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Bandsaw on a budget

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  • 11-07-2011 6:27pm
    #1
    Connavar
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭


    Hi lads,

    I have started a project building a guitar and hope to build more and do some other projects later.It has gotten to the point where I think I need a bandsaw to progress further in the build.

    Can anyone recommend a bandsaw on abudget of around €300 (stretching to 350 if there is good reason).

    I am currently looking at the SIP 10" and the Record Power BS250.

    Thanks in advance,
    Niall


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    #2
    Will
    Closed Accounts Posts: 19,183 ✭✭✭✭Will


    I've got the record power one you mentioned. Can't fault it, then again I'm just doing basic cuts and trimming things for woodturning :)


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    #3
    Connavar
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Connavar


    Will wrote: »
    I've got the record power one you mentioned. Can't fault it, then again I'm just doing basic cuts and trimming things for woodturning :)

    Thanks for the quick response. That one is currently the one that I was thinking of purchasing alright


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    #4
    fergal.b
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,323 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    I dont know about the bandsaw but a chap on a boatbuilding site that I am on builds them and you might find his posts interesting.

    http://www.glen-l.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=11218&hilit=guitar


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    #5
    Connavar
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Connavar


    Thanks for the link. Currently building an electric so I'm not sure that I will be able to use it but I was planning on doing an acoustic in the future so it should come in handy at some point.


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    #6
    Setanta1974
    Registered Users Posts: 59 ✭✭Setanta1974


    I have the Sip. The bandsaw itself is not bad but their aftersales is a joke so I's advise you to go for the Record aswell


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    #7
    Connavar
    Registered Users Posts: 849 ✭✭✭Connavar


    It seems to be the way most people are pointing me so I will go with the record power.

    Thanks for the help lads


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    #8
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    I have a bigger brother Record bandsaw (350) and to be honest, it has been a very disappointing machine. Subsequent generations of the machines have been modified fairly significantly, especially the fences which were useless in the first generation. Both SIP and Record machines are made in China to a budget (what isn't these days?) and it shows.
    One other saw that might be worth considering is the Dewalt. I have one of these too - it is a great little saw, accurate and fast. It has smaller capacities than either of the two you were looking at, though, but it is great value.
    http://www.dewalt.ie/powertools/productdetails/catno/DW738/


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    #9
    dubtom
    Registered Users Posts: 3,084 ✭✭✭dubtom


    Funny that,I could have sworn I had a 350 but yet this link calls it a 400.
    http://www.recordpower.co.uk/index.php?section=prodlist&cat=2&sef=Bandsaw+Machines They must have changed their model numbers,mines the full bodied one anyway. Surprised to hear yours isn't up to expectations Slowburner,I've had no problems with mine although it doesn't get the usage it deserves. I've cut some heavy stuff no problem, I had an old but full size and powerful Italian make bandsaw before the record and I was forever getting jams on it. Hasn't happened yet on the record.


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    #10
    Fingalian
    Registered Users Posts: 378 ✭✭Fingalian


    Whatever one you end up with you should bear in mind that band saws need a bit of 'fettling', they don't work straight out of the box like a Tablesaw would. Most blades cut with a bit of 'drift' so its good to know how to compensate for it before you start trying to get veneers out of your expensive lacewood!
    This guy has some good tips:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2j4uyzOVlk

    I made two relatively cheap changes to my band saw and its really improved the machine no end.
    Cool blocks:
    http://www.olsonsaw.net/cb500.html

    Woodslicer blade:
    http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodslicer-resaw-bandsaw-blades.aspx

    Good luck with whatever you buy , set up right it will probably be one of your favourite tools .


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    #11
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    dubtom wrote: »
    Funny that,I could have sworn I had a 350 but yet this link calls it a 400.
    http://www.recordpower.co.uk/index.php?section=prodlist&cat=2&sef=Bandsaw+Machines They must have changed their model numbers,mines the full bodied one anyway. Surprised to hear yours isn't up to expectations Slowburner,I've had no problems with mine although it doesn't get the usage it deserves. I've cut some heavy stuff no problem, I had an old but full size and powerful Italian make bandsaw before the record and I was forever getting jams on it. Hasn't happened yet on the record.
    Mine gets pretty heavy use I suppose. I bought the machine when it first came out. I know a lot of users were not happy with the first generation and Record made a lot of subsequent improvements.
    So what makes me unhappy with my one? First of all the start capacitor died so I had to start the blade by hand :eek:. The upper blade guides are not parallel to each other. The thrust bearing on the lower guides seized. The bolt tightening the table tilt sheared. The trunnion doesn't rise and fall on the same axis - this means that the upper guides have to be adjusted every time the trunnion is raised or lowered. The threads on the tensioning bolt (above the upper wheel) stripped. And I had to replace the upper guide housing assembly - a steel bolt going into a soft alloy - not a great design.
    Maybe parts are better quality on more recent machines. By the way, I use a bi-metal blade most of the time from a great supplier recommended by another poster in this forum - will post up if anyone is interested. I can't speak highly enough about these blades except that they are not available in small widths for tight radius cutting.

    +1 to Fingalian on the need for fettling and the fact that a bandsaw will become one of your favourite machines.

    I might just give up on the 350 and use one of these:D
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3pv_Rh2v_w


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    #12
    trad
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,696 ✭✭✭trad


    What's the tyre pressure?


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    #13
    slowburner
    Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 5,219 Mod ✭✭✭✭slowburner


    I want to know who balances the wheels.


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