New old bandsaw

[davidtu]

Just picked up a Jet JBS-14. Below is the pic from the manual. I am curious how old this baby is but more importantly, would like to know where to get blades and blocks (bearing if need be) ... brands / models? Vendors?

And... this can be fitted w/ a riser block... are all Jet 14" BS riser blocks the same or do I need to find specific to this model? Uh, and where do you recommend getting one?

Thanks!

[LCHIEN]

first of all, all bandsaw blades are pretty much the same, there's only two items of interest - length and width.
The length is Pi X Diameter of the wheel + 2 X dist from center to center of the wheels. (simple geometry). Most all present 14-inch BS of that style take 93.5" blades.
The width depends on the guides and the ability of the arm to hold tension, for a 14" it would be 1/4" to 1/2" at least. Then of course you have to specify the tooth pitch but that is of no concern to the bandsaw itself. If you are in the market for new blades you probably can't go wrong with Timberwolf blades from www.suffolkmachinery.com

As for riser, if it can take a riser there will be a bolted flange somewhere in the vertical arm somewhere just below the table surface. From the picture, I don't see one.The flange allows separating the arm into two pieces where you insert the riser (with its two mating flanges and another set of bolts).

The guide blocks come in both square and round and different sizes. I think the square come in 3/8 and 1/2", but I'm thinking most of the recent 14" saws use the 1/2". You should be able to get them at your local woodcraft; get cool blocks if you can.

WWW.jettools.com ought to be able to help you.

[RayintheUK]

first of all, all bandsaw blades are pretty much the same, there's only two items of interest - length and width.

Yeah - right! Have a look at the bandsaw section on this page to learn about the four distinct types and their uses.

Ray.

[davidtu]

Thanks for the info on the blades and blocks. I have seen folks here mention Timberwolf, but wasn't sure where to get 'em or if they were general purpose blades... now I know!

Regarding the riser, I should have been more specific... the unit does accept a height riser and the manual specifies model #28-984. Quick search of the web shows that this is the model for the Delta riser block for its 14" saw... I didn't find any mention of Jet with regard to this model. The JetTools.com website's parts page doesn't seem to recognize the stock number 28-984.

But surely this cannot be a coincidence. My understanding is that many companies copied the Delta BS designs... is this likely the case with Jet and would one expect the same riser to work for both?

(And assuming it is the same riser, anyone have a lead on where to get a good price on one?)

Thanks for any insights.

-D

[Popeye]

That's the spitting image of my Harbor Freight Band Saw, right down to the switch. Probably all the HF parts will work. Not that I'd use them, I've been slowly switching parts for Grizzly parts. Pat

[LCHIEN]

Yeah - right! Have a look at the bandsaw section on this page to learn about the four distinct types and their uses.

Ray.

ok, ok, if we have to qualify everything then the posts become twice as long. In fact, I did qualify if later as to the tooth types being an option you need to determine but as ar as the bandsaw being able to run them, the length and width are the main qualifying parameters.

[davidtu]

That's the spitting image of my Harbor Freight Band Saw, right down to the switch. Probably all the HF parts will work. Not that I'd use them, I've been slowly switching parts for Grizzly parts. Pat

Hmmmm... right you (probably) are Popeye... either same supplier or Central Machinery may have OEMed the saw for Jet. I notice (now) that the manual doesn't have ANY branding on it. I cannot find any reference to this particular model online either but I did see a site that claimed that HF and Jet horizontal bandsaws are identical, so seems more than likely.

In any case, hope I didn't make a mistake picking it up for $100. I have to admit I did have a sense of assurance w/ the Jet name on it.

[JR]

In any case, hope I didn't make a mistake picking it up for $100. I have to admit I did have a sense of assurance w/ the Jet name on it.

At $100 I don't see how you can go wrong. Bandsaws are remarkably simple tools, so whatever flaws you find with this machine will likely be repaired easily.

If you haven't done so, you should get a book on bandsaws, either the one by Bird or the one by Duginsky. They're both available at Amazon. You'll learn a lot about tuning them up and using them.

Good Luck!
JR