It seems since about 2017-2018 or so, that may no longer be the case… Still, the package deal is pretty nice, and it seems there are some things that are more convenient with the powermatic. In a number of powermatic reviews, people seemed to speak more highly of their Grizzly bandsaws, such as the Grizzly G0555XH, especially for its power and resawing capabilities. The Jet 14″ bandsaw seemed to be over $1600, so originally it wasn’t on my list…but, I’d rather buy once and cry once, than anything else… That said, the reviews on Amazon indicate that these things have shipped with a lot of paint chipping, scratches, gouges…and in some cases broken parts.
To help you make your purchase decision I researched woodworkers’ and expert reviewers opinions on 14 inch bandsaws in 30+ different articles and forum threads. Notable PWBS-14CS Reviews:”It ranked high for performance among its cast-iron brethren, but the wheels were misaligned by more than 1/8 in. on the machine we tested.”Thomas McKenna of Fine Woodworking on the PowermaticRanked 2nd of 8 by Fine Woodworking ReadersPOWERMATIC PWBS-14 Bandsaw Recommended by Tom Hintz >>Tom Hintz on video about the PMA “Top 3” 14 inch band saw at 3luxe. Notable G0457 Reviews:WoodNet Tool Review – Grizzly G0457 14″ Deluxe Bandsaw >>”Dust collection works well, though installing a blade is tough. The tension is easy to set and adjust, with an intuitive quick-release mechanism. The tracking knobs are a good size. The tall fence included with the saw slides smoothly, locks surely, and is great for resawing. Curve cuts were no problem, and resaw cuts were of fine quality.”Thomas McKenna of Fine Woodworking on the G0457 >>8th of 8 by Readers, Awarded Best Value 14 inch bandsaw by Fine Woodworking.
I spent a half hour talking to the guy selling it; he’s been running a commercial woodshop for 35 years, and says the saw has always been a tank for him, but he’s got too many band saws, so he’s looking to maybe make some floor space. “I’ve never owned a band saw before, and while the ability to resaw sounds intriguing, I’m guessing I probably won’t utilize that feature a lot in the near future. I do have ready access to a guy with a band saw mill, who can resaw anything with a width greater than the 6” these saws can handle, so maybe it isn’t a big deal. The way I look at is, if I’m primarily wanting a saw to do curves and dovetail cleanouts, and have the shop space to invest in a larger resaw machine in the future, even something old I can build/refurb to my taste, then I could invest in the brand new Grizzly now, put some Carter blade guides on it, add some quality blades, and still come out ahead in price from what he wants for the used machine.
They’re extremely familiar with both the Laguna ceramic guides and the Rikon guides and prefer Rikon’s. The Rikon fence has an innovative dial to easily adjust it’s parallel-ness with the blade-which again no other saw in this class has. 1) Rikon 326.: Top guides and many features not found on other saws, good fence.
Jet Deluxe Xacta 3hp and PM2000 3hp 30 inch table models are almost the same saw. When you add in that I could get a good discount on the Jet and I couldn’t get any discount on the PM, I just didn’t see the extra cost in the PM and got the Jet 5 HP model, which is actually a true 3 hp saw. Hell, I think the Jet is over priced but I really liked some of it’s features over the Grizzly.
wen vs grizzly bandsaw Related Question:
Are Wen saws any good?
Very happy with this saw. I’ve only used it a handful of times, but it makes fast clean cuts that appear to be square. The 45 degree miter angle sells to be accurate, as all my cuts have lined up perfectly.
What does 14 mean on a bandsaw?
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.
What should I look for in a bandsaw?
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 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.
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.
What materials can a bandsaw cut?
Most bandsaws have two wheels rotating in the same plane, one of which is powered. The blade itself can come in a variety of sizes and tooth pitch (teeth per inch, or TPI) which enables the machine to be highly versatile and able to cut a wide variety of materials including wood, metal and plastic.
Can a meat band saw cut wood?
Blade speeds on meat saws run 3500 SFPM (surface feet per minute) so your speed is fine for wood cutting. anywhere between 3200 and 5000 SFPM is good for resawing. Your HP is light at 3/4 and that’s where you will find your lacking .
Is WEN tools going out of business?
No, Wen was an American company that went out of business. The name was purchased by a Chinese company that sells generic tools (with no relation to the original Wen).
Is WEN a Chinese company?
WEN is an American tool company that was founded back in 1951.
Where is WEN made?
Today, WEN’s headquarters can be found in Elgin, Illinois. Our goal is to help woodworkers and artisans across the world execute their wildest imaginations.
What is the smallest band saw?
The Proxxon Micro Saw is by far the smallest, lightest, most easily portable and stowable saw in this bunch. It has only 5-7⁄8″ of throat depth and about 3-3⁄8″ of cutting depth.
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.
How much HP does a bandsaw need?
A 3/4 or 1 HP bandsaw is pefectly adequate for re-sawing stock at home….
Are band saws useful?
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.