#what to upgrade

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

cedar wraith
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I'm very torn, as I don't know what to upgrade for my future shop. My ryobi table saw is in ok shape but my fence is warped and it just can't seem to handle cutting much anymore. I have the table top band saw from them too but I rarely use it because unless I'm cutting something very small the blade wobbles and I have curves. I don't want too expensive of machines, ideally with wheels so I can move it to the opening of my garage, use it and then blow it off and put it away. But do I need a table saw if I buy a, say 12 inch band saw? Can't they do the same thing? But then I see Steve Ramsey who uses his table saw to do everything.

spare plaza
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I'm a handtool guy, but I can safely say that no, table saws and band saws do not do the same thing.

languid niche
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The answer to this is like the answer to most things in life which is, "It depends."

It depends on what you use your table saw for and what other tools you have. Bands saws are fine at ripping stock up to the width and height of the saw and cutting curves. What it cannot do is rip wide stock, make cove cuts, make dados, be set up for a box joint, or cross cuts on long boards..

Band saws are arguably safer tools.

You need to make sure your band saw is well tuned to get close to the cut quality of an average table saw.

After a table saw mishap that could have injured me but fortunately just scared me I tried going the band saw only route for six months or so and while I could make it work I missed the convenience and speed of a table saw and I do a lot of work with sheet goods which was a pain without a table saw so I went back.

In short, depending on the kind and volume of work you do you could maybe get away with only having a band saw. There's a guy who makes cutting boards in Alaska I think who only has band saws in his shop.

In short, "it depends".

cedar wraith
languid niche
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I'm sorry I don't. I'd have to do research. I "built" my workshop 15-20 years ago so my days of researching tools is long past and I tend to buy low end professional tools with the buy once, cry once philosophy. There really is a qualitative difference between a home owner tool and a professional level tool.

Try looking at Grizzly, I personally put them in the low-end professional grade. If you are looking to buy a table saw look for a hybrid vs a cabinet saw. Grizzly does have a 14" band saw on sale for $800(USD) right now. They have hybrid table saws for $900-$1200(USD).

You could also do well to watch for estate sales and woodworkers who are retiring from the hobby. You might be able to pick up some used but very nice tools that way at a fraction of the cost of new.

But that's kind of the extent of my purchasing advice.

(note that I am not saying that someone cannot make beautiful work with inexpensive tools... it's the craftmanship not the tools.)

cedar wraith
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Man I appreciate your time. I'll look again grizzly my brother in law swears by it. Where I live tons of estate sales but I legit went to one at 8 am and I saw a guy wheeling out a giant drill press I had every intention of buying haha

languid niche
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Yup, estate sales and tool sales are not a secret. Woodworking is an expensive hobby so lots of people are looking to get tools cheap. The other thing to look for is on-line estate sales. It's a lot less driving but they're often run as auctions so you need to bid on things. Similarly ebay and Craig's list may be a resource. Check out your local pawn shops. Check to see if you might not have a lending club or maker's space in your area.

The other thing about auctions and estate sales is that you're substituting leg-work for cash. To save cash you've got to do the work. Eventually you'll be the person wheeling the drill press out to your car with someone else looking on forlornly. Also, I can tell you from the experience my friends have had with auctions is they can be hit-or-miss... i.e. sometimes people show up and stuff sells well and sometimes they don't and your stuff sells for next to nothing.

cedar wraith
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Man I asked reddit about grizzly and someone said they had roaches come out of a box but the other comments were all positive

lucid canopy
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Grizzly is...fine. They make low-tier prosumer tools. You will find some variance in their QA but they have well-regarded customer service and will address those issues

cedar wraith
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Why would there be variety in their quality? Based on what I buy?

lucid canopy
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The variety is mostly because of the QA at Grizzly. A significant portion of cost comes from the QA process itself and Grizzly's strategy is to cull less to keep prices down. But this will result in more inspection need from the buyer at purchase

languid niche
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When I was "building" my shop I bought a Grizzly 10" cabinet table saw, a radial arm drill press, a 14" band saw, a twin bag 3 hp dust collector, and a 6" jointer.

The table saw had no issues that I ever found. It was the bottom end of their 10" cabinet table saws. I may have needed to use shims to make the side tables coplanar with the main table but I don't remember.

The drill press came with a rusty table and the stamped steel cover was warped. Grizzly replaced both with very little fuss.

My jointer needed shims to make the infeed and outfeed tables parallel. This was simple with some slices of an aluminum soda can jammed into the ways of the outfeed table.

My band saw had a nicked power cord. In this case it was just the outer plastic casing and the inner wires were fine so I just wrapped it with electrical tape and it's been fine for the last 15-20 years.

The dust collector just started making noises last year that sound like I am losing a bearing. I'm not looking forward to digging into that and replacing it. I might wait for it to get worse before I do anything about it.

I still have and use my jointer, band saw, and drill press. I did replace the table saw but it had nothing to do with the saw's reliability or quality.

I can also tell you that the shop fox rolling tool stands sold 20 years ago for heavy tools only last about 20 years as I've had 4 wheels disintegrate on me in the last two years. Fortunately I had a spare and have so far been able to replace the wheels. The new rolling tools stands seem to be different so I don't know if that's any help.

As QP - Bro Scientist said, their fit and finish is just not quite as nice as some other tools and I had more out-of-the-box issues with them than I have had with my other tools from Jet, SawStop, etc. I'm done buying large tools - at least until I find room and time for a lathe - but I would buy Grizzly again.