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rich349

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I am planning to purchase a bandsaw, it will be used for general use plus resaw and milling to the size of 12" (depth of cut).

I envisage the spec will be:
wheel diameter not less than 14"
cutting depth MAX 12"
1.5 - 2 HP single phase
weight not greater than 3cwt
total height not above 74"

My budget is flexible

What makes and models to this spec do you recommend and consider or avoid.

Many thanks
 
Hi Rich,and welcome to the forum :D

I only have a benchtop bandsaw,but have been looking at upgrading to a bigger,better one ("looking" = do I have the space and the money..?) so can't recommend from experience,but have been looking at the Axminster,Jet and Record Power ranges.

Have you read the"Forum Users Tool Surveys" thread ?

Andrew
 
Hi rich welcome to the forum
Powertool dont forget the sip range of bandsaw as I have the 12" one and some have the 14", I have been very happy with mine and not heard any thing bad about the bigger one's :)
Ps I have conection to sip, just a happy customer :wink:
 
Hi Rich and welcome to the forums,

I personally use a Jet JWBS-18, as a hobbyist only (usually preparing bowl or other turning blanks). I've not yet tested it with any particularly rigorous jobs, but I am generally happy with it. There are a couple of niggling details however: the blade guides can be fiddly to adjust and the blade change is slower than it might be as the slot through which you move the blade runs right to left as you look at the machine (a slot running front to rear makes this process easier). This is the only one of the mid-range machines that I have experience of so the rest of this post is based mostly on what I've read here and from various sales literature etc.

You mention resawing and milling as intended applications for the machine. I think that for occasional, careful use as a resaw/mill with a suitable blade, the following machines should be fine, but if you're going to be using it heavily for these functions you should consider something larger: the bigger wheels in a real resaw allow you to run a thicker and larger blade without unduly increasing the chances of breaking the blade by metal fatigue. The smallest "real resaw" is probably the Wadkin PBR or the PBR/HD

The JWBS-18 is a little too tall for your spec, according to Axminster, but if you can make do with a 10" cut capacity, you might consider the JWBS-16 which is the next size down and looks like it otherwise meets your requirements. I expect it will be broadly similar to my JWBS-18, other than the reduced dimensions and motor power.

I also know that some members of the forum have bought the Axminster Plus range machines and are happy with them. The smallest of the range, the SBW4300WL offers a 12" depth of cut but is fractionally over 74" by their spec, and it weighs in at 190kg which I think is closer to 4cwt.

One more that should be worth considering is the Hammer N4400; it was recently reviewed quite favourably in one of the magazines, but unfortunately I couldn't find any mention of its overall height online. To find out more about this one, contact Felder
 
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