Band Saw Question

[JJOLD]

Dream is getting closer to a 14", the question is for the blade guides, cool blocks or bearings, did some reading and some say that the cool blocks help keep the sides of the blade free from buildup and that the bearings sometimes build up pinching the blade? Your thoughts.
Have looked at Grizzly, Porter Cable, Rigid, and the One Harbor Freight has, Grizzly has a great deal but also wants $74 to ship semi truck.

[Boxman]

I've used the griz 14" ultimate, it comes with BB guides and it's on sale right now for $425.00. I'd highly recommend that you save up the extra $30.00 over the cost of their standard 14" and just consider the shipping as a necessary expense. The extra $30.00 gets you the BB guides, another 1/4hp on the motor and a much, much better fence. The whole thing, to your door for $500.

I've used BB guides, discs, cool blocks and wooden blocks and prefer the discs unless I'm using a very small blade then I prefer wooden blocks because you can enclose the whole blade in the block to prevent twist. That's not something that comes up often enough to be a deciding factor...and heck you have a scrollsaw to do that sort of thing with. With that said I like the BB guides just fine but don't own any for my own BS.

The only time I've had issues with buildup on the blade is while cutting a bunch of freshly sawmilled fir that hadn't been dried at all, every couple of hours I'd stop the saw and wipe the blade down with alcohol on a rag and do the same with the tires to cut the pitch off. Again, not something that would be part of my decision making process.

[NN]

I like the cool blocks.

Does not matter if it is shipped to your door or to a retail store you are going to pay the freight.

[Jacko]

I have a 14" Griz that I picked up about 10 years ago. I got the best value at the time. It came with a larger motor. I would have to look but I think it is 2hp.
I have the steel guides, they suck and if I used my saw a lot more I would upgrade to the bearings. I worked a lot of aluminum when I was in Washington State and all of the band-saws had bearings and the blades lasted for a real long time. Have it shipped. by all means but be prepaired to get it off the back of the truck. Mine was heavy and I had it shipped to work where I had access to a fork lift.

[JJOLD]

Thanks for the info, and Box here is the one from Grizzly that I am looking at the new model from the one you like, http://www.grizzly.com/products/14-1...-Series/G0555P

[Boxman]

Now that's a downright steal at that price.

[Gregory Of Sherwood Forest]

Dang, great setup for the money!

I see they have a riser block for it available next year also for only $60. That'd get you to a 12" resaw capacity.

Geez. I may have to save up a few nickels for this package myself.

.

[Lorax]

JJ, if you decide to go with the riser kit, I have one NIB that we could prolly work out a trade for. Best to get one early if you think you'll want one, before you stock up on "short" blades.

[Boxman]

another plus here is that the saw had brushes installed to sweep sawdust off of the blade and the lower band wheel. My saw has that and it's remarkably effective at keeping sawdust from coming back around for a second trip.