Bandsaw advice needed

[pacwind3]

I bought the 10" several weeks ago. I don't have a huge amount of time on it, but it seems great so far. can't wait to give it a go with some quality timberwolf blades. I did need to rip some 2x4s at a 45 degree angle. Worked like a charm and allot safer then the table saw, no chance of kickback. I tried it once with the TS and didn't feel safe at all. Put the whole project on hold to get this bandsaw.

[steve-norrell]

So, based on the typically good advice available here, it looks like the 10 incher from Sears is considered a pretty good band saw and that 9 incher is not all that it could be. I guess I will have to wait and watch -- be ready to pounce when the 10 inch saw goes on sale again.

So, did I mention Plan B?

I realize that it would be against all reason to start a new project that did not require a new tool. And, it just so happens that I have been lusting over the Ridgid 14663 Spindle / Belt sander for quite a while. It is carried by the local Borg for $199, but it has never, ever, been on sale.

So, Plan B is to use a jig saw (which I already have) to cut the pieces and this sander, which I obviously now need, to smooth the edges after cutting.

Oh yeah, the project to justify this tool is a doll-sized cradle that the LOML herself has picked out of a catalog. I don't think I can lose on this one.

Naturally, I will lie in wait for the 10 inch band saw to go on sale again.

You have to know that I retired a few years ago so I wouldn't have to make difficult decisions. So, thanks for all the advice and assistance in resolving this one.

Regards, Steve

[docrowan]

Great thread for me, Steve. I was looking at bandsaws today. I'd like to mount a small bandsaw on a fliptop stand so I can roll it under a workbench when not in use. The 10 inch Craftsman got great reviews, but it is just a bit too large for me to use in this application. I was considering either the 9 inch Craftsman or the 9 inch Ryobi. Does anyone own either of these? If so, can you tell me whether you are happy with it?

[pacwind3]

Great thread for me, Steve. I was looking at bandsaws today. I'd like to mount a small bandsaw on a fliptop stand so I can roll it under a workbench when not in use. The 10 inch Craftsman got great reviews, but it is just a bit too large for me to use in this application. I was considering either the 9 inch Craftsman or the 9 inch Ryobi. Does anyone own either of these? If so, can you tell me whether you are happy with it?

That's funny you mention it, because that's my goal with the sears 10". I am designing a flip top. I guess the catch is: the saw is 36" tall so you'd need a tall bench. I've already designed my bench to store my table saw under it, so it's already a smidge over 39" of clearence. I'll let you know how my idea comes along. I've got the rough plan in my head, but I'm probably going to draw it up on sketchup.

[jonmulzer]

I have the Ryobi 10" and it is a GREAT saw. I second and third everything Tom Hintz said about it on his website. I have yet to bog it down and the dust collection is 90+% effective. I can see it being small for some jobs I need to do in the future, but for now with a basement shop it is perfect. The 9" though is not the caliber of saw the one I have is, at least from my observations at the BORG. I have not actually used one though. That is my $.01. (not a whole 2 cents since I have not actually used it.....)

[Bill in Buena Park]

I was sure there were more Ryobi BS902/903 owners here than represented by the responses, but I'll give my feedback.

I needed to pick up a band saw early last year - something inexpensive but well featured - so I looked closely at the BS903, the CM 9", and the HF (which I don't believe they sell any longer.)

For $99, I couldn't be happier with my choice of the BS903. It'll take blades from 1/8in-3/8in, it has the table extension feature previously mentioned, it had decent dust collection on the rear port, it has guide bearings above and below the table, it has a simple to use de-tensioning lever, and it has a window through which you can see the blade tracking on the upper wheel.

I know I have no resaw capacity, but haven't needed it yet - but I produced both of the following using my BS903:

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...hlight=toy+box

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ght=hope+chest

If you only have $99 and can live with the 9in throat and 3-3/4 resaw height, this little bandsaw will do the job. I've cut 8/4 red oak with this without a problem.

When I procure another BS with real resaw capacity, this one will still have a place in my shop for small-medium projects.

[pbui3057]

I have the Ryobi 10" and it is a GREAT saw. I second and third everything Tom Hintz said about it on his website. I have yet to bog it down and the dust collection is 90+% effective. I can see it being small for some jobs I need to do in the future, but for now with a basement shop it is perfect. The 9" though is not the caliber of saw the one I have is, at least from my observations at the BORG. I have not actually used one though. That is my $.01. (not a whole 2 cents since I have not actually used it.....)

I haven't been able to find one of these lately and I think HD has stopped carrying them due to the low sales numbers. It's on Ryobi's site but their forums say they are discontinued. Had great reviews from the few people who bought them.

[mpc]

I have the Craftsman 10" bandsaw that looks like a Rikon... supposedly it's made in the same factory that also does the Rikon but it's not actually a Rikon. Whatever. Many of the parts interchange, some are better on the Craftsman - I prefer the Craftsman table to the table on the Rikon at Woodcraft for example. I love this little bandsaw. With good blades, it cuts great. Skip the 3-pack of blades Sears sells, they epitomize horrible. The 1/4" blade that comes with the saw is quite good - and even after a fair bit of use it beats a brand-new blade from that stupid 3-pack. Use the internet (Iturra and others like them) to buy blades that'll fit. I cut & re-braze 72" Olsons from Woodcraft if I'm in a hurry for a replacement. Easy/cheap. With bearing style blade guides, pretty good dust collection, etc. this saw isn't lacking for much. The newer 9" baby brother has the viewing windows... that's about the only upgrades I'd wish for. I don't mind not having a blade tension guage nor a quick-release handle either... four "handfulls" (pilot speak for how much you can twist a big knob without changing your grip) is enough to release & then reset the tension repeatedly. I have both of the oft-recommended bandsaw books and have gone through the "tune up" process on the saw; it was pretty good out-of-the-box but now it's quite good. I've made my own upper bearing guides, my own table, and relocated the lower guides to inside the lower wheelhouse to substantially increase the resaw capacity from the stock ~4.75 inches to over 7 inches. It'll hog through a 6 inch laminate of maple using 9 to 13 tpi blades too - not 3 or 4 tpi "resaw" blades without much bogging. One of these day's I'll buy a low tpi blade and see how good/bad it performs with the "right blade for the job." I'm darn near abusing the saw but it doesn't seem to care - it just keeps trucking right along. And it comes with roller bearing blade guides from the factory - normally an expensive upgrade on bandsaws! In fact, the common "Carter" brand roller bearing upgrade package for many common C-frame cast iron bandsaws (like the Delta and Ridgid bandsaws) costs more than this whole bandsaw costs!

Dad has an older version of the Ryobi 9" saw. I tried it several months ago to whip up a surprise gift for him last time I visited my folks. Yikes. It had a lot more flex in the frame than the Craftsman saw and it general it didn't run as smooth. The wheels seemed to have sloppier bearings - much more wobble. I couldn't set the blade guides as close to the blade as I'm used to thanks to the wobble... and this was cutting fairly thin wood bits, nothing tough at all. I was leary of breaking something while tensioning the blade too. I probably didn't get the tension high enough. Did I mention that I plugged it into a remotely switched outlet because I didn't want to be standing next to it the first time I turned it on? I was that concerned with it. It did work for the project but the cuts were nowhere near as clean/smooth as what my Craftsman does with basic Olson blades. I'm sure dad's bandsaw had the factory Ryobi blade in it so it was starting with a 2-strike handicap in that respect. I don't remember if dad bought this new or used; I'll bet used though... or abused. Mom keeps a tight leash on the tool budget so "new" generally isn't one of dad's options. So perhaps his saw is not a representative example of the breed; other posters on this thread seem happy with their Ryobis. If you can swing the extra few bucks though I'd strongly recommend going with the Craftsman 10" bandsaw; I believe it to be a real gem especially for the price.

Dad has tried my Craftsman saw and keeps asking when I'm going to step up to the new Rikon 14" or even their 17" monster because he wants my current bandsaw. He's not thrilled with the Ryobi either.

mpc

[docrowan]

That's funny you mention it, because that's my goal with the sears 10". I am designing a flip top. I guess the catch is: the saw is 36" tall so you'd need a tall bench. I've already designed my bench to store my table saw under it, so it's already a smidge over 39" of clearence. I'll let you know how my idea comes along. I've got the rough plan in my head, but I'm probably going to draw it up on sketchup.

I built my bench to store my BT3100 under as well, but I've got a custom mobile stand for mine. I chose to make the top of the bench 39" for work, so I only have a 36 inch clearance for mine. Since the sears 10" is a smidge over 35 inches, there's no way it will mount to a fliptop stand and still roll under. Plus at roughly 100 pounds - most of it pretty top heavy (unlike a planer or jointer that is pretty squat) it will be a bear to flip, so the stand will have to be very sturdy, with beefy locking castors.

[levon]

bandsaw

i recently bought the 9 inch ryobi and i already am looking for a 14inch grizzly. the ryobi seems more like a toy and you cant tension the blade enough to cut a straight line, i looked at the 10 inch sears and it looked a lot better.

[docrowan]

For $99, I couldn't be happier with my choice of the BS903. It'll take blades from 1/8in-3/8in, it has the table extension feature previously mentioned, it had decent dust collection on the rear port, it has guide bearings above and below the table, it has a simple to use de-tensioning lever, and it has a window through which you can see the blade tracking on the upper wheel.

I know I have no resaw capacity, but haven't needed it yet - but I produced both of the following using my BS903:

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...hlight=toy+box

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ght=hope+chest

If you only have $99 and can live with the 9in throat and 3-3/4 resaw height, this little bandsaw will do the job. I've cut 8/4 red oak with this without a problem.

Bill, it sounds like we have similar needs. I don't have any plans to resaw. At this stage of my woodworking journey, I like to work with presurfaced lumber. I just don't want to throw a C-note at something that will break in a couple of months.

[jon_ramp]

Steve, I'm doing the same thing exactly. I bought a Bosch 1591EVSK jig saw when they had a father's day sale with free shipping from CPO Bosch. So far I've only cut up to 3/4 ply and 1" pine and have noticed no blade deflection. My next purchase will be the Ridgid oscillating sander. Just waiting for find a deal on one or a project that actually requires it.

[steve-norrell]

Thanks for all the input. To sum it all up, it looks like the Sears 10 inch band saw is preferred over the 9 incher, although the 9 is quite serviceable if one realizes its limitations. In either case, I will have only very limited re-saw capabilities -- but that's OK as I don't have any plans for dealing with anything much bigger than 2x lumber and 3/4 inch plywood.

In the meanwhile, I bit the bullet and got the Ridgid oscillating sander. As a 'test', I used my jig saw to cut a lune-shaped piece of ply and then cranked up the sander to see what it could do.

The short answer: Why did I wait so long to get one? But I am sure glad I have one now!

I also intend to closely monitor Sears for sales on the 10 incher.

Thanks again for all the input and advice. Regards, Steve

[LCHIEN]

sears has 15% off on tools this weekend.


Hmmm, only $9.50 off. not exactly great savings.

[steve-norrell]

sears has 15% off on tools this weekend.

Thanks, Loren. I just added Sears to today's "errand" list.

Regards, Steve

Sorry, it should be "Loring". SN