Ridgid BS14000 CL $200; Comments?

[cwithboat]

Why is it for more than half the time the seller on CL doesn't give model number or specs? Anyway, after responding to CL listing on Ridgid bandsaw, I got model number 14000. Sells for $448 at ToolsDirect. Is this worthwhile considering? pros, cons?

[jonmulzer]

They are $369 at Home Depot. Most people consider it the turd of the Ridgid line. A lot of them were sent out with the wheels non-coplanar, severely out of balance, or both. Those who received saws that were in good working order seem to be happy with them though. I looked into buying once a while ago and I found tons of forum posts on other boards telling me of the issues, so I shied away from this band saw. If it works it should be worth the money though.

[cwithboat]

Thanks Jon. I too found several informative threads on other sites. I guess the thing to do is run the saw and see how much vibration there is. Then make a decision. One site said new wheels are $70.

[jonmulzer]

They SHOULD be covered under the lifetime warranty, but I am not for sure if that is transferrable and for some it has been a hassle. Go to HD's website and read some of the reviews there. Most are less than shining.

[poolhound]

take a long straight edge (level) with you and line it up against the side of both wheels and see if they are in plane.

Spin them by hand (unplug the saw) and any warping should be noticable visually. Also check how the blade tracks.

[sweensdv]

They SHOULD be covered under the lifetime warranty, but I am not for sure if that is transferrable .........

It isn't transferable.

[dbhost]

If you've got the bucks, I would say grab a new one so that you can take advantage of that lifetime warranty... I have read VERY good things about those saws, but there was a run of some really bad ones too... Kind of like the TS3650s had a run of lemons as well...

I have a BS1400 planned for my shop, new, with the lifetime warranty...

[drumpriest]

You should consider what your bandsaw needs will be as well. The Ridgid has a 3/4 hp motor, and if you decide to really get into resaw, it's not the best choice. For curve cuts, occasional resaw, small bandsaw boxes, I'm sure it'd do well. Just another thing to consider.

[footprintsinconc]

keep in mind, i dont think you can put a riser block in it either to get a taller resaw capacity.

if you are going to be spending close to $400, i would wait and grab a delta or jet 14" with a riser block already in it off of cl

[final_t]

keep in mind, i dont think you can put a riser block in it either to get a taller resaw capacity.

if you are going to be spending close to $400, i would wait and grab a delta or jet 14" with a riser block already in it off of cl

You *can* put a riser block in. HD will order it for you, but it's more cost-effective (and faster) to get it from Grizzly. Just need to repaint it to match is all.

[Uncle Cracker]

Check very carefully for cracked castings. BIL had one and liked it, but it did not last.

[drumpriest]

I'm sure I sound like a broken record when it comes to this, but I owned a 1hp bandsaw for a while, and while I could resaw on it, it was not a fun chore. Adding a riser will increase the capacity, but not the power. Some woods resaw easier than others, and feed rate is important, as is blade selection. But if you are really concerned with resaw as a primary feature of your bandsaw, a 3/4 hp saw is probably not the way to go.

Again, if you are not going to do a ton of resawing, then it could be a great choice.

[Red88chevy]

$200 is a very good price, believe still $369 at HD, but Ridgid bandsaws have mixed reviews as others have said. I bought one a few years ago because there was little choice in this area, but haven't been real happy with it. The bolt/nut that tightens the blade stripped and it took about 15 months to get a new one, unable to use the saw most of that time. Kept the original receipt and still had some problems getting it under warranty even at the 2 yr mark. Few local shops will deal with Ridgid because problem getting parts or them ever getting paid, so lifetime warranty not as valuable as it should be. The saw has some vibration problems, but the link belts are suppose to help. Bought one but haven't put it on. For $200 it would probably be worth dealing with small problems, otherwise the Rikon 14 and Grizzly unltimate band saw look better.

[cwithboat]

Yeah. Just got the latest wood magazine and they rate the Grizzly 0555 highest. Got to figure out the money though.........

[poolhound]

Yeah. Just got the latest wood magazine and they rate the Grizzly 0555 highest. Got to figure out the money though.........

I was just about to post the same thing, its worth a read. I just checked their website but it doesnt appear to be on there. I was serioulsly looking at the 555 and 555x when I was shopping for a bandsaw a few months back. at $395 for a new one I would be sorely tempted to pass on a used ridgid.

FWIW I ended up going with the Powermatic as there was a deal going at the time. I had spent a long time looking for a good used BS with no luck and in the end decided to treat myslef and get a good new one that I wont ever need to replace or upgrade.