Does anyone know anything about Wilke Machinery in York, Pa.?

They manufacture Bridgewwod bandsaws and sell direct. From what I can tell on their web page www.wilkemach.com it has many of the features of more expensive saws. I'm looking at model BW-14WBS 14".

Larry Tysinger

I have not been impressed. You just sold a lathe that was of about the same quality as what you'll get from Wilke.

.....................

Looking at their site and the components, the only thing different between this saw and Grizzly's "Ultimate 14" - model G0555, is the metal housing. Grizzly has the old fashioned cast iron frame instead welded, but all the components appear to be exactly the same. Grizzly's saw is also $225 cheaper until Jan 1st. Then the price increases to around $425. Add the riser it and you have a resaw capacity of 12" vs. the 8" on the Wilkes

It all depends on what you want the saw to do. Their are several brands that are pretty much identical & some people claim that most are built in the same factories. The majority are made in Taiwan. The more expensive ones are US built or European.

I would highly recommend Lou Itura's catalog (Iturra Design 888-722-7078). It's a bandsaw handbook with a catalog included. He also sells everything imaginable specifically for bandsaws. No website though.

Another reference is the Bandsaw Handbook by Mark Duginske ($11.80 + $1.40 S/H @ overstock.com) usually local libraries have this on hand.

Highly recommended saw blades are the Timberwolf by Suffolk Machinery - you can buy them direct for excellent prices (http://www.suffolkmachinery.com)

Probably more info than you wanted!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/29/2004 10:54AM by Bob Hesser.

Been about 10 years since I bought anything from Wilke. They import tools from china and Tiawan like everybody else. They advertised that they import the machines and then unpack them and set them up properly before shipping. Our planer came with one of the adjustment screws for setting the head parallel to the bed completely out and lying in the bottom of the crate. Broke a feed handle first use. The cheap magnetic starter lasted a week. After we took the time to go through the machine and fix and adjust everything and put in a new motor and starter we have gotten 15 years of fairly hard use out of it.

An opinion: Dozens of bands saws on the market. If you want a very good one get a Laguna tools saw. If you want a fairly good one get the Delta. (or the powermatic if you have $1,00 to spend) If you can find an old delta 14" at a decent price jump on it. There is a reason that wilke and jet and all of the other companies imitate the Delta. I just bought a Delta that must be 50 years old. Runs smoother than the new ones. Needed a couple of small parts. got up on the delta website, found parts list for it, got parts.

Thanks guys....So much for Wilke's and Bridgewood bandsaws. My quest continues.

Larry Tysinger

Larry,

There is a Fine Woodworking Tools Annual on sale at newsstands presently, where bandsaws (14") are rated and you will find it useful. I own a Ridgid (purchased at Home Depot) and have been very happy with it. The saw is rated in the magazine; I have an older model built for Home Depot under the Ridgid name built in the US by Emerson Electric (who used to make Craftsman power tools before production of those changed to China). The current Ridgid tools are built by Ryobi (or the company who makes Ryobi's tools), but they remain well rated by Fine Woodworking. I've found their recommendations to be very reliable. Small lathes I recall are also reviewed in the same issue.

Dave

Try locating a used Shopsmith! Great little bandsaw plus lathe and table saw.

I do my best to buy nothing but American Made Products. The cheap rods that all the major builders are selling are built in foreign countries, by people who are being paid sub'standard wages. This is going to hurt us all. When you can go into a major store, buy a rod for $32.00 and have them replace 2 or 3 times, this should tell you something about the components, and quality.

For my purposes, my Ryobi 9" works very well.
Ray