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What is up with the bandsaw breakdowns lately? About 30 min ago I was resawing an ebony fingerboard to use as a headplate and the upper wheel bracket on my 14" Grizz broke. A big pop and everything jumped. Don't know yet, and don't care really, if it took out the blade but I still have all my fingers. Got a bit of an adrenalin rush which is something I try to avoid since I left the military.

I had been thinking about getting a Lennox blade for the 14" but now I think its time to upgrade the whole saw. The Grizz is 10 yrs old and I've been running an Iturra spring on it for about 4 yrs so I can' be too unhappy that the part let go. I think its just made of pot metal. The only other thing I've had to replace is the power switch.



You can see I don't have a lot of space for a big saw. The bandsaw is sitting pretty much in the middle of what is going to be a small spray booth. I've been looking at the Rikon 14" deluxe but like what I hear about the 17" grizz with cast iron trunnion and wheels. Just wondering out loud if I could get a 17" saw to fit.

Not looking to start another "which bandsaw do I buy" thread, but really wanted to share (vent). I've got the whole rest of the day in the shop today and no bandsaw

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I think our shops are about the same size. I'd have more room except I have a milling machine that takes up a whole corner. Good advice about comparing footprints. I have already printed out info on several saws and thought I might tape some cardboard or scrap to my 14" to get an idea of what a bigger saw might feel like in there. And, yes, I'm thankful there was no blood drawn. I use pushsticks too; usually two, one for sideways pressure on the fence and one to push the work through.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Steve I had the same thing happen on my Griz'...but in all fairness I was pushing the saw to do things it just wasn't designed to do. Replaced it with parts from Grizzly and then sold the saw and upgraded. I use my bandsaw quite a bit so I went ahead and bought the Rikon 18". Got it when it was on sale for $999.00.

Go ahead and start looking. You won't regret it.

Chris

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There is no difference between the man that thinks he can....and the man that thinks he cannot.

Sounds like good advice and the upgrade is what I want to do anyway. The only bummer is I'm gonna have to let go of a pretty sweet Taylor 12-string and a nice American Strat to get the money.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Hey!

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Hey! Hey!

So you charge 'em for it...

Ovation doesn't make a 12 string...

Just like I said...
Here's a 12 string...

They even make a 12 string electric....or they once did. Glenn Campbell used to play one.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Stuart?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Good thread to blow up since I was just venting anyway.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

WOW!!!

Ah,

WOW!!!

Good advice and you're right, a bigger saw will fit - I'll need to do a bit of rearranging but I'm going to do that anyway. I like the Grizzly G0513X2 17" with cast iron trunnion and wheels. http://grizzly.com/products/17-Bandsaw-2HP-w-Cast-Iron-Trunnion/G0513X2

This saw is also available with a motor brake for an extra $155. Anyone have any experience with the motor brake on this one? I'd probably pay this much for a foot brake but just wondering if the motor brake is worth it.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I've been following that one and the one about blades too. Hey Chris, what's the low-down on that saw?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I called Grizzly first thing Mon morning and I had a new part yesterday. They were easy to deal with and the gal I talked knew what she was doing; all around good experience.

Had today off so was able to get the saw fixed. I'm still going to replace it with a 17" but now I can sell it to help defray the costs.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Seems to be made out of pot metal or something very similar. Ok for carburetors but a poor choice for structural things.

I'm sure the Iturra spring didn't help either

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"