Band Saw Size

[mashtun]

Ok I am looking to buy a band saw, and I am getting a little confused. When it says it is for instace a 12 inch bandsaw, what exactly is the twelve inched refering to?

I an thinking it is the space between the Blade, and the back of the bad saw, that the ohter side of the balcde it traveling through. Is this correct?

Second are new Craftsman Band saws any good, or all they all crap, like many of their tools these days?

John

[Uncle Cracker]

The size does indeed refer to the the throat depth of the saw, which is also roughly the size of the diameter of the wheels on which the blade rides (on a 2-wheel saw). The new steel-framed Craftsmans are made in China, pretty much right alongside those of Rikon, Jet and other major brands.

[drumpriest]

There are a few important measurements on a bandsaw. The 12" as Uncle Cracker states is one of them, the approximate distance between the blade and the frame. But also you'll want to know the resaw capacity. That is how much blade is able to be exposed from the table to the guides. So if you wanted to split a board in 1/2, or were making a bandsaw box, or cutting a blank for turning, all of these can be limited by this measurement. Most C-style case iron frame 14" bandsaws have a 6" resaw, for instance, which can be expanded to 12" with a riser block.

The depth of the blade that can be tensioned is also a function of the wheel size. On a typical 14" bandsaw you can tension a 1/2" blade reliably. This is important for resaw cuts.

I had a craftsman 14" steel frame band saw which was pretty darn good. I got it on a sale for 380$ or so. 8" resaw, can't use risers on the steel frame saws.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...2401000P?mv=rr

Sears does not make tools, that is important to note. All of the craftsman power tools are made by other companies. Some are bad and some are excellent (the Bosch router made for them, for instance), so it's all about the specific tool, and who made it.

A lot of wood workers start with a 14" bandsaw, and they are pretty useful all around. If I had the shop space, I would have kept my 14", but I just don't. I upgraded to an 18" because I tend to do a fair amount of slicing veneer.

[LCHIEN]

keith about said it all.
The number, like 14" is usually the exact diameter of the wheels and the clearance will be slightly less (by about 1/2") since there is usually a piece of metal guarding the upcoming side of the saw band.

So with a 14" saw you can cross cut 13.5" off the left end of a board. It also limits on curved cut items how deep into the item you can get - depends on the complexities of your curve.

[Uncle Cracker]

A sidenote about the Rikon 14" deluxe bandsaw... It provides a 12" resaw capacity right out of the box, which is tops for a 14" saw. No risers or extra-long blades needed. Also has a 1.5hp TEFC motor standard. It's a good value in a 14" saw, but it did take a big price jump this year (as did most of the others).

[JR]

As Keith said, 14" is a popular size for "traditional" band saws. This is the size where riser kits are readily available, and seem to be interchangeable among brands. There are one or two 12" models which are built like the 14" ones and offer riser kits, and many choices above that size. 14" is popular among hobbyists.

JR

[sweensdv]

A sidenote about the Rikon 14" deluxe bandsaw... It provides a 12" resaw capacity right out of the box, which is tops for a 14" saw. No risers or extra-long blades needed. Also has a 1.5hp TEFC motor standard. It's a good value in a 14" saw, but it did take a big price jump this year (as did most of the others).

Actually UC, the Rikon 10-325 has a 13" resaw capacity right out of the box. Not trying to be nip picky here but just pointing out that it's resaw capacity is, as far as I know,1" greater than any other 14" bandsaws.

[Uncle Cracker]

Actually UC, the Rikon 10-325 has a 13" resaw capacity right out of the box. Not trying to be nip picky here but just pointing out that it's resaw capacity is, as far as I know,1" greater than any other 14" bandsaws.

By the books, yes, but mine gets a little loose when opened up wide, so I consider a 12" working capacity (actual workpiece height) as the practical max. I understand others have noted this limitation, as well. Not often you will need (or want) to fully retract the blade guide assembly, anyway. Either way, it's a heckuva saw.

[dbhost]

Uh, by the way, mashtun, do you work the wort as well as the wood?

I'm a Bay Area Mashtronaut here in the Houston / NASA area...

I'm surprised my wife doesn't kill me for all my expensive hobbies...

But I guess it's safer for the marriage than chasing other women...

[drumpriest]

Another note, many of the larger capacity saws still only do 12" of resaw, like my 18", and these usually have 2hp motors. At 1hp I found the 8" resaw of the craftsman to be a pipe dream for certain woods, and perfectly reasonable for others. At 13" a 1 1/2 hp motor may well have some issues with certain woods as well.

[Uncle Cracker]

At 13" a 1 1/2 hp motor may well have some issues with certain woods as well.

Have a 2 TPI Iturra woodslicer clone, and employ shims as needed... so far so good... (still cross my fingers sometimes). Fortunately, I don't need to do big resaws much. If I did much bookmatch cabinetry or other veneering, I would definitely invest in a bigger saw.

[mashtun]

Band Saw Size

Uh, by the way, mashtun, do you work the wort as well as the wood?

I'm a Bay Area Mashtronaut here in the Houston / NASA area...

I wish I could say I have the time to. I haven't brewed in about a year and a half. I am trying to finsh up the subwoofer I am building so I can clean the MDF dust out of the Kettle and brew a batch, but this pesky thing called work keeps interfereing.

I am a SNOB, Society of Northeastern Ohio Brewers.

John

PS Thanks for all the info to everyone.