I’ve got a bead on a Shop Fox bandsaw that seems to meet my general requirements in terms of HP, resaw capacity and overall sex appeal.
Problem is that I’m not particular familiar with this brand with regards to quality and craftsmanship.
I’m primarily sourcing this to do resaw work on light timber (balsa, agave, paulownia, cedar, basswood, etc).
Is this a Grizzly grade product or something more in line with Jet/Delta?
Thanks for any input you may have.
I never heard of Shop Fox. I’ve been using Delta 14’ band saws for over 30 years and for their size, capacity, and price they can’t be beat. Right now I have an X5 and the thing cuts like a champ. I would look into a Jet as a close second. If the Shop Fox will do what you want, and the price is right, then go for it. I would be concerned about getting parts and service if needed. Look at things such as blade guides, thrust bearings, it’s weight, vibration,castings and the accuracy of the cut. Band saws are notoriously loud, look into a good set of ear plugs or muffs.
I’m not sure what Grizzly grade means, but I looked at Delta (not what they used to be) and Jet, and went ahead and bought a Grizzly (Model G0 555). This is a first class machine, with all cast iron components, a 1 hp motor, ball bearing blade guides, and a super accurate fence. Definitely not made in China junk, and a good value for the $395 price. On the woodworking forums, Grizzly and Shop Fox both seem to get favorable reviews. Shop Fox seems to be one of the brands made by Woodstock International, which OEMs for several different retail brands. Looks like a good machine on the 'net, but the devil is in the details.
When I was first shopping around for heavy equipment a few years back, Grizz had a bad
rep for fit, finish and local serviceability but were at a SWEET price point.
It sounds like things have changed.
The fit and finish on the Griz are top notch, at least on the current models. The Shop Fox looks very similar, but the comparable saw was priced higher at the one site I checked. I have always assumed the relatively low prices for Grizzly equipment was due to their direct sales model. Whatever you do, stay away from Harbor Freight large power tools. I’ve seen them and they are absolute junk!
I use a Shop Fox jointer and it works well.
Being a shaper/woodworker I prefere the Laguna HD16 with a resaw King blade (4.5 HP Baldor)
No doubt the best band saw for a board builder.
Cut Cedar, Purple Heart, Koa, Ironwood like butter.
The Shop Fox comes from the same factory that makes Grizzly machines.
There pretty good and I have some of the other tools like Dust Collectors (They work Great.
I have two of them (3HP and a 2HP)
My guitar sander is also a Grizzly and for making templetes and rocker sticks it’s ideal.
Laguna tools are top of the line. If your tight on cash go with the Grizzly.
However if you get a Laguna Bandsaw you will not regret it.
The Laguna is made in Italy.
The 14" Powermatic has a 1.5 HP motor. It looks like the Shopfox that you are looking into has 1 HP. You will probably pay a few hundred dollars more for the Powermatic, but it will probably last you thirty years or more. Plus it is stamped with Made in the USA. I look at it this way. If I buy 1 high quality power tool every couple of years, then as time goes by I will have a killer shop. If I buy one mediocre power tool every year then eventually I will have a room full of junk. I’m already regretting my earlier Craftsman tablesaw purchase. That is going to have to go once I save up the money to replace it.
That said, I know nothing about the Shopfox. It may indeed be a good brand. All I know is that the 14" Powermatic totally kicks ass.
afoaf, Which model shop fox are you interested in ? They have 3 models, 14 inch, 17 inch, and 19 inch. As far as I am concerned there is no 14 inch bandsaw that is up to re-sawing regardless of what outhers might say. If you have a good price on the 19 inch then go for it. It is my opinion that a resaw band saw needs to be at least 18 inch with cast iron wheels. With 18 inch you can run a 1 inch carbide blade if you so desire although for the wood you are thinking of cutting you would not need carbide. I don’t consider 2 hp enough for resawing, Your feed rait would be to slow. Shop fox has 2hp so I have my doubts. I had three hp for years and got tired of the slow feed and uped to 5hp and wished I had that from day one. There is no substitute for HP when it comes to resawing. I would say that Laguna is on the top of the list but in my opinion they are to expensive and the cost of their saw blades is a joke! If I were going to get a bandsaw tomorrow just for resawing I would get a Grizzly with a 5 hp if I had a 40 amp breaker to run off of. Then save for a power feeder. I never ever thought that I would plug Grizzly but times have changed and competition is leveling the playing field. I use to love Powermatic and still do but the price is not competetive any more . And guess where Powermatic Band saws are made? Ahui hou- Wood_Ogre
Grizzzly has improved so much over the last 3 years. A lot of their tools are made in a ISO 9000 rated facility.
As far as blades being expensive for the Re-Saw King I don’t think so? To have them re-sharpened is peanuts.
They last a long, long time. So you get what you pay for. You being on Kaui may be a different story because of you shipping cost.
Laguna is in Irvine, Ca so I can go there myself and drop off a blade and they will have it done in 2 days.
If your on a tight budget I’ll get the Grizzly. Powermatic is made in China just as Delta and everyone else.
I look at it this way. If I buy 1 high quality power tool every couple of years, then as time goes by I will have a killer shop. If I buy one mediocre power tool every year then eventually I will have a room full of junk.
Well said.
Good points on HP.
I was looking at the 19"…but someone got to it first…so the search continues.
There’s been an Agazzani up for a while, but while it’s still new, it’s one of the older ones…before they
went to an all-white finish.
I’ll focus my search on high HP saws.
I wholeheartedly understand the importance of quality when it comes to these types of investments
I appreciate all the feedback that has been provided.
Aloha afoaf,
There’s good advice in these posts. Big question to ask is: Are you starting to build a woodworking shop for years of future work, or is it a hobby that you may not necessarily want to do in a few years. The answer is the biggest determinant of what kind of machine or tool to buy. There’s no sense in buying a big machine for a high price when you’ll only cut a few pieces of balsa. However, the most expensive machine you can buy is the cheapo that you have to replace for a new one later because it wouldn’t do the job. Just be honest with yourself as to what you need the machine for.
After 35 years with a shop, buying and using equipment, etc., I would advise you to look not so much at price, but “value”, and look at your purchase as an “investment”, not an expense. You mention you will be using primarily soft woods, but if you suddenly come across some walnut, oak, maple, koa you’ll wish you had more power (as stated very well by wood agre). It’s actually pretty simple, just get the most quality machine that YOU personally can afford to invest in based on what you are going to use it for.
We all outgrow tools…it’s part of the ride. Nothing wrong with selling a tool and upgrading when the time comes. My first 4" Rockwell jointer on a small stand for $50 was a fantastic tool that I loved when I started out. There are a lot of good used tools out there on ebay, garage sales, etc. for bargains due to the economy. Stop by a couple of hardwood lumber yards or woodworking stores and ask if they know of folks selling. There are great deals out there. A well cared for 30 year old Delta saw cuts the same (maybe better) than a brand new one. Cast iron doesn’t wear out, new bearings are cheap, and a new blade can make all the difference.
Good luck and enjoy the ride!
Richard
As far as I am concerned there is no 14 inch bandsaw that is up to re-sawing regardless of what outhers might say.
That is true. In my case I am contrained by the fact that my wife insists on parking her car on her half of our two car garage. If I got a jumbo sized bandsaw, then I wouldn’t have enough room for anything else. My 14" Powermatic does a decent job of resawing smaller stock. In the past I have paid a lumber mill $30 to do bigger jobs. They have one of those $28,000 Laguna horizontal belt fed computerized units. It is pretty impressive to watch that thing perform.
Do any of you pro woodworkers have multiple bandsaws in your shops? It seems like that would be a real time saver, so that you don’t have to keep changing out the blade when you want to cut different sized stock.
Hi Afoaf, I’ve been following this thread with interest as I had just bought this FOX bandsaw:
…but I was waiting to actually work with it so I could give you some valuable feedback. I cut some red cedar lathes this morning (a figure eight stringering is on the way, more about this later…) and the tool works quite all right. Not many vibrations, not much noise either, the cut is fast and clean. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a good tool (for what I have to do with it, which will not involve hard wood of some thickness. But it’s no professional machine, of course.
The wheels are a real help to move the thing here and there in the shop. On the opposite, the base doesn’t seem very strong, that’s the only negative thing I would have to say. Now, keep in mind that I used it only once…
Here’s a shot of the depth of cut device:
“However, the most expensive machine you can buy is the cheapo that you have to replace for a new one later because it wouldn’t do the job.” Amen - haleuia bother - tell it. Been there, done it more than once.
Slightly off tack - a fine furniture maker friend of mine gave me a tip on re-sawing. He said rather than using a long fence like you would on a table saw. Make a fence just longer than the width of the blade- like 1" wide- and use that as a guide. I haven’t tried this yet but I’ve noticed band saws do tend to take their own line. Maybe that’s why wood ogre (who does some awesome work) is recomending a 5HP!!! Not sure I could afford the power bill.
I’ve made hundereds of stringers with my Laguna HD16 using a feather board. No Brainer.
Made several Balsa Wood Boards with this saw. After two 2 boards the saw was paid for. So I don’t get it when people say it’s too expensive? Stringers from Green Valley were $5.50 - $7.00 I made them myself using AAA Cedar and Bass wood for $2.00 each Labor and material. I guess it depends how serious you are about building boards?
There are many good saw’s out there. Size and HP are key. The 16HD was the smallest I could live with. Plus my wife wouldn’t let me spend more otherwise I would have bought the 21" Re-Saw Model with a 3PH 7HP Motor.
Next time!
Good point on tools paying for themselves. If you use tools to make money you must invest in the most reliable and efficient machine for the money as you are able. Tools won’t make you a good craftsman, but good craftsmen usually have good tools. If don’t use tools to make money but rather for fun and fulfillment, a tool that burns and labors through a board will provide neither. So again, “invest” in the best you can within reason for the job at hand.
I’m spoiled and am blessed to own two bandsaws, a Laguna Resaw Master (5hp 50amp dedicated breaker) and a General 15" (made in Canada and in my opinion the best small bandsaw available). I keep inexpensive 1/4" 6tpi hook blades on the General for quick and rough work and use a 4 tpi carbide blade on the Laguna. The carbide blade is outrageously expensive, but the perfect testimony for getting the most for your money (“investment”). The current carbide blade has been on the saw for three years and I just resawed some 9" koa yesterday with ease. I would have broken and worn out several dozens of cheapo blades within the three years, so the investment pays dividends. The bonus with the carbide blade is that it leaves a finish equal to about an 80 grit sand job, so no planing required after resawing.
Bandsaw fences: Bandsaws do find their own path line of cut due to “drift” that is common with all bandsaws. It’s actually more a product of the blade than the saw. However, taking the time to balance and align the wheels, and extra care in lining up the gudes against the blades above and below the table, along with the best blade you can afford will reduce the drift dramatically. Draw a line down the length of an 18" (or so) board and start the board through the blade. Halfway down the cut you’ll notice the board at an angle (this is the amount of drift). Hold the board in place and turn off the saw. Adjust the fence to this line. As the blade and the guides wear a bit over time (sometimes quickly) you’ll need to adjust this drift line. A bandsaw is like many women I used to know prior to my current perfect bride, they require a lot of continued maintenance.
Hope this info helps some of you considering a bandsaw investment. Enjoy the ride!
richard
afoaf, I’d recommend 4-5hp too if you can wait. I’ve had a 1.5hp 14" Delta for roughly the past 10yrs. But picked up a 20" 4.8hp Mini Max off CL recently.
Both Laguna and Mini Max make a 16" with larger horsepower. But getting closer to 20" handles more blade variety. And the footprint is not that much more at all. My Mini Max is about max height though for my two car garage, could not get it past the garage door upright and it weighs around 700lbs, but is still mobile.
Agazzani has a good rep too, especially their 20". Maybe a Felder or Hammer, both european made. SCMI too. All of these are based off the italian design or are italian made. Jet and Grizzly make an Asian version of the italian design too and have ones with the size and HP.
Bandsaws are pretty basic. I’d have considered a Jet or Grizzly Asian version of recent manufacture if the price was right. But at the price I got the MM20 I could use it and sell it for near the price I bought it, maybe more because of it’s reputation and quality. Consider the price of shipping from europe these days, new prices at the dealers don’t account for shipping. CL is great for getting good deals. Use craigshelper.com and keep an eye on a broader area quicker.
My MM20 was transported, fully assembled, on it spine in a small Toyota pickup with good strapping it down.
FWIW I have a used Grizzly I bought for about $200. They have been able to provide replacement parts no problem and when you call, people actually know what you’re talking about. They sold me a riser kit that gives me a 12" deep cut but threw my wheels slightly out of alignment. For big stuff it is underpowered although taken slowly with a good blade, it will cut most anything.
Even a small bandsaw is a nice tool to have around if you have space for it.
As RichardMc says, the blade has a lot to do with what you are able to do. His tip on finding the blade’s “track” and setting the fence are right on.