“Basically the standard and correct answer I think is you want some form of a well built Delta or Delta style 14” bandsaw. The older the Delta saw, probably the better, as long as the motor is good. It’s really handy, I have the Delta in my dustroom and the little sears can sit on my bench when I need it, with the little blade it’s very good for cutting curves.
There are many uses for a table saw in guitar building. “A joiner is used to put a straight edge on a piece of wood. This can be especially helpful if the piece of wood is three feet long or more. It is also used to flatten one face of a board before putting through the planer. If you buy rough cut lumber both faces are bump and far from smooth. One face will need to be flattened before it goes in the planer or there will be trouble. For guitar building an 8” model will suffice. “For guitar building a 12” table top model will suffice.
Hate to rehash some things that I know have been discussed in general, but I’ve got some questions and am eyeballing a couple specific models for guitar building, Grizzly G0555 and G0555x. Grizzly seems to offer a good value for capable bandsaws. I have regretted purchasing “Good enough for now”.
It’s a fast and safe way to move the big machines. The same machine was posted again for $300! And I actually had a little bit of spare money. It’s amazing how much pounding and vibration a machine gets in a 40 mile trip up the California freeways.
Now the next step was the get a decent band saw with a rip fence to cut the sites, neck, etc. I was close to getting a 9inch from Harbor Freight yesterday, but no rip fence stopped me. Now I could always get a Kreg Rip Fence but at the point I’m close the price of a Grizzly 12 inch, with rip fence.
As others have stated, what bandsaw to get depends on what you want to cut and what you want to spend on the saw. I’ve cut 9″ deep rosewood and cedar on it, amongst many other things. With the 6″ riser installed, there is a lot of “bounce” in the upper wheel reducing cut quality: unless the riser is needed for capacity, I use the saw without the riser.
best bandsaw for luthier Related Question:
What size band saw for guitar?
A band saw is very versatile and will perform any number of tasks such as cutting out shapes, re-sawing, and even joinery. Any 14″ band saw should be adequate to the guitar making tasks since the wood we use in guitar making is relatively small.
How do I choose a bandsaw for woodworking?
The two main things to consider when choosing a band saw are the depth of cut and the throat. The saw’s depth of cut is the distance from the table to the upper blade guides. Many band saws are marketed on this feature alone, which tells the prospective buyer how thick of stock can be cut using the band saw.
How much does a good bandsaw cost?
If you change the stock blade for a better quality one, you can expect to make some reasonable cuts, and that is quite something for the low price of just about $125. It even comes with a miter gauge included, which often isn’t even the case on $2000 bandsaws.
How thick can a 9 band saw cut?
There are several $99, 9 inch band saws on the market in my area (Ryobi, Skill). The are able to cut a thickness of 2 ½ inches.
What are bandsaws good for?
A band saw can be used to cut curves, even in thick lumber, such as in creating cabriole legs, to rip lumber and to crosscut short pieces. The most common use for the band saw, however, is in cutting irregular shapes. The second most common use is in resawing or ripping lumber into thinner slabs.
How much HP does a bandsaw need?
A 3/4 or 1 HP bandsaw is pefectly adequate for re-sawing stock at home….
What does a 14 inch bandsaw mean?
Rob Johnstone: Band saw sizes are derived from the diameter of the wheels in the saw. So a 14-inch band saw will have wheels that are 14-inches in diameter. There is another measure that indicates how wide a board you can resaw.
How high can a bandsaw cut?
The resaw capacity is the maximum height (thickness) that can be cut. For the small shop furniture maker, go with 14″ as the minimum for a bandsaw, though 16″ is better. Those doing larger work might even want 18″ or 20″ machines. Just make sure you have a minimum resaw height of 12″ for versatility.
What is the difference between a wood band saw and a metal band saw?
A metal cutting bandsaw is typically built more solidly than a saw designed for cutting wood, so there are no issues with the machine itself. As for the blade, the wood fibers could clog the metal blade’s teeth more quickly, and the blade will probably cut through the wood more slowly.
Can I cut steel with a bandsaw?
Band saws are not suitable for cutting very thin sheet metal; a rule of thumb suggests the metal to be cut should be thicker than the depth of 3 band saw blade teeth, however they are excellent for cutting thin walled profiles such as box and angle.
What does resaw mean on a bandsaw?
A resaw is a large band saw optimized for cutting timber along the grain to reduce larger sections into smaller sections or veneers. Resawing veneers requires a wide blade – commonly 2 to 3 inches (52–78 mm) – with a small kerf to minimize waste.
When using a bandsaw should you maintain it?
Keep guards in place at all times. The blade guard should be from 1/8 to ¼ inch above stock. Keep hands away from blade and do not open upper or lower bandsaw doors while blade is in motion. Maintain a balanced stance and keep your body under control at all times; do not overreach.
Who makes Startrite bandsaws?
Startrite Machinery | Scott+Sargeant UK.
What is the difference between a band saw and a scroll saw?
Now, one of the really big differences is that the scroll saw’s blade moves up and down, whereas the band saw’s blade moves in a continuous downward motion. Band saws also differ in the thickness and size of materials which they can handle.
Are Delta band saws good?
The Delta 28-400 is a very well built band saw fit for any woodshop. Being a 14″ model it’s really a great option for small and medium size shops where shop space is tight. This model is a perfect fit for my tight shop. When you consider that this band saw is priced around $650 it’s a great value and a great buy.