I want to buy a new bandsaw. I'm not too worried about the cost but I don't think I need a big machine. So, I think a 14" will do me fine, maybe with a riser block. I was trying to decide between a Powermatic (light, rip fence) or a Delta X5 (mobile base, USA?) or maybe something else if you can talk me into it. I like the Powermatic but it is 75 pounds lighter than the Delta.
Thanks
don't worry about the weight. The Powermatic is much smoother than the Delta. it tracks blades like a dream. you'll love the light, the integral dust collection port, the blower. Nice tension lever and guides too. In fact in the 2-3 years I've had mine, I haven't found anything I don't like about it. I can't think of ONE thing I liked about the Delta I had. :) (oh, yes I can--getting rid of it!)
Dave
You might also want to check out Languna and MiniMax. They sell 14" saws that are a little more expensive, but might be even better than the two saws you mentioned. I haven't seen either, but worth a shot.
Mark
I've had my powermatic a little over a year. It's never balked on me yet, cuts straight and true without adjusting for any drift. I bought mine after asking an editor at one of the woodworking mags between the Powermatic and the Jet 16". He said the Powermatic was used everyday and they were selling the jet.
HTH
foster239 wrote:
Welcome to the club! I've been looking at Grizzly's (diverse) offerings. They have a 16" in the "outlet" section with a one-piece cast iron frame and motor mounted in the base, but its max resaw is
7-3/4". I'm not sure that's a problem, as I don't really know if I need more. It weighs 408lbs (450lb. shipping).er
What do you want to do with it?
2 weeks ago I returned a Rikon 18" saw after waiting for it for 2 months. That saw was not up to what I think it should be and needed constant tweaking.IF money is surely no object I suggest you give a serious look at MiniMax or Laguna as Mark has mentioned. With pretty much certainty you will be pleased with your purchase. I am going for one or the other in the heavier
16" model at the end of the month. MiniMax has invited me to come to their sales office and sales guy is telling me to bring my wood to test the saw. He is claiming that with these heavier machines and a good blade that you can resaw veneer with out guides. I am going to make him prove that.I cannot address the Powermatic, but I bought the Delta X5 last May at a woodworking show and it has been a lot of trouble to get working right. Nothing was aligned when I go it home, the drive wheel set screw was not tight from the factory and it has taken hours of tweaking to get it to cut. Having said that, with the riser block installed and a sharp blade I am splitting 11 inch logs with it. Still no amount of adjusting has allowed the covers (doors) to latch. The quaility just is not there as far as I can tell. Laguna and MinMax both make Delta look like something from the Craftsman line and at the show they were both resawing veeners like butter. If I could do it over it would be the Powermatic for 14" or just suck it up and get the job done with one of the high end machines, of course that would have made me a suddenly single woodworker. YMMV
check out the grizzly g0444.
I like my Jet 16". Works very well, (with a new 1" - 3 TPI Lennox blade). smooth and easy to adjust. After changing blades, setting drift, it stays that way until I change blades.
Dave
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Damn cryin' shame! ... the last good 14" Delta bandsaw was the American made
14-299. If I were in the market today for a 14" bandsaw, I would either try hard to find a used 28-299, or go for something else.Basically, Delta has turned to purveyors of shit .. makes you wanna cry out loud.
I've got the Delta 14". It has very good ratings, available parts, and popular. Certainly much better than average, and makes an accurate cut. If you can get a model made in the USA all the better. I have a mobile base and that makes it easy to move it around the shop. I've done resawing with it, but I don't have the riser block.
Leon, If that's true, then you don't need to worry about which guide is best. Let me know how it goes.
Bob
I have the delta and I like mine. I added a Kreg fence and did some general tune ups on the saw, switched the belt out for a link belt and added carter guides.
Well sorta, the sales guy said that guides matter more when using the thinner blades in particular 1/2" wide and smaller. Apparently the 1" and wider blades are stiff enough to track and saw straight on their saw with out a guide. I'll be anxious to see this also. Something to consider also the MiniMax has European type guides and he recommends switching out to CoolBlocks for any blade narrower than 1/2". That could possibly be a pain if switching sizes often. The Laguna ceramic guides apparently are good down to 1/4", smaller and CoolBlocks are needed.
I am still drawn to the Laguna with the ceramic guides.
That shouldn't be a deal breaker. I added Ceramic guides to my Jet 14".
One word: Iturra
For theses sized saws? With 10 contact points?
What do you mean by that, Leon? JP
I am fairly new to Intura and understand they cater more to the 14" saws. Bruce was answering to me and I forgot the Op was interested in 14" saws. I am looking at 16 and 18" saws mainly. My mistake here if I assumed that the guides are not offered for larger sizes at Intura.
The Laguna upper and lower guides each have 5 ceramic inserts that hold the blade. 2 pair on each guide that are above and below the ceramic thrust.
Ah. I didn't know that. But one can get ceramic guides for 14" as well, but as there are only one pair above and below, that would be, in Leon's term, 6 points of contact on the 14" instead of 10 on the Laguna.
How does double guides improve performance? It seems to me that the ones closest to the wood matter. If there is another set above, how much extra support does the second set provide?
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