Am I Wrong?

[Arlin Eastman]

Curt

I have the bigger one than this one with the 5hp but the same frame and it is a grunt of a saw that the VA bought me.  However, the cut length is only 12" where mine is 17" and that is why the 5hp motor

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly...2-HP/G0513


I think you will really like this one.  I also really like the blade guides on this one to which I believe are better then mine. Which is below

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly...saw/G0636X

[Admiral]

I've got the Grizzly G0514X2 3hp, and couldn't be happier; the extra hp makes resawing a breeze.  Choices, choices.......

[fredhargis]

The Rikon saws have a lot of nice features...I think it's not a bad choice. The 10-353 model would be even nicer, but it does come at a price. As for blades, the Lenox Diemaster 2 is a good choice and a nice balance between cost and service life. They are bi-metal and can be used to cut non-ferrous metals withut a problem if needed. On the saw I think you want, I'd go with 1/2" wide 3 TPI for resawing, and maybe a 3/8" 4TPI for more general cutting...unless you want to cut tighter curves, then maybe a 1/4" blade.

[Derek Cohen]

For re-sawing, the fewer the teeth the better. The 1" carbide Lenox Woodmaster CT I use is 1.3 tpi. For general sawing I use a 3/8" bimetal 3 tpi.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[cputnam]

I would love to get an 18" or larger bandsaw but don't want to spend that kind of money. 90+ percent of what I expect to do with the saw is ripping. I expect resaw activities will be either splitting a board to get book matched pieces for door panels or simply to get thinner solid wood for panels. I last used a bandsaw in high school shop class. My last memory of that experience is not good. Broke a blade because one of the class hoodlums thought it would be funny to "accidentally" hit the board as he walked by, but I was the one who caught all the fallout.

To restate, my use case involves very little resaw activity but I want the capability. I do not have and will not be getting a drum sander, so what I think of as veneer isn't going to happen. I do not see any work less than 1/4" in my sawing future. I do understand that a ½" blade is about all the 14" Rikons can tension and that 3/8" is more like it. Still, I'm willing to trade time at the saw for purchase price. That said, the saw must be capable of the resaws and rips that I am anticipating.

Does the above change anyone's opinion?

TIA

[jteneyck]

You can resaw with nearly any bandsaw; it all depends upon how well the saw is set up, the blade, and how patient you are.  I ripped and resawed a LOT of lumber on my 14" Delta with riser, even cut quite a lot of veneer with it, before my patience wore thin and I finally could justify buying a much larger saw.  I still use the Delta, actually more frequently than the larger saw, but not for resawing or slicing veneer.  

Someone earlier mentioned Grizzly, and I think you should take another look at them.  You can get a 2 HP 17" Grizzly G0513 for $997 which is not much more than the basic 14" Rikon, and less than the Deluxe which is still a 14" saw with a smaller motor.  The 17" Grizzly will allow you to run a 1" carbide (or regular) blade on it, and that will make resawing much easier and smooth enough if you choose the right blade that you could slice veneer w/o needing a drum sander.  It will give you a lot more capability than a 14" saw unless you pony up for the Rikon Pro, or Laguna equivalent.  Even then, you will be limited in your choice of carbide blades because of the small wheel diameter; pretty much confined to Laguna's Resaw King. 

My 2 cents.

John

[garmar60]

I went thought this same question a year ago. It took me several months to make decision. I think the rikon open stand on sale can be the best value for a steel frame saw but if you consider the closed base saws the additional cost makes the griz 513 a better value. I finally ordered the 513 x2. And really like it. I felt the open stand rikon had too many compromises
Good luck
Gary

[Admiral]

  I finally ordered the 513 x2. And really like it.  

It's worth the extra $ for the cast iron trunnion.

[Derek Cohen]

I would love to get an 18" or larger bandsaw but don't want to spend that kind of money.  90+ percent of what I expect to do with the saw is ripping. I expect resaw activities will be either splitting a board to get book matched pieces for door panels or simply to get thinner solid wood for panels.  I last used a bandsaw in high school shop class.  My last memory of that experience is not good.  Broke a blade because one of the class hoodlums thought it would be funny to "accidentally" hit the board as he walked by, but I was the one who caught all the fallout.

To restate, my use case involves very little resaw activity but I want the capability.  I do not have and will not be getting a drum sander, so what I think of as veneer isn't going to happen.  I do not see any work less than 1/4" in my sawing future.  I do understand that a ½" blade is about all the 14" Rikons can tension and that 3/8" is more like it.  Still, I'm willing to trade time at the saw for purchase price.  That said, the saw must be capable of the resaws and rips that I am anticipating.

Does the above change anyone's opinion?

TIA

Curt, essentially just stay away from carbide blades if you plan on a 14" machine. Bimetal blades will work and will last a lot longer than the rest. Ideally I would aim for a 3/4" blade (with around 2 tpi) for resawing, but this may be too wide to tension on the Rikon. Check on this. Otherwise, a 3/8" or 1/2" blade (with 3 tpi) for general work. Do not go above 3tpi.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[cputnam]

Derek, Rich, Gary, John, and the rest of you. 1st of all, thank you - it's why I asked the question.

Have studied the Grizzly 513X2 more. For essentially the same money, the machine has cast iron wheels, trunnion and table. Also bearing guides and a quick tension release. 2 hp 240vac motor. Just need to make sure I can handle delivery.

What size blade can this saw effectively tension? Is there any harm in running a resaw blade for general ripping?