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Anyone using the Rikon 10-325 14" band saw with the 1.5 hp? I have an opportunity to buy one pretty reasonably priced. Pros? Cons?

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jw ( o)===:::

I have one and love it. It is a great size nd. ELL built saw. With the ability to rest wide stock it has easily served all my needs. The original guides were finicky to adjust but serviceable and the original tires didn’t last too long, but with new guides and polyurethane tires I am very very pleased. I have done some resawing of back and side sets and the saw did fine.

Kent

It's a good little saw if the price is right. As Kent mentioned the stock guides aren't great. I upgraded to Carters which also weren't great. The Carter upgrade was expencive, the bearings don't last and are a mild hassle to adjust though much easier than the stock ones. I swapped over to ceramic guides about 6 months ago and they are great! Here's a link https://spaceageceramics.com/rikon-14-guide-blocks/

Best, M

Thanks guys, the guides seem to be the first complaint from most reviews of this saw. The one I'm looking at is clean but will need some tuning I'm sure and I think it can be had for $300.

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jw ( o)===:::

I have had good success with mine as well. I wish the blade width was more than 3/4 max, but since switching to the wood slicer blades it provides a good mix of performance and value.

Agreed on the stock guides, I also switched to the ceramic guides per Michaels recommendation. They are nice.

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woo ... to166.aspx

Brad


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I've been using one for the past 8 years. It's a tin can with a blade on it, just like all the other Asian made saws that are being sold nowadays. It has it's pros and cons. I did a review of this bandsaw on Amazon that became the 'most useful critical review' but the saw has been removed from Amazon so I can't find it.

Just like the others have said. The guides are terrible. I switched out the bearings as soon as I got it which helped. Adjusting them is a real pain though. The lower thrust bearing will not move forward far enough to work with thin blades, anything less than 3/8" blade or so. The table tilt gear is made from what looks to be low grade pot metal and the teeth on mine broke off long ago. Other than those issues it has worked fine. Big table, plenty of power for most operations, even resawing up to 8" going very slow. Good dust collection. If you can get it for a good price I think it's worth it, understanding it's not the best saw in the world.

I am slowly putting my shop together with vintage USA made machinery. I have a Walker Turner 14" bandsaw from the 1940's that I will soon restore and put into use. I will then sell my Rikon 10-325. The Walker Turner makes the Rikon look like a child's toy.

So Brad, you're using the 3/4 in Wood slicer on the 14 inch saw? I always got the 1/2 because of what seemed like everyone's advice and they always worked well. I think people thought that they couldn't tension the 3/4 properly.

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Pat

I’ve gone through three of the 3/4” blades over the last 6-8 months or so. I didn’t notice an issue with tensioning them. However, I’m pretty much using it exclusively for resaw and ripping down bracing stock. I don’t know if there would be issues with other operations.

Those blades at 30 bucks have been the best mix of life and cost I’ve found so far that work with the saw.

I’m not using an upgraded spring or tires, just upgraded to the ceramic bearings. I had the quick adjust upgrade but those bearings froze up pretty quickly.

Hope that helps.

Brad



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You made me second guess myself for a minute there, Pat. I just confirmed, the part is 1952111 from Highland. It’s the 3/4” blade.


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All good stuff! Thanks

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jw ( o)===:::

In terms of blades if you like the Woodslicer blades from Highland you might want to try the kerfmaster blade from Spectrum supply.
http://www.spectrumsupply.com/kerfmaster-2.aspx
It is very similar in design (if not actually the same band material) but much cheaper than highland. They sometimes offer a sample pack that sends you one of each size at a discount. They may be a little,different since I have never done a side by side comparison, but the price is hard to,argue with.

Kent

I get all my blades from bandsaw blade express in Pevely MO good prices , fast service. and inexpensive resharpenable blades. I used a bunch of woodslicer blades about 15 yrs ago and They got dull very quickly on my jet and scmi BS.

I was using the blades from spectrum before the woodslicer. I’ve had better success with the woodslicer, but I never used the spectrum blade with the ceramic guides, so that could change it a bit. They for sure can’t be beat price wise!


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