Official Luthiers Forum!

Trusses and roof are on, slab is poured and it's starting to look like a new
shop. I've been looking around for some new machinery. You guys in the
U.S. are fortunate . You have three times the brand selection. Fairly limited
here in Canada. Any how, there's a fairly new kid on the block. Steel City
woodworking tools. Apparently some guys from Delta And Powermatic got
together to create their own line. Made somewhere in Asia I assume. It
looks pretty middle of the road but I am wondering if anyone has purchased
any of their products? And if so what do you think?

Thanks For The Help,
Danny

Danny-
No direct experience here, but their stuff looks similar to the Jet/Grizzly/BusyBee-Craftex type of tools, as you indicated.

You really have to give each machine a good check, since I've found that even from one supplier, one machine may be good, while a different model may have problems (BusyBee bandsaws, for example). And, as you are doing, getting some input from experienced users is very useful- though with SteelCity being a new company, that may be difficult.
I've been doing quite a bit of bandsaw research (and buying, it seems) so I checked out their 14" saw #50100 at $700-600 with rebate?. Compare it to the Grizzly G0555 @$430. Typical Canadian retailer behaviour there- seems we're expected to pay the 'Canadian penalty' on everything.
It's too bad that the 'free market' types at Griz and BusyBee have an agreeement not to ship over the border, or we could vote with our wallets on their pricing policies!

Cheers
John

I saw several of their machines in the local Woodcraft store last week and was pretty impressed.  The quality looked better than most of the Grizzly stuff I've seen--clean castings, nicely finished cast iron.  Anyway, I saw a 10" cabinet saw, a 14" bandsaw and a dual drum thickness sander, and they all looked nice.

Dave

I compaired Steelcity bandsaws to Rikon, Grizzly, Jet and went for the Steelcity. They are built cleaner from what I observered. Looking at the machines closely I noticed little differences(you will not see these differences by reading the machine specs, you need to look at them side by side) in construction that from what I had learned from my past experience with bandsaws, made good sense. It has performed like a champ since day one. I can't speak to all the tools in their line, but I would make sure to add them to my list of brands to look at and compair.

Peace,Rich

Steel City tools and Woodcraft just donated a wide belt sander to my guitar building course and it is a beauty! Sure beats the heck out of the old Grizzly we had.

Aren't Steel City made in CHINA? If so...you won't ever see one in my shop...I'm all chineesed out...

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Dunno where its made, but its good stuff - I'm currently saving my pennies for the 26" drum sander -

New tools? did anyone follow that link to the IRS auction site yesterday?

I'd skip the new stuff and go right for the goodies there. 14" bandsaw for $150, 8" jointers for $200, 35" bandsaws for $600, pin routers everywhere, starting at $100 reserves... Rent a 3 ton truck and head to the auction!

Also check out www.woodweb.com for quality used machinery.
They have new stuff every day.
Great site!!