It's a comin'....

[Howard]

My Grizzly 14 inch ultimate band saw. Could have received it today but had to be away so no delivery. Should be delivering tomorrow. Curiously, the Grizzly rep told me on the phone that the trucking company, SAIA, would only bring it as far as my curb and wouldn't unload it from the back of the trailer. I called SAIA and they said they would indeed bring it down my alley instead and lower it with their bobtail truck so I can wheel it with my hand truck to the garage. Should be working on Norm's Adirondack chairs this weekend. Now gotta go find some cypress... maybe just some good redwood!

[Pappy]

If you haven't already, call Suffolk and order Timberwolf blades.

[just4funsies]

Ditto what Pappy said. It's ALL about the blades.

[430752]

its a stout little package

Don't let the size of the box fool you into trying to lift it. Its a stout little box, weighiin neigh on 200 pounds, yet the box is pretty small. If worst coomes to worst, you just take it outta the box piece by piece.

good luck, you'll enjoy it.

curt j.

[Howard]

Wow... I looked at the Suffolk website and didn't know there were so many choices. In a general sense, what blade would you use for everyday cutting? How many TPI and width? I was thinking of ordering a 3/8ths for most stuff and then have a 1/2 for resawing. Am I on the right track? Woodcraft also sells Timberwolf blades as well. Are these the same blades as you described? Thanks a bunch!

[Tundra_Man]

I'd go with a 1/2" for resawing, 1/4" for general use and maybe a 1/8" for scroll type work. Call up Suffolk, tell them what kind of bandsaw you have and they'll make they're blade recommendations for you.

Congrats on the new saw. You won't regret it. Your wife might.

[Luckbox]

When mine was delivered the driver actually helped me carry the box into the garage. I guess it is not something they are required to do, but the driver who delivered mine just grabed on end so I didn't stop him.

[linear]

Congrats, Howard.

Last night, during the 10 o'clock news, a commercial for Silver Dollar City came on, prompting the missus to suggest that we all go there as a family this summer. "That's a great idea," I replied, as I started feverishly working out how to explain why I want to drive there with the utility trailer, and what it is about this "Grizzly showroom" that is so compelling...

[Howard]

I did what you guys suggested... called the Timberwolf folks. The lady who answered the phone was very knowledgeable. Ordered 1/4 and 1/2 blades. Cheap, too! Only about $15 each. Waiting for the phone call from SAIA to tell me to come home and take delivery.... BTW, it would be bad news for me to go by one of their warehouses. Would have a hard time controlling myself.

[jziegler]

The Woodcraft Timberwolf blades are supposed to be the same ones (don't know for sure, don't have any yet), but get them direct anyway. I was looking at some in my local Woodcraft store on Monday, and they mark them up a lot. They were somewhere around twice the price from Suffolk.

Jim

[LarryG]

Ordered 1/4 and 1/2 blades. Cheap, too! Only about $15 each.

Do you mean you ordered one of each, total of two? If so, you might want to call back and alter your order. Suffolk has a long-running promotion under which you buy three blades and get the fourth free. You're supposed to mention "Code 443" to qualify.

While you're waiting for that truck, you might want to pick up a copy of Mark Duginske's "The Band Saw Handbook" (assuming you don't already have it). In addition to good blades, the other secret to band saws is a good setup. Duginske will teach you how to tune your new saw for optimum performance, as well as provide a lot of other good tips.

[Howard]

I had noticed the same thing. About half the cost by going direct. My machine was delivered about an hour ago. Of course, had to open it up before going back to the office. Beautiful piece of equipment. Heavy bugger, too! The delivery man unloaded it and set it down in the garage for me. Gonna have to recruit the neighbor behind me to help set it up. Planning on setting up the mobile base first, install the legs on it, and then left the saw part onto the base. Going to be a fun weekend...

[Howard]

well, got it all put together last night and this morning. Turned it on... nothing flew off so that is a good thing. They recommend turning the tensioning lever after use to de-tension the blade. Is that a real world thing to do? I also ran a test cut using MDF and the fence and noticed the cut edge isn't nearly as smooth as the BT3100. It's serviceable but not finish quality. Is this just a function of the style of saw, the blade type, or is something not adjusted perfectly? I'll tell you one thing, even the wife noticed how nice it looked. I'd say, "money well spent!"

[LarryG]

Bandsaws generally make a rougher cut than a table saw or miter saw; nature of the beast. The better blades you have on order will help considerably since the stock Grizzly blade is ca-ca. Properly compensating for blade drift will also help, if you've not yet done that.

Yes, definitely detension the blade when the saw is not in use; that the G0555 includes a quick-release lever is one of its great features. Make it a new habit to use it, religiously. Detensioning the blade will improve blade and tire life, and the wheels and frame won't be subjected to those high forces when there's no need for them to be.

I peeled all the Nanny State stickers off my G0555 and now it looks even better than when it came out of the box.