bandsaws! startrite 352?

[mcsam123]

im looking at buying a bandsaw, most likely an old one, and have been looking at the startrite 352, what are your recommendations?
and does anyone have any idea where i can get one from?
i need it to be very sturdy and not have a clean and non shaky cut!
or does anyone recommend anything different?

 

[siggy_7]

Linky

Try the search facility, it's not that difficult!

I'm not a bandsaw man, but the 352 has a very strong following and is well regarded by most who have one. Other members will be able to point you in the right direction on details, setup and use.

 

[misterfish]

They are regularly offered on Ebay - watch out for single phase (standard 230v mains) unless you have a 3 phase supply. These were widely installed in schools and ex education machines are usually well maintained and not abused. I bought one years ago and wouldn't change it - it is a straightforward machine that works well. There are several of us here with these machines that will offer help and advice shoud you need it.

Misterfish

 

[neilyweely]

I saw one go on ebay last week for 8 or 900 quid. I love mine but would like to think I could get more for that sort of money.

Keep a sharp eye out for poor listings and liquidation sales; I won't brag by saying what I paid for mine, think I already did that three or four times already, but it pays to be in the right place da da da.

Before I had the 352 I had a Bandit 5, which was also a great machine. I sold my bandit and upgraded to the 352, but do think the bandit was a better built machine. It didn't have the capacity of the 352, but omg it was heavy. Built like a boulder. And it had a 5 speed box; so was good for metalwork too. In fact all the startrite machines are pretty good, I think even the ones that have a steel table are quite well regarded.

HTH

Neil

 

[beech1948]

I bought mine off ebay for the sum total of £385.

I think that a price of upto £450 or so is OK. At £800 I would look for something bigger and better like a 30 inch Wadkin BZP for £850.

The 352 is a good machine. My mods to it have been to :-
1) Use the scary sharp approach to square up and clean up the triangular guides which work very well
2) Added a Kreg fence with micro adjust
3) added a tall wooden fence to the Kreg for veneer cuts
4) Added a wooden (beech) framed mobile base which lifted the saw by 1/2 inch and then closed in the bottom and lower sides with 6mm ply, screws and sealant to form a better box to extract from
5) Added two 4inch dust extraction ports one below the table and over the guides....you need to make your own to fit.....and a stay-put DC vent above the table.

All in All it has lived up to its rep, worked solidly and I use mine a lot.

regards
Al