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Thoughts on new band saw

1K views 11 replies 9 participants last post by  splintergroup 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I'm replacing my Grizzly 14" G0555LX band saw (which I recently sold) and looking at upgrading to a new 17 or 19 inch saw (possibly the G0514X 19 inch or the G0513X2BF 17 inch). I welcome any and all thoughts on either of these machines or ANY OTHER similar band saw that might come to mind. What sort of features would you be looking for if stepping up to a new machine? Are there any "dogs" out there I should stay away from?

Thanks in advance!
 
#2 ·
Why are you replacing the 555?

The larger table and throat capacity over the 555 are certainly an upgrade.
Grizzly's 513/514 lineup is the master of the slippery slope-If it works, I'd aim for the brake and hi-low frence. I don't think these are make/break options-but nice if in your budget.
I know some people have some success with resawing with these saws, but I think the 636 is the grizzly offering intended to compete directly with the streel-framed european saws.

I haven't tracked the 513/514 saws for a while - have they been getting any updates since the last few rounds of laguna/rikon offerings?

Matt
 
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
I would be the president of the Laguna band saw fan club if there was one! I assembled my 1412 right out of the box 4 years ago and it tracked perfectly with no adjustments. Skip ahead to last night and it still resaws and cuts with no drift and I have never adjusted a thing on it. I said out loud last night, "I love this saw!"

If I needed another bandsaw or decided to get a larger one I'd buy another Laguna.

Disclaimer: YMMV
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
Why are you replacing the 555?

The larger table and throat capacity over the 555 are certainly an upgrade.
Grizzly s 513/514 lineup is the master of the slippery slope-If it works, I d aim for the brake and hi-low frence. I don t think these are make/break options-but nice if in your budget.
I know some people have some success with resawing with these saws, but I think the 636 is the grizzly offering intended to compete directly with the streel-framed european saws.

I haven t tracked the 513/514 saws for a while - have they been getting any updates since the last few rounds of laguna/rikon offerings?

Matt

- mdhills
Thanks for the tip… I'll need to look into this further. The 636 looks like a decent saw but out of my price range. I'd like to stay under $2k since I also need to replace my table saw and drill press. As far as the G0555LX, that's a long story that I did not intend to get into. In a nutshell, we were selling the house to relocate and didn't want to move the heavy tools. Sold most of them intending to replace at destination. Plans changed, staying here, need new tools
 
#5 ·
I would be the president of the Laguna band saw fan club if there was one! I assembled my 1412 right out of the box 4 years ago and it tracked perfectly with no adjustments. Skip ahead to last night and it still resaws and cuts with no drift and I have never adjusted a thing on it. I said out loud last night, "I love this saw!"

If I needed another bandsaw or decided to get a larger one I d buy another Laguna.

Disclaimer: YMMV

- Andybb
Thanks… Will definitely look into Laguna… Well known name for sure!
 
#6 ·
The pro series of Rikon are also beasts.
Really, the biggest differences are in the guides.

I bought one size down and between Rikon, Laguna, and Harvey, I went for the C14 Harvey. Really tough as all three were really great machines. For me, it was the guides.

I bought a used Delta drill press. Should have bought the Palmgren. Nova was too expensive, but Sweeeet.
I too want to upgrade my TS ( Ridgid contractor) Harvey C300 is the leading contender. Can't afford the Powermatic or SawStop.
 
#7 ·
I have the 513×2 and am very happy with it. I have had no problems. And can resaw full height and make my own veneer if I chose too. Veneer cutting was a 10" tall piece of mesquite, and was only a couple of test cuts after I learned to set up the saw properly. More of a lets see if I can situation. I have made clean resaw cuts at full 12" several times now, but tend to be shorter. 6" to 9".
I was looking at this saw just a month ago, commenting on another forum. And prices seem to have gone up on this saw just in the last month. No current sales running.
So a common topic about this version, X2, is the lack of a blade brake. It does take 45 seconds for the blade to come to a full stop. Typically not a problem for me. But I looked into the X2BF when I bought mine, and the price gap is about the same. $355 extra for a auto brake, and mag power switch. When I bought mine, it was around $1050. And pretty much at the top of my budget.
So I skipped on the BF. Looking at Grizzly now and doing a comparison of the 513.
Grizzly also offers a X2F version. So it has a Foot brake only, and Mag power switch @$1450. The brake on the X2BF is both auto and foot controlled. So the X2F would be an extra $155 over the X2.
Just a quick look at the 514X, It has the same resaw, and a couple extra inches of cut to the left.
Steel trunion vs the Cast iron on all the 513s. and 3hp motor, vs 2hp. A little bigger table.

A friend has a Laguna 18BX. Nice saw, and I have made a couple of cuts on it. But I have never looked at specs.
$1999.
Matt, I am curious as to what is a slippery slope issue?
 
#12 ·
With the bigger saws comes the ability to use wider blades. One big difference between models/brands is the maximum blade that each frame can properly tension. Depending on your needs (i.e. blades you will use), a stronger framed saw may be on the top of the feature list.
Aside from the frame strength, motor power becomes a factor if the needs are there. The last decade of "innovation" means that everything else that makes up the saw puts you into the world of fences/guides/tables/etc. that each manufacturer has assembled into their package. Usually most is good, some not-so-good, you get to figure out which 8^)
 
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