A twist on the many "what's the best bandsaw ?" questios please guys...
I'm looking to recommend a new bandsaw to the members of a Men's Shed.
The shed was set up with a variety of used, donated, patched up equipment which include a small startrite and Elektra Beckum bandsaws - both 12".
It's a busy shed and the bandsaws get a lot of use, mostly by people who are DIYers, not experienced woodworkers, and so the limits of the machines ain't always respected. They tend to be treated as a goto machine for general cutting as they are quieter and safer than a tablesaw.
Anyway - we've raised some cash and are in a position to buy a decent new bandsaw. It's a big buy for us.
As someone who volunteers maintaining the kit we have, I want to make my life easier and the user experience a bit more reliable.
So : TOUGH / SIMPLE / USER PROOF
I'm starting to research :
I'm not inclined towards Charnwood, SIP, etc but I'll admit to being unfamiliar with them. If they can provide quality, reliability and afterservice I'm open to recommendations. I don't intend to do the factory's work for them. If its bad, it goes straight back.
If anyone has one of these and can comment on whether it is / is not suited to our kind of needs, please share the good and bad points
Very many thanks in advance ...
I'm looking to recommend a new bandsaw to the members of a Men's Shed.
The shed was set up with a variety of used, donated, patched up equipment which include a small startrite and Elektra Beckum bandsaws - both 12".
It's a busy shed and the bandsaws get a lot of use, mostly by people who are DIYers, not experienced woodworkers, and so the limits of the machines ain't always respected. They tend to be treated as a goto machine for general cutting as they are quieter and safer than a tablesaw.
Anyway - we've raised some cash and are in a position to buy a decent new bandsaw. It's a big buy for us.
As someone who volunteers maintaining the kit we have, I want to make my life easier and the user experience a bit more reliable.
- I'm looking for a bandsaw in the £1000 - £1500 bracket to be fitted with a strong blade (say 20mm) that people will have some difficulty breaking. Ideally, I'll set it up with a good blade, set the tension, the guides, square the table, etc and apart from raising and lowering the guides, the users won't mess with it. If it's strong and stays in adjustment, they won't have to. Maybe a tension release lever would be nice.
I'm looking for something with a really strong trunnion and bomb proof blade guides that will resist people breaking them or meddling with them.
I'm looking for easy to use.
I'm looking to spend other people's money so to speak so whatever it is has to come with a solid warranty - 3 or 5 years would be better than 1. I've had enough of fixing old used stuff for a bit so please no secondhand startrite advice, I totally get it, but it doesn't fit in this case.
So : TOUGH / SIMPLE / USER PROOF
I'm starting to research :
- Record Sabres (350 and 450mm wheel models)
Smallest new startrite
Axy Trade (the 430mm wheel model)
Axy Industrial (the 14" one) - over budget but is it stronger / foolproof enough to be worth it ?
I'm not inclined towards Charnwood, SIP, etc but I'll admit to being unfamiliar with them. If they can provide quality, reliability and afterservice I'm open to recommendations. I don't intend to do the factory's work for them. If its bad, it goes straight back.
If anyone has one of these and can comment on whether it is / is not suited to our kind of needs, please share the good and bad points
Very many thanks in advance ...