Clarity on Record Power

[splinter_smith]

I'm preparing to purchase a bandsaw to support my carving business.

After some research, I think I’ve settled on Record Power. A relative of mine owns one that I used a long time ago, and it did the job well.

My questions are:

1. Why is there such a large price jump between the BS-250 (£299) and the BS-300E (£699), or between the Sabre 250 (£399) and the Sabre 300 (£949)?
2. Is the Sabre line worth the additional £100/£250?
3. Are there any other brands or models you’d recommend for roughing out carving outlines and sawing blanks from large stock?

This is my first post on this forum, so apologies if I’ve missed any posting etiquette.

Many thanks!

 

[akirk]

the 250 range are bench top (small) band-saws
all others are floor-standing band-saws - so a big physical and cost difference

yes the sabre models are worth the extra - built to a much more professional standard.
I have the 250 Sabre and it is a mini professional band-saw - superb - if I had the space for a floor standing machine then I would have the bigger one...

 

[Blackswanwood]

It may be worth using the search function as there are oodles of threads on which bandsaw is best and these may give you some useful information. You won't find a clear cut answer though!

You mention sawing blanks from large stock - what dimensions are you working with?

 

[splinter_smith]

@akirk
Appreciate such a quick reply mate.

Your overview of the Sabre 250 was actually linked under this so it was nice to see a photo of it on a worktop.

 

[splinter_smith]

@Blackswanwood
I have the option to purchase smaller blanks to work with but for me it would be much more economical to purchase larger blocks and cut my own blanks to whichever size I need. I can't imagine I'll be chopping up anything huge, for the sake of brevity I'll say nothing more than 8 inches in width/height, but I can't be absolutely certain.

 

[splinter_smith]

It may be worth using the search function as there are oodles of threads on which bandsaw is best and these may give you some useful information. You won't find a clear cut answer though!

You mention sawing blanks from large stock - what dimensions are you working with?

I'll check out some of the other threads for sure there are a few linked below that seem to have some good info in them.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Sachakins]

Only caveat I would mention, is go bigger than what you need currently.
You can cut small stuff on a big bandsaw, but you can't cut big stuff on a small saw...

 

[splinter_smith]

Only caveat I would mention, is go bigger than what you need currently.
You can cut small stuff on a big bandsaw, but you can't cut big stuff on a small saw...

I'm really sold on Record to be honest and Sabre seems like the right choice, I'm just a bit thrown off by the big price jump.
I totally agree though... buying more is almost always a better than buying just enough.

Sabre 250 seems like it's pretty much exactly the size I would need, but on the side of safety (and bigger tool = bigger happy) the 350 seems future proof to the tune of the rest of my life.
£400 to £1250 is just such a crazy jump...

 

[Blackswanwood]

It sounds like you've made your mind up and are just looking for some extra rationale and reassurance.

If the Sabre 250 is the right size and does what you want I'd say go for it. If going for the Sabre 350 doesn't break the bank/stop you buying something else you want/need I'd say upgrade to it.

I've seen the BS and Sabre machines side by side at shows and the Sabre definitely feels to be a notch up in quality. My brother has the Sabre 250 and it's a good machine.

I spent ages weighing up what to get and ended up with a Laguna 14BX. It's great for what I need and I've never reflected on whether I'd have been better with any of the others I looked at.

 

[RobNichols]

I'd be tempted to give Yandles a call. They may have all three models available for you to look at, and Martock Somerset Isn't a huge distance from Wiltshire. For such an important purchase, I think it would be worth the drive.

 

[Sachakins]

Can you wait until Black Friday?
Just incase a deal hits the market

 

[Mickjay]

I'm really sold on Record to be honest and Sabre seems like the right choice, I'm just a bit thrown off by the big price jump.
I totally agree though... buying more is almost always a better than buying just enough.

Sabre 250 seems like it's pretty much exactly the size I would need, but on the side of safety (and bigger tool = bigger happy) the 350 seems future proof to the tune of the rest of my life.
£400 to £1250 is just such a crazy jump..

I got an email today from RP advertising the Harrogate show and listing a few reductions on bandsaws, I didn't look closely so not sure if the models you're thinking of were included.
Perhaps a trip to Harrogate to see them side by side in the flesh could help you decide, plus it's a great day out.

 

[Chris Puttick]

I'm really sold on Record to be honest and Sabre seems like the right choice, I'm just a bit thrown off by the big price jump.
I totally agree though... buying more is almost always a better than buying just enough.

Sabre 250 seems like it's pretty much exactly the size I would need, but on the side of safety (and bigger tool = bigger happy) the 350 seems future proof to the tune of the rest of my life.
£400 to £1250 is just such a crazy jump...

I travelled more or less the same path, and the Sabre 350 has been worth every penny. Works. I hadn't used a bandsaw since school, and with the 350 my first project (and justification for buying the saw) was to make a ramp/transition by pushing a 250*30mm plank through it, vertically, with the table angled to make a diagonal corner to corner cut. One pass, job done.

 

[Bob101]

I bought a Sabre 350 about 12 months ago and have been very pleased with it since, mainly used for making woodturning blanks. I thought it would be plenty big enough, but inevitably I have pushed it to it's limits. If affordable, always worth looking at the next size up from the size that you think will do.
Re Yandles at Martock, I was there a couple of days ago (looking at upgrading my RP lathe) and they have all the RP bandsaws on display, and knowledgeable staff to talk you through all the options.

 

[Sideways]

You mention business. Record Power are a hobby / DIY machine, not a trade tool.
But I imagine bandsawing only takes a very short time compared to carving, unless you are one of the guys that does big stuff with chain saws and arbortech power carving tools and goes through blanks at a rate of knots.
There are lots of threads about bandsaws on here. I'd spend a few hours reading up before you commit your money. Read about the problems people have and how to overcome them. Choosing the right blades (more than one will be needed) and knowing how to set the saw up properly will take you a long way.

Good luck

 

[scooby]

the 250 range are bench top (small) band-saws
all others are floor-standing band-saws - so a big physical and cost difference

yes the sabre models are worth the extra - built to a much more professional standard.
I have the 250 Sabre and it is a mini professional band-saw - superb - if I had the space for a floor standing machine then I would have the bigger one...

Same here. Great machine

 

[splinter_smith]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. Looks like I've got some reading to do along with a trip to Martock.

 

[kgill]

Hi,
Thought I'd say hello and ask how your search was going for a bandsaw?

I'm also in Wiltshire and looking to upgrade to a bigger "proper" bandsaw. I'm just a hobbyist, I make jewlery boxes and like to try and wrap the wood grain all the way round, I also do a bit of wood turning. I'm looking for something that can resaw / rip cut a 20-25cm wide board along the thickness and also convert some rather large (30+cm diameter) logs I get form a local tree surgeon now and then, into bowl blanks.

I have learnt how important the blades are and I'm a big fan of tuffsaw blades. Plus I know its best to go for something bigger - as someone very rightly said you can cut small with big but you cant cut big with small.

I'd be interested to know how you get on at Yandles (I was only there the other week and bought a 30cm wide 2.5cm thick 1.8m long board of beautiful mango wood to make an urn for my father in laws ashes) I found them very helpful and knowledgeable. But honestly the prices of these things new is eyewatering especially for a hobby. So I have been searching for secondhand, but my anxiety about getting a duff one has meant I have recently procrastinated and missed out on 2, that appeared to be "to good to be true" deals - 1 startrite and 1 elecktra beckum. So I'm back to considering something new.

With this in mind does anyone know of any blackfriday deals on bandsaws with the power and cutting depth to get through 25-30cm of hard wood like the mago wood I just purchased?
Plus aside from record power, laguna, jet and axminster trade does anyone have other recommendations? Are charnwood and lumber jack actually any good?

I have tried to do my research but I'm rapidly realising if you ask 4 woodworkers for an opinion you'll get 6 different opinions plus I just haven't got the time, will power or energy anymore to read through the mountains of amazing and knowledgeable posts on here and the www.

As always thanks for taking the time to read and respond.

K