Bandsaws

Joseph Bandeko

Joseph Bandeko

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Dec 9, 2021
Messages
1,363
Hello, I’m looking at getting a new wood cutting bandsaw.
Pretty much all I need it to do is light to medium duty tasks, like cutting handle blocks etc...
I’d like to keep it in the $250-$400 range if possible.
Other then that I’m just looking to get some opinions of what y’all have and like, and if you wish you had gone with something else etc...

Thanks in advance!
 
Id reccomend trolling craigslist and facebook marketplace for a used 14 inch bandsaw.

A jet or delta 14 inch saw is probably gonna be your best bet, used prices will probably swing from 250-300 to 450-600 depending on setup, but if you are willing to wait deals up come.

If you want to upgrade from there, good blades like Timberwolf blades, good blade guides properly set, and dust collection can all turn a decent 14 inch saw into a very effective tool.

Anything smaller than 14 inch is often just kind of junk.
 
Ben wrote pretty much exactly my suggestion. A good 14" bandsaw is well over $1000. But they come up for sale for as low as $200. A good carbide tipped blade and new blade guides plus proper tune-up will make it a good machine again.

One really good find is a saw with a burnt-out motor. If the motor can be exchanged for a 3-phase one with a VFD you will have a VS bandsaw ... which is really a nice machine in the shop.
 
Thank you guys for the advice! I will definitely keep my eyes on those sites.
I have heard that cast iron wheels are better then aluminum, but for what I’m doing, is it really worth it?
 
Do you already have a metal cutting bandsaw, like a portaband or something?
 
Bunker Hill Blades said:
Yes, I do have a portaband.
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Ok, good.
I love mine, one of the best things I ever bought. Wish I bought it years earlier.
I just use that for small scale work.

*I just wanted to make sure..... I feel those little bandsaws are a huge value
Thanks.
 
Unless you plan on processing a lot like Ben or Stacy, I’d just stick with the Portaband. I had a very nice 14” and once I got to really using my Portaband I literally gave my 14” bandsaw away. I just wasn’t using it. For processing wood or elk antlers I like blades with 10tpi on the Portaband. Processed two large elk sheds into scales yesterday. I don’t miss my 14” honestly.
 
Horsewright said:
Unless you plan on processing a lot like Ben or Stacy, I’d just stick with the Portaband. I had a very nice 14” and once I got to really using my Portaband I literally gave my 14” bandsaw away. I just wasn’t using it. For processing wood or elk antlers I like blades with 10tpi on the Portaband. Processed two large elk sheds into scales yesterday. I don’t miss my 14” honestly.
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There are actually a lot of things I’ll be using it for that I can’t use a portaband for.
For example, the other day I went to cut up a bunch of micarta and what would have been a five minute job on 14” bandsaw, took me an hour to do! (Mainly because the pieces were way to big for my portaband)
 
Bunker Hill Blades said:
There are actually a lot of things I’ll be using it for that I can’t use a portaband for.
For example, the other day I went to cut up a bunch of micarta and what would have been a five minute job on 14” bandsaw, took me an hour to do! (Mainly because the pieces were way to big for my portaband)
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Gotcha. Cutting depth is the limitation of the portaband. However, over the years I have found that with proper forethought that limitation is not that limiting. I process a lot of handle materials and just haven't missed my 14 inch bandsaw.
 
FredyCro said:
If you are not processing stumps, table saw is also an option. I still need to buy a portaband, but I wouldn't like to give my bandsaw or table saw away.
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There’s another point I forgot to mentioned, I do sometimes harvest my own wood so it will really come in handy there, and though I haven’t made any in awhile I’m also a bowyer, so I’ll definitely be using it for that in the future as well.
 
Joseph Bandeko Joseph Bandeko , nice to know there are more silly people that like to make dynamic things outta wood, other than me I mean!

I'm going to assume you've read "the traditional bowyer's bible"?
 
A.McPherson said:
Joseph Bandeko Joseph Bandeko , nice to know there are more silly people that like to make dynamic things outta wood, other than me I mean!

I'm going to assume you've read "the traditional bowyer's bible"?
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That’s awesome!
Yeah I have all 4 volumes and have read them all through at least once. over 1,200 pages later...
I absolutely love them, very informative!
 
Probably has some of the best info on wood processing out there too!

Great set of books!

Ever thought of using your knife making skills to make some arrowheads? Not that they'd be cost effective in any way, but still fun!
 
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