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Any recommendations on a brand/size? Can't quite break the bank on one so my limit for money would be about 500-800$

Main use would be for cutting braces/bridge blanks/bridge plates/braces etc... ideally I'd like to be able to cut neck blanks with it as well so it would have to be able to rip something 4" tall if possible. Not sure I can get that with the budget I have.

My space for it would be a small garage so I can't go massively huge with the tool I get.

Hi Dan

I had a Delta 14" for probably 30 years and it was OK.

When I went to a 19", 3HP Grizzly Extreme for cutting sides, backs and tops, I sold the Delta to a friend.

After going through all the setup required to make the Griz cut well enough for high dollar wood in thin plates, I quickly realized how much trouble it would be changing the setup back and forth for other work.

So ended up looking for a 14" replacement.

I took a chance on a 14" Porter Cable from Lowes for around $450.

I couldn't be happier with it! I'd say it's twice the saw the old Delta was and half the price even 30 years later! The Delta was considerably more when I bought it.

The Porter Cable is so quiet I had to write on the table with a magic marker to be careful since with a vac attached you could not hear the saw running or feel vibrations, etc. That tells me it was well machined, balanced and built with care. It also allows a fast and slow blade speed change very easily.

I've had it for 6-7 years now and do all the things you mentioned with it without issue. Easily cuts 4" hard maple neck blanks.

I have a few Grizzly machines in the shop, all of which required a LOT of tweaking. The porter Cable BS was a great stationary tool for the cost of a high quality power hand tool.

I don't think I just got lucky. Doesn't come with rip fence so that might be an additional cost if you don't want to home brew one.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I had an old 14" Delta for about ten years. Then I was offered a deal on a 14" Rikon that had more resaw capabilities which I haven't used in the five years since I got the saw. The Delta was a breeze when changing blades. Seemed like a more precisely built saw than the Rikon, which has adjustable everything, partly owing to less precise construction, having lots of structural stuff made from welded up flat stock. The Delta had more cast structural parts. If I had it to do over, I'd stick with the Delta 14". A lot less fiddly.

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

If you know about bandsaws and can evaluate them (and this applies to any tool) -- but USED. You have to spend thousands of dollars to buy stuff nowadays that isn't complete garbage. The old stuff is so much better. Also, don't be afraid of machines with small (less than 5hp) 3phase motors. You can run on 220 volt with a VFD. Feel free to give me a call if you need help with VFD stuff.

The 14 inch Delta bandsaw is a small cabinet shop standard. They are easy to buy and easy to sell. Parts and accessories are made by a number of manufacturers to fit them. As others have noted, after selling their saws they often wish they hadn't.
There are quite a few of them on the used market, because there were/are so many of them made.
Here is a listing for one close to where I live, and if I didn't already have one I would probably check it out and buy it:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/115036080985?h ... SwyCRhYG44
If you are patient you will probably find one close to where you are.
Sometimes you can find a 12 inch two wheel craftsman bandsaw for $50 - $100 dollars. They are a good stop-gap saw and will actually do most of the things you mentioned.
Finding blades for the 14" delta or the 12" craftsman saws is relatively easy, which is a consideration when buying a bandsaw.

Clay- Availability of sizes on bandsaw blades should not really be an issue. i've made and sold bands for 20 years. It should be fairly easy to find a place that will make whatever you need and should not cost more, Or, you can buy rolls of blades and make your own at half the cost, and when you do that you also tend not to work with dull blades.

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

grizzly
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzl ... dsaw/g0555

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Dan, you mentioned about small shop. I also have limited space. Every one of my tools, including table saw with extension wing, jointer, bandsaws, etc… are on mobile bases so I can move them around. If you are limited in space and the mobility and footprint of the machine matters, I would look closely at what mobile base options are available for the saw. Some of them are a nice experience, others (like the sawstop integrated base) are frustrating.

I have a rikon 14” bandsaw. I would not recommend it per se, it’s fine now that I have it dialed in, but the mobile base is particularly weird. It’s two wheels on the base and then a handle with a pin that scoops underneath the base and you tow it around like a wagon. It works ok, but having to find somewhere to put that stupid handle is a pain.

Sorry, doesn’t answer your question about which saw to get, but if it’s got to mobile I would maybe go with something newer that isn’t going to give you a hernia pushing it around. Good luck!


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The Grizzly that John linked too looks perfect for what you want. I bough a Craftsman saw about 25 years ago with the same specs and have used it just about every day since and I use it to cut neck blanks and even resaw up to 6 inches (not fun but doable).

I also like the idea of looking for a used saw. That's how I managed to get my $3500 resaw for $600 dollars. Band saws are pretty rugged and even electric motors tend to last a good long time. Band saws are also upgradable and can be restored reasonably well. You can save a lot by buying used and as mentioned some of those old saws were built really well.

Dan when we started Ann Arbor Guitars my Rikon 14" got schlepped up there and we have been using it ever since. It's about 15 years old now and the experience has been positive. We have had to replace the on and off switch that failed but our power in our building sucks so this may not be on the saw.

It's strong, reliable and was not very expensive considering.

It was my experience that every time I thought that I only needed a smaller saw I had to replace it with a bigger saw until I got to the 14" Rikon. Had a 12" Jet before that. So perhaps consider buying for a bit bigger application then you are considering now?

I have currently 6 BS in okc , used to have 8 in KC My recommendation is to find one that works for your needs . In the KC metroplex i found quite a few old used delta, laguna , craftsman etc. It all depends on your local market. My most used BS are the 20 in laguna with carbide blade for resawing, an a crapsman 10 in copy of the rikon. used a lot for cutting small parts. I find it very handy. Here in the okc metroplex , there is not much used woodworking equipment , and what there is, IMHO overpriced. All the used BS were in rough shape an needed a lot of work an tinkering .Caveat emptor. Another item to consider is finding BS blades. . I source them from various places laguna, for carbide evil bay, for small blades an grand rapids michigan for my mini max s 45. delta an craftsman Also for what you stated, if you do not want to rehab a BS . The craftsman 14 in , I believe is a clone of the rikon. except it is painted black instead of green , has similiar specs, and is cheaper.especially after the holidays. Good luck hope you find a BS that fits your needs. dan.

For what you plan to use it for, a 14" Delta or Delta clone would be fine. If you plan to do any resawing, a welded steel frame is much stiffer and sturdier than the cast 14" saws.

Hi Bob,
Although what you say is very true, especially in this age of online shopping, sometimes it's nice to be able to run out to the local hardware store or home center and pick up a new blade. 93 1/2 inch and 80 inch blades are two of the most commonly stocked sizes - probably because 14" Deltas and 12" Craftsman saws are two of the most commonly found saws.
Although bandsaws rarely break, having a popular model often allows you to find accessories and buy off the shelf parts to upgrade your saw.
There are a number of Delta "clones" that may be equally as good, and some original designs that are better, but the Delta saw is a known quality item, and a good fit for most small shops.

Update on my earlier recommend for the Lowes Porter Cable 14".

Took a look and the price is now $550. Tools, especially stationary tools are skyrocketing in price if you can even find them in stock.

Something I should have mentioned is the PC 14 comes with an enclosed base, great for blade storage.

Mobile bases are a must have in my shop (it's small and crowded), even benches are on wheels.

You could have a full thread on mobile bases cause most built in or commercial bases really SUCK. Having a combo of swivel and stationary casters, or even no swivel casters just doesn't work in a small shop. Almost all of l mine have been home built or customized (usually not easy) for larger dia and all swivel wheels.

The PC 14 was a drop in on a furniture dolly ($15) and it moves easier than any other. Since I'm not cutting anything bigger or longer than a 4x3x36 neck blank it is plenty of support.

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Brian R, Wood Mechanic
N8ZED

I've had the Jet 14" for around 15+ years. Something happened earlier this year and it won't hold tension, and it's hard to find support to help me fix it.

That said, it'd been an incredible saw up until then, and I'm confident it will be for years to come once it's up and running again. Over the years I had to upgrade the motor to a Leeson (purchased for a killer price with free shipping on Amazon), and I've made a few other changes like adding a V-drive belt, and I have no complaints. It saws through neck blanks like butter.

Other recommendations are cast iron wheels. Mine came with them, along with a tension release.

What Brad said about mobile bases is gospel. My next upgrade for it is a better mobile base.

I started out 20+ years ago with one of the Grizzly 14" with a cast iron base. It was ok but I wouldn't recommend it. I expect their newer saws are better. About 12 years ago I got a Rikon 10-325 14" and it has met my needs nicely. I set it up when I first bought it and haven't had to touch it since except to replace the motor drive belt which I just did a few months ago.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

A few years ago I bought a used Jet 14" bandsaw, the one that comes with the riser and bearing blade guides already installed. I immediately put it on a mobile base. No complaints, given what I use it for. A heftier saw would be nice for some things, but this one does everything I need it to do, including some modest resawing. Used is a great way to save money, and the mid-level 14" bandsaws do a fine job for guitar building.

James, for bandsaw help call Lee Iturra at Iturra Designs (904) 642-2802. He knows as much or mote than anybody about 14” bandsaws and he has the repair and upgrade parts.

I bought a used 12” Craftsman over 20 years ago. I had to replace some bearings and the guides, but it has served me very well for the smaller tasks. I usually keep a quarter inch 10 tpi blade on it. I think it will do all that you need,

I got a used Buffalo 14” Delta clone for resawing, but after upgrading it, I still wasn’t satisfied and replaced it with an 18” Rikon. The big Rikon is great for the resawing, but it’s way too much for doing the little stuff. The Buffalo was too flexible even though it had a cast frame.

The 12” or 14” will meet your needs. I still have the 12” for the little stuff and the 18” for the big.

I have a lagun 14 with a riser at my son's Grizzly tools and shop fox are owned by the same man Shiraz , the jet is similar to the Griz but I think it has better motor and bearings. If you can find an old walker turner on craiglist that would be the killer.
Avoid delta the ones I have seen vibrate and move too much.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I second what Toonces said, look for a used 3 phase machine, one with 220v on the motor name plate.
Bandsaw 500 euros
VFD a hundred quid
Knowing that you can find suitable dual voltage machines for around a quarter of the cost of something half comparable new, Priceless.

If you're patient you will find something decent for the cost of a small machine.
i.e second handmachine -50% of new, and 3 phase, you can half that again.
You can run them from a domestic circuit without getting the sparkey in to upgrade, or not suffer any nuisance tripping with DC should you have a decent electrical and extraction setup already.

It is the split second starting surge on single phase motors which is hard on the supply, not the running of them.
The VFD route has an adjustable soft start which takes care of that,
I run a 24" machine I got cheap, 3 horse motor, 13a plug, no bother, same deal and same money with the 12" TS.

if I went the single phase route...
I would be restricted to 2 hp , and would have likely have popped a lot of fuses.

Look for 240v (dual voltage) motors and grab yourself a bargain.
Not any difference in machine footprint between a 14" and compact 20" saw
compact as say a Rikon or Grizzly other 20" Far Eastern machine with small table,
compared to a say a hammer n440 or something like that which has a bit more space around the wheels.

I've got an old Delta 14" with a riser block and run Timberwolf low tension blades. I think it's about 35 yrs old. There's a huge variety of blades available for it. Going slow (only a 3/4HP motor) I can cut hard Maple B&S without a problem. A few months ago, I cut 15 sets of Birdseye Maple in a couple of hours. I've also cut some Ovangkol, Bubinga and Rosewood, as well as some African Blackwood bridge blanks. It's easy to adjust and change the blade, and with proper blade adjustment there is no 'drift'. It's the only bandsaw I've ever owned, so I have nothing to compare it too.

The previous poster has it right. For a small saw, just look for an older Delta/Rockwell 14'. They are the standard that everything else copied. All parts easily available. Only upgrades are that they can appreciate a horse and a half motor instead of the standard 3/4 horse, which does work, and a set of ceramic guide blocks. They have great resale value too, compared to off brands. I know because I have sold mine twice and bought it back twice. New tool toys are always fun!-Bob

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“ The meaning of life is to find your gift and the purpose of life is to give it away” Pablo Picasso

If I could have only one band saw, then yes, a 14". If you are building guitars you will likely want to do some resawing at some point.

Believe it or not, a little bench top 9-10" bandsaw will pretty much do everything a 14-in saw will do for less than $100 used. A 16-18" resaw can be found for $700+. If you have the space, I highly recommend that instead of just getting one 14". Both saws can stay permanently set up.

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Pat

I think OP would be well-served buying 'enough' saw (like a 10-inch Rikom or Craftsman clone) and see how far it takes him. Cheap and compact. Resawing is dandy, but unless resawing is actually getting done, the saw eats space and cash. We can buy an awful lot of b/s sets before getting up to the investment in a resaw-capable saw.

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Peter Havriluk