I need to purchase a good, but inexpensive bandsaw for cutting reelseat inserts and other similar blanks from bowl blanks and other larger stock. I want the cheapest "Good" bandsaw, not a cheaply made one. Thank you in advance. Ralph

If at first you don't succeed, go fishing, then try, try again.

I bought a reconditioned bandsaw from Delta a couple years ago and it suits my woodworking needs just fine. Below is the web link.




[www.cpowoodworking.com]

Sears has one for around $80

RALPH,

The Delta is good. But what ever you get be sure you can buy parts for it. I know you can buy parts and up-date pieces for the Delta. Band Saws are great, you can cross cut, rip, angle cut, scroll,

I bought an 18" JET , very well made, accurate, large table , roller blade guide, takes about 5 or more blade sizes.
It did cost me $1,300.00 , with extra blades, and a rolling stand

I do woodworking besides rod building

Dave von Doehren
PRRODS......If man built it , man can fix it.and if man built it man can break it !

There is no such thing. There are good bandsaws and there are cheap bandsaws, but no good and cheap models. I suspect you know this.

Having said that, the tasks you're wanting to do are not particularly demanding so most any of the oriental benchtop tools from Delta, Jet, Ricoh or similar should work okay. The smallest models can be had for between $100 and $150.

..........

The answer is gonna depend on what you want to cut with it. If you want to cut straight lines or make accurate cuts in stock a couple of inches thick, I think you are going to be disapointed with the small saws. The diameter of the wheels essentially determines the thickness and hardness of the blade that you can run. The real small saws , 8,9, and 10 inch wheels, generally run a very thin, soft blade because the blade flexes so much and makes so many turns a heavier, thicker blade will break prematurely. Thus the blades don't have much set, dull quickly, and are hard to use in thick stock or to get a good cut. I ran a 10" delta saw for 25 years or so, but I feed it a lot of good blades and good real good at brazing them back together.
If you have the room and the budget, a 14" Delta is a hard saw to beat. When I decided I needed a new saw I hunted up a very old Delta 14". I prefer it slightly to the new model, but the newer saws are still a good value for the money. Lots of imitations. The Jet saws seem okay. I bought a 16" model for my shop at work. After using it for a while I found that they cut corners on some of the adjustments, etc. You might try the 12" Jet if that saves enough space and money, but that is as small and as cheap as I would like to go in a bandsaw.

I bought a 10" Delta Benchtop Bandsaw for cutting reel seat inserts and handles. It comes with a 1/4" blade which has too much play in it. I replaced it with a 3/8" blade and does wonders. I also bought the fence for it. It will cut 95% of the craftwood I have. I have cut 2" blocks of cocobolo, zebrawood, burl, etc, does I fine job of resizing for the lathe. I would not recommend it for accurate cuts, just has too much play even with a thicker blade, but for $100 it is great. I use my table saw for more accurate cuts. A friend of mine bought a Grizzly 14" bandsaw and he loves it. He can resaw small logs into turning blanks. He can cut very fine, consistent shavings off of 4" thick stock. He loves it and it only cost $350. If I get into serious woodworking, I would definitely move up to the Grizzly model.

Just went to Lowes and had to choose between a Delta an a GM brand. Bought the GM on sale for 68 bucks. It is a nine inch bench top model with a lazer line guide. I'm very happy for the use I'm putting it to.