Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm considering Jet's 14" deluxe bandsaw. They're currently on sale with
an additional 10% off for a dealer day special in three weeks at my local
dealer. The total price before tax would be just over $500.

I know a few of you really like your 12". I'd be considering the 12" if I
weren't worried about being able to resaw in the future if I'd like to.

I just got home from checking the saw out, and things look good.
However, the salesman said they have a bit of vibration when they cut.
He showed me a board he'd been slicing, one side with the Delta, the
other with the Jet, and you could see a bit of skip on the Jet side.

I'd love to hear your pro's and con's with the saw if you have experience
with it or other Jets.

I haven't picked up a copy, but Taunton Press has it's 2008 Tool Guide
magazine out on the shelves right now. I don't recall if that model was in it,
but I flipped through it at the book store yesterday and it did have a good
resawing band saw section. I know the top reviews were split between the
Laguna (at around $1500), and the Powermatic (at around $1000), but they
review the plusses and minuses of many others.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

Oh, and I should say that the only Jet tool I have is a belt/disc sander. Worst
$1000 tool I've ever seen. Fortunately I didn't pay near that for it used, but
still.... Just really poorly designed. My 60's Powermatic model 30 beats it
hands down in every way, and takes up half the space. That's just one
unrelated tool to your bandsaw, but it left a bad taste in my mouth about
Jet. I'm certainly a Powermatic, Rockwell and older Delta devotee.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

One thing that sold me on the current Delta 14" over the Jet was that the lower guides on the Delta were much closer to the bottom of the table than on the Jet. The closer to the wood you keep the guides, the less wander you're going to get. The Jet is just throwing away no-cost blade stability. There was something I preferred about the table mounting on the Delta too, but I can't remember what it was. Trunions? Dunno.

With all due respect to David Coolins, I have an aversion to most magazine reviews. Reviewers might not get equipment to test if they've panned a mfr's product in the past. But Taunton might be different.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

edit:

That's Collins, not Coolins. Sorry David!

_________________
now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Well in this thread I can proudly acknowledge that I have a Jet 12"

It's fine and I have enjoyed using the saw.  It was never meant to resaw so if that is what you want to do this is not the machine that you want.

I had and really still have space limitations but I wanted something more powerful than my Ryobi 9" and I also needed it to be easy to push around on wheels.

The toughest duty that I have ever done with this saw is cut up 3" square Adi billets and it does that fine.  But I doubt that it would do any more but that's OK for me.

I have had this saw for two years, gone through 3 blades, never had a lick of problems nor sensed any vibration.  I also like the way I can open the top or bottom access covers and use the vac in there to keep it clean inside and out.

The dust collection left something to be desired when I bought it but was easy to mod with a plastic cup that then connected the lower half of the machine to the top of the table.

James,

I'm also considering a Jet 14dx with 1 1/4 hp. Would your local dealer be someone that also has locations in the Dallas Fort Worth area? (like Woodcraft?) After reading recommendations in the archives I'm considering Jet, Delta, or Rikon.

The reviews that I've seen rate the Jet higher than a comparable Delta and the Jet is about $200 less For $200, I could add riser, portable base, upgraded  blocks and blade guides.

I'm interested in hearing opinions  on  which would be a better value  I mentioned the riser above, but I'm not really interested in resawiing right now.

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GregH
Fot Wuth

Isn't the Jet 14 just basically a knock-off of the Delta?

And for a lot of money, either saw can be upgraded with Carter parts into a real hot-rod of a saw. I'm considering pimping out my vintage Delta and making it the go-to 14" bandsaw in the shop so I can retire my variable speed gear driven, step belted Powermatic to mostly metal sawing.

I'm also a big fan of vintage Powermatic gear.   Lot's of nicely cast, aged, and machined iron... Not much used Powermatic machines out there as people just hang on to them.   

I like my 14".... but I haven't done a whole lot with it. I don't notice much vibration, it could have a lot to do with the setup. I also got mine for about $350 new "scratch and dent" - can't find any scratches or dents though .

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

I have the 14" Jet (6 years now)cabinet base model, and mine is a dream to use. Most of my "big" tools are jet, some delta and DeWalt. Every jet tool I own is first class. I have the band saw, table saw, lathe, and jointer. I have a DeWalt planer and miter saw and they are great too.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I haven't had much time to digest your responses, but thank you very
much. As soon as I get home from class I'm going to check out some of
the things you've all mentioned.

[QUOTE=burbank] That's Collins, not Coolins. Sorry David![/QUOTE]

No, I actually kind of like that. I'll have to see how it looks on a headstock.


But really, I agree about the not-entirely-impartial issues that taint
reviews in most magazines. I know it's particularly bad in a number of
outdoor and recreational sporting goods reviews. Taunton always seemed
to be pretty good with their reviews to me, but that's just a quick
superficial evaluation on my part. They may just be better at making it
look genuine.

So while I feel they are better at impartiality than others, I doubt they are
entirely objective. It just would seem impossible for a publisher to allow
the same criticism laid against a manufacturer that buys two-page ads
from them every month as they would a company that only advertises in
competing magazines. And of course there will be corporate political
issues that may decide which tools are even submitted for review. I think
the reviews can be useful, but must always be taken in perspective and
with a grain of salt, as Pat pointed out.

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Eschew obfuscation, espouse elucidation.

I've been asked to supply product for review. 

I would have to have the product available (6 weeks work for me to make it), and at my expense, shipped cross border and continent, and then shipped back to me.  Needless to say, I wasn't included in the review.

For some reason, the reviewers expect all this stuff for free.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I have the Jet 14" (with riser block), complete with carter guides and cobra tension spring. The only problems I have had was the dust collection port not being in the right place. I modified mine by cutting a 4" hole in the lower guard and connecting the 4" dust hose there. Solved the problem (when I can remember to turn the vac system on). The other problem I have is that blades break often. I havent figured out what is causing this to happen, but I wish I knew so I could fix it.

It does cut clean when resawing and leaves very little blade chatter in the cuts.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Do the blades break on the weld or elsewhere? If it's the weld and if you're getting them made locally, your saw shop isn't doing a decent job. Few local shops weld and anneal well. I've been through this, and I now get my blades from Timberwolf, and they don't break unless we push them way beyond when they should be changed.   

As for turning it on, check out the "EcoGate" blast gate system or put micro switches on your blast gates to a relay controlled magnetic starter on your dust collector.   Open the blast gate, and the collector will automatically come on. You'll need to run a pair of wires from the switch on each blast gate back to a central box where all are connected to a pair of bus bars, and the buss bars to relay in a mag starter. Pull out any blast gate, the switch closes the circuit tripping the relay in the mag starter. The relay input works at low voltage, so it' quite safe.   Now I just have to do that when I redo my main dust collector.

I have the Rikon 14" Deluxe and love it.

It has alot of quality built into it and if you're wanting to add a Riser block to one of the other models, you wouldn't have to worry about that with the Rikon with it's 13" resaw capacity.

For about $250 more (unless you wait for a discount), than the Jet, you won't regret purchasing the Rikon one bit.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

"89.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot."

Rick, the blades dont break on the welds. I have bought just about every brand of blade you can immagine and they all break from the back of the blade after about 6 total hours of use. The blades are usually still plenty sharp when they break.

I generally buy either 1/2" or 3/4" blades that are 3TPI because I generally use it for resawing. I buy the blades with a rake specifically designed for resawing too. I dunno what the problem is...it saws good when it is sawing....just goes through alot of blades.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Check out the Timberwolf ASS resaw blades.   They're made on a .025" band with .010" set either way, so they only take out about a .046" kerf.   Being made at .025", they're more flexible, too, and so they may hold up on 14" wheels longer than a thicker blade.   They're double induction hardened...the teeth and the back of the blade.   I run these on my Baker resaw, and I try to set them up so they don't bear against the back-of-blade bearing much while cutting. I haven't run these blades on a smaller saw, but on the big Baker, they're great.   The other Timberwolf blades...we normally run a 6 tooth 1/4" blade on the smaller saws...work just great, too.

I too have the 14" Jet with riser.  Its just OK.  I think you get more for your money with a Rikon.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Thanks for pointing out the Rikon. I researched it a bit and it definitely
seems like a heavier duty machine. I noticed the same thing about the
Powermatic while I've been looking them over (I spent some time last
week as well).

What I've decided to do is go with the Jet 12". I'll be able to get the 12"
and a mobile base for just about $450 after tax. From what I've read in
the archives, it's quiet, and as Hesh noted, it will be good for me with my
space limitations. It will have the power to profile parts and make molds.
My thinkin was that I didn't want to limit what I'd be able to do in the
future, however I think I'll want more saw than the Deluxe if I ever do
get into heavier work.

I still have questions. Do you think the 12" will be able to work with stock
for other projects? 3/4 walnut for example?

The Jet fence is $50 and doesn't allow you to adjust for drift. The Kreg
fence is built heavier allows you to adjust for drift, and has a very easy to
read guide for $107. Are there other after-market fences you like?

It seems like Timberwolf is the blade of joice from forum postings and
what the salesman told me after he showed me the blades the store
carries (not including Timberwolf).

Hey Greg

Sorry, it's a Rockler affiliate but still independent. The dealer day is a day
when company reps will all come to talk about their products. It can't
hurt to check with your local store though?

I like what I've seen of Rikon too. Looked at a 14" band saw of theirs and was very impressed, but haven't used one. I'm really liking the Rikon disc/belt sander I bought. Solid, simple no-nonsense design, no gimmicks.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

[QUOTE=Hodges_Guitars] I have bought just about every brand of blade you can immagine and they all break from the back of the blade after about 6 total hours of use. alot of blades.[/QUOTE]

Sounds like you might be running the band to tight against the back guide. This will cause the band to "fold" back on itself and cause stress cracks in the back and gullet. Check on some of the old broken blades for this. The band should run free from contact with the back block, about the thickness of a dollar bill spacing is standard without any material being cut.

James, I'm not too impressed with Timberwolf blades.  I cut some lexan with it and it was not worth anything after that.  I've used cheapo Grizzly blades that stood up better than that.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

James,

I have both Rockler and Woodcraft nearby. I noticed yesterday that Woodcraft has a special sale and free shipping on some Jet products. (but not the 14DX) For me, buying local would save some pretty hefty shipping charges.

Thanks,

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GregH
Fot Wuth