The web's woodworking supersite
SEARCH:
home shop learn plans links

Woodworking Discussion Forum

Subject: "get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?" Archived thread - Read only
    Previous Topic | Next Topic
Printer-friendly copy     Email this topic to a friend    
Conferences Power Tools Topic #2891
Reading Topic #2891
drioux
Member since Sep-26-03
23 posts		 Sep-28-03, 10:27 PM (EST)
Click to EMail drioux Click to send private message to drioux Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
"get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
 
   I am trying to decide which way to go for my first real major piece of equipment (the drill press is supposed to arrive tomorrow -- woohoo!) and I would appreciate feedback based on your experiences. I have been lurking on the forum for a couple months now and really appreciate the time you take helping each other out. Would you recommend starting with a bandsaw or a tablesaw?

I know the conventional wisdom is for a tablesaw, and I have wept with appreciation at some of the photos that have been posted of various tablesaw setups. My most immediate projects in sort of prioritized order include making a router table, some adirondack chairs for the patio I toiled over this summer, a small sailing skiff, maybe a bed for my youngest, small arts-and-crafts type tables, and some bookcases. Who knows what will come along in 2010 when I am done with all that. It seems to me that I could get a lot of mileage out of a bandsaw in there. How well can you rip with a bandsaw? I have a copy of Lonnie Bird's Bandsaw Book, so I know you have to correct for blade drift. Can you do a decent enough job for things like bookcases? Or should I just count on getting a tablesaw to do those projects? Thanks in advance for any thoughts you care to share.

Dennis


  Printer-friendly page | Top

  Subject     Author     Message Date     ID  
  RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? FrankC Sep-29-03 1
  RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? WoodMangler Sep-29-03 2
  RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? Steven Wilson Sep-29-03 3
     RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? michael perata Sep-29-03 4
         RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? drioux Sep-29-03 5
             RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? OakNoggin Sep-29-03 6
             RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? Keystone Sep-29-03 7
             RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw? Steven Wilson Sep-29-03 8
             Iron.... Sonny Edmonds Sep-29-03 9
                 RE: Iron.... drioux Sep-30-03 10
                     RE: Iron.... Darrin O Sep-30-03 11

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
FrankC
Charter Member
1114 posts		 Sep-29-03, 00:57 AM (EST)
Click to EMail FrankC Click to send private message to FrankC Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
1. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #0
 
   If most of your projects involve straight cuts then I would say go with the table saw. Do you have a circular saw, if not you will not be able to cross cut any lengths longer than the throat depth of the band saw. You will also be able to cut dados and rabbets with the circular saw. You can always get a saber saw to cut any curves in the meantime.
Just my .02 cents worth
Frank C.

Sawdust Making 101
http://sawdustmaking.com


  Printer-friendly page | Top
WoodMangler
Member since Sep-1-04
13851 posts		 Sep-29-03, 06:03 AM (EST)
Click to EMail WoodMangler Click to send private message to WoodMangler Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
2. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #0
 
Heya Dennis!

To the Forum!

What's your budget?

For about $400 you can get a Ryobi BT3100 tablesaw AND a 9" bandsaw...

Give us a peek into the ol' wallet eh

My Web Site

"I'm going to give you a little advice. There's a force in the universe that makes things happen. And all you have to do is get in touch with it, stop thinking, let things happen, and be the ball. "

  Printer-friendly page | Top
Steven Wilson
Member since Sep-2-04
1184 posts		 Sep-29-03, 08:54 AM (EST)
Click to EMail Steven%20Wilson Click to send private message to Steven%20Wilson Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
3. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #0
 
   You ask about ripping on a bandsaw. For ripping solid hardwood stock the bandsaw is quite good; for large panels and sheet goods the tablesaw, or better yet sliding table saw, are the tool of choice. If you want to rip on a bandsaw I would suggest a bandsaw that can properly tension and support a 1" wide, carbide blade; unfortunately bandsaws like this aren't cheap ($2k+). The wider the blade, the truer the cut. When I had my 14" Jet bandsaw I would only rip thick stock with it (>2 1/2") that couldn't be ripped on the tablesaw. The cut wasn't great but it could be cleaned up easily on a jointer. With my Minimax MM20 (20", 4.8hp) I tend to use it more often to rip stock because it's safer than the tablesaw (no kickback) and tends to do a better job with stock that's prone to close up behind the kerf. Besides, with a 1" carbide tipped band, the cut quality is extreemly good (close to that of a tablesaw with a great blade) and generally only sanding is required, maybe a very light pass with a hand plane. If you're looking at lower priced machines I would rip stock on the tablesaw.


  Printer-friendly page | Top
michael perata
Member since Jul-18-03
378 posts		 Sep-29-03, 01:19 PM (EST)
Click to EMail michael%20perata Click to send private message to michael%20perata Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
4. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #3
 
   LAST EDITED ON Sep-29-03 AT 01:19 PM (CST)
 
Steven

I agree about ripping with a band saw. I have a MM 16 and Mini-Max does not recommend using a carbide blade on a wheel with a diameter less than 20" because of the possibility of work hardening the blade shortening the blade's useful life. I recently purchased a 1" Timberwolf blade from Suffolk Machinery for my ripping needs - works just fine.

I had to rip some 2x6 at a 5d angle this weekend. The bandsaw was the tool to use.

I leave sheet good sawing for my CU300S

Michael in San Jose


  Printer-friendly page | Top
drioux
Member since Sep-26-03
23 posts		 Sep-29-03, 01:40 PM (EST)
Click to EMail drioux Click to send private message to drioux Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
5. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #4
 
   Thanks for the feedback. I am attracted to the bandsaw because of its relative safety as Steven points out, but I am afraid I cannot break into the 20" realm. I have read a bunch of reviews and the book that I mentioned, so I know that tension is the key to bandsaw success -- and of course there bigger is better. To answer Marc's question I have a budget of about $800 which gets me into that never-never land of a decent Delta contractor's table saw or for a bit more prying open of the wallet (well, okay, let's be honest, stretching the purse strings) a Grizzly cabinet saw. (And I have read oodles and oodles of archived threads on that -- I won't even go there.) Or a nicely outfitted 14" bandsaw with its admitted limitations for ripping stock but pretty snazzy for doing curves. But it seems the consensus is that if I want to be building bookcases and other rectilinear type stuff I ought to be looking at a tablesaw of some sort, right? Guess I will have to mull this over some more.

On the brighter side, the drill press arrived as promised. Got some setting up to do and cleaning off the protective gunk. I think I remember people put a wax on their cast iron stuff after that procedure. Is there anything special you use? Thanks again for your input.

Dennis


  Printer-friendly page | Top
OakNoggin
Member since Jan-21-03
20 posts		 Sep-29-03, 03:11 PM (EST)
Click to EMail OakNoggin Click to send private message to OakNoggin Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
6. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #5
 
   get the cabinet saw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Keystone
Charter Member
4206 posts		 Sep-29-03, 03:33 PM (EST)
Click to EMail Keystone Click to send private message to Keystone Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
7. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #5
 
Well, although I'm not one of them, many a furniture maker that never owned a table saw. The band saw is the prefered saw for table legs ect. Resaw on one is tons safer, and far less waiste.

On the other hand. http://www.australianwoodart.com/ uses a BT3000 to make his furniture. Only saw he owns.

Keystone............

Member since before the FIRST crash!!



  Printer-friendly page | Top
Steven Wilson
Member since Sep-2-04
1184 posts		 Sep-29-03, 04:26 PM (EST)
Click to EMail Steven%20Wilson Click to send private message to Steven%20Wilson Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
8. "RE: get a bandsaw or a tablesaw?"
In response to message #5
 
   If that's your price range then I would probably go with the Grizzly cabinet saw. I use a PM66 and a cabinet saw is definately a pleasure to use, once tuned up.


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Sonny Edmonds
Charter Member
289 posts		 Sep-29-03, 11:23 PM (EST)
Click to EMail Sonny%20Edmonds Click to send private message to Sonny%20Edmonds Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
9. "Iron...."
In response to message #5
 
   "On the brighter side, the drill press arrived as promised. Got some setting up to do and cleaning off the protective gunk. I think I remember people put a wax on their cast iron stuff after that procedure. Is there anything special you use? Thanks again for your input."

I use Johnson's paste wax myself. I donno how many years old my present can is. But it is more than several.

Sonny Edmonds
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"I was raised around lead based paint.
It ain't an excuse, just a fact."


  Printer-friendly page | Top
drioux
Member since Sep-26-03
23 posts		 Sep-30-03, 08:24 AM (EST)
Click to EMail drioux Click to send private message to drioux Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list Click to send message via AOL IM  
10. "RE: Iron...."
In response to message #9
 
   Thanks for letting me know, Sonny. I'm off in search of kerosene and paste wax, then, after work. Funny things to be looking for just so I can drill some wood...
Dennis


  Printer-friendly page | Top
Darrin O
Member since Jan-11-02
535 posts		 Sep-30-03, 10:01 PM (EST)
Click to EMail Darrin%20O Click to send private message to Darrin%20O Click to view user profileClick to add this user to your buddy list  
11. "RE: Iron...."
In response to message #10
 
   If you cant find the Johnson's, Trewax is another brand. Or the Topcote products.

Darrin
"Ever notice how good enough, is usually neither good nor enough?"


  Printer-friendly page | Top

Conferences | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic
 

About this site | Site Index | Link to us | Send Feedback | Advertise
Learn how you can promote your site on Woodworking.com!

Visit Our Partner Sites:
Rockler.com | Woodworkers Journal | Routermania | Women in Woodworking