wide between the upper blade guides and table, so for our next test we resawed 1/4"-thick panels from 6"-wide oak--hand-feeding the wood as fast as each saw could cut it. Next, we installed riser blocks on models that will accept them (steel-frame saws do not), adding 6" to their resaw capacities. All the saws could power through 12"-wide oak boards at slower feed rates.
Blade guides above and below the table keep the blade from twisting and deflecting side-to-side during cuts. A blade that deflects does not cut perpendicular to the table, so your workpiece might wind up thicker at the top than at the bottom, or vice versa. Some saws showed significantly more deflection than other when resawing. With all the bandsaws, however, we found no significant deflection when sawing through stock less than 2" thick. Adding riser blocks to the saws that accept them didn't affect blade deflection: It was similar to the 6" resaw test.
To test each saw's ability to cut inside and outside curves, we installed new 1/4"-wide, 6-tpi Carter blades, and cut out a block "S" with each saw. Some saws followed the lines so well, it felt as if they were on autopilot. Next, we cut out 1-1/4"-diameter holes, and each bandsaw performed well. But when we pushed the machines to cut a tighter radius, some excelled and others struggled.
Upper and lower blade guides, whether ball bearings or steel blocks, keep the blade from twisting during a cut. The thrust bearings keep the blade from deflecting backward as you feed stock. In our testing, we found no distinct advantage among the various types of guides other than with speed of blade changes. Guide blocks that tighten with thumbscrews prove quicker to set than guides with setscrews that require a hex wrench.
Microadjusters on some saws make it easier to fine-tune among saws with bearing guides. By contrast, to move the lower guide blocks forward or backward on some others, you must remove the table to access the bolts.
Quick-release blade tensioners speed blade changes and make it a snap to relieve tension on the wheels between work sessions. You still have to turn the tension knob a few times to completely remove the blade, but the process is faster and easier than tediously turning the knob dozens of times.
Top Tool: Grizzly G0555
Learn the complete results of our testing of the Craftsman 22401, Grizzly G0580 and G0555, Jet JWBS-14OS, Ridgid BS1400, Rikon 10-320, Shop Fox W1706, and Steelex ST1000 in the September 2008 issue of WOOD magazine, or download the review.
|
Add your comment
Please confirm your comment by answering the question below and clicking "Submit Comment."
Come on!!!! I have to pay to read your review. I already get 2 of your company's mags home delivered and now you want more money from me. As far as I'm concerned you can just stop sending the remaining ones I have ordered and I will take my business elsewhere. This is greed at it's finest. Oh you got to be F**KING kidding me, I have to watch an ad and make you even more money just so I can tell you to take your product and shove it!!!!
12/31/2011 08:27:56 AM Report AbuseReally $4.95 to read a review ? I just renewed my subscription for 2 years! What was I thinking ? When the 2 years are up I'll be gone.....Really ?????? Are you guy's crazy ???? Answer questions to post.. !!!!!
12/29/2011 11:06:40 PM Report Abuse$4.95 to read a review of three year old models????? I don't think so!
12/29/2011 08:51:05 PM Report Abusea lot can happen since sept. 2008 i bought a sears model 22400 & the one i saw in the store used up to 3/4 blade when it arrived it would only accept 1/2 inch blade i thought i could live with that but when i went to change blades i almost had to disassemble the saw I DO NOT RECCOMEND THIS SAW TO ANYONE
12/29/2011 03:51:40 PM Report AbuseI'm glad I stopped by today, my subscription is now. I subscribed to wood to get the informatio0n I need, I didn't expect to have too pay extra for reviews and such. Forget it I'll spend my cash elsewhere. Adios, wood.
12/29/2011 10:09:46 AM Report Abuseand I have to watch an ad to post a comment....no thank you
12/29/2011 09:50:03 AM Report AbuseI agree...it is completely ridiculous to expect subscribers to pay for a review. GUESS WHAT! There are other reviewers and magazines out there. Between charging for reviews and having your "Subscribe Now" ad pop up every 15 seconds I'm done!
12/29/2011 09:49:09 AM Report AbuseThis is like the cooking site where you buy their magazine and on the site you get recopies but have to pay extra for the measurements and the missing parts. I to subscribe and have for 3 years now. But not any more I feel I am being scammed!
12/19/2011 02:43:03 PM Report Abusei cant beleieve you would charge for a review i thought that was what the magzine supposed to do im a new subscriber i thimk ill just send the magzine back and cancel my subscription. Thanks wood magzine
12/2/2011 06:25:23 PM Report AbuseAdd me to the list. I pay for the magazine - I'm not paying more for the reviews. Guess my only option is to quit paying for the magazine...
11/26/2011 09:19:46 AM Report Abuse$4.95 for a review. Are you people nuts.
10/20/2011 02:30:12 PM Report AbusePay to view someones opinion? Yikes! If anyone would like my opinion i'm willing to sell it for just a dollar.
9/8/2011 11:34:39 PM Report AbuseCharging for a review?? My yearly subscription money will go to another wood working magazine..bunch of rubbish.
6/28/2011 11:40:19 AM Report AbuseThrow the sickly motor away and replace it with a 220v 3 HP motor it you intend to do any resawing. If you only intend to cut out paterns on 3/4" or thinner lumber the original motor will barely get the job done. The other altermative is to do what I did Buy and 18" Laguna which comes with a 5 HP motor and will nicely slice a 1/4" off of a 16" thick board. I've seen demos where they cut a 1/32" slice off of a 14" board but I have not needed anything like that yet.
6/6/2011 07:33:06 PM Report AbuseI have a JET working well. Never broke a blade, but I find a great variation in blade quality. Price is not a good blade indicator.
5/25/2011 11:23:26 PM Report AbuseOuch! You have to PAY for their review? Absurd.
5/21/2011 08:49:37 AM Report AbuseI purchased a Rikon 10-325 last August. I would highly recommend this saw. I do a lot of tight curve cuts using a 1/4" 10 tooth blade and usually wear a blade out before I break it. If I do break the blade it occurs at the weld and is uusually my fault.
5/20/2011 01:02:20 PM Report Abusejoeholf1 I agree I pay the subscription so why do I have to pay extra for a review. I too will have to rethink about renewing my subscription
5/19/2011 05:12:32 PM Report AbuseWell said Joe
5/19/2011 05:03:43 PM Report AbuseI subscribe to wood maganize and am very dissapointed that you would charge $4.95 to download a review on band saws. I'll have to rethink about renewing my subscription. Joe Leone joeholf@verizon.net
5/19/2011 03:03:27 PM Report AbuseI have been using a 14" Jet with a riser block 10 years for resawing (1/2" blade) and tight turn work (1/8" blade) and have yet to break a blade.
5/19/2011 12:49:41 PM Report AbuseI've been bandsawing very tight radius projects for over 30 years. The only blades I have broken are 1/8 inch fine tooth blades at the weld, and not more than 4 or 5 in that time on a 10 inch saw. I have the new Grizzly GO555 14 inch and love it. A built in light would be a great addition
9/10/2010 08:22:00 PM Report AbuseIt's highly unlikely that a 14" bandsaw is more apt to break blades than a larger. It depends more on the blade and how you use (or abuse) the blade
12/11/2009 10:30:52 PM Report Abuse