Clarke bandsaws

[chaoticbob]

I'm contemplating buying a small bandsaw - at the moment the purposes in mind are profiling maybe 40mm thick oak for wall-mounted shelf brackets and cutting tenons. I have a VAT-free voucher for Machine Mart and went in there today to look at the Clarke CBS300. The first drill press I bought was a Clarke ('professional') which was quite possibly the worst machine tool I have ever used - underpowered, rattly, out of true - and that put me off the brand. However, the CBS300 I looked at in the shop looked OKish - reasonably rigid fence which looks to be adjustable for squareness, flat table.... though I'm skeptical about the claim implicit on the tensioning indicator that it'll take a 19mm blade. Looks too weedy to me!
Anyone out there had experience of these machines? Are they fit for purpose or am I just making trouble for myself given that this would be my first wood bandsaw?

Robin

 

[moosepig]

I (for my sins) have the CBS250 which, at 370 watts, is seriously underpowered, even with a Tuffsaws blade and a good setup it struggles to rip or resaw anything greater than around 70mm. The CBS300 is rated at 750W, I suspect it too will be under powered unless you are only planning to use it for plywood.

 

[chaoticbob]

OK, thanks, that squares with my experience of the drill press, which on paper should have had enough power but in practice was woefully inadequate. I had hoped that as the motor rating was the same as the more reputable Record BS300 it might work. I suspect that there's some marketing goes on with motor power - what matters is the output power of course, but doubtless some motors are more efficient than others. I'll give it a miss then.
Robin