[Callynne]

Hi everyone, just time for a quick post before the next round of company arrives. Just had to tell you all I got a 'real bandsaw', it's a 14' Jet and I love it!! I've only got to use it a few times since things have been so crazy around here but it is unbelievably better than the 10' Sears one I have been using.
I can't believe how much wood I can remove and from so many angles! I was doing a lot of reciprocating and hand carving in my roughing out stage that took hours, this baby does it in minutes.
My (almost) four year old Grandson watched me using it, looked at me very, very seriously and said 'Grandma, that is a man's tool, you shouldn't be using it'! Ha! Ha! I promised him I'd be very, very careful!
The other thing I wanted to mention was about micro tools. I got a huge surprise last week. I had bought a couple Warren ones about two months ago, well they were certainly no where near the quality of my Dockyard Micro tools so I quit even trying to use them.
I sent for some new Dockyard ones and quess what, they weren't anywhere near the quality of the Dockyard ones I've been using for the past two years. I thought they hadn't been sharpened, I mean they actually dug up the wood instead of slicing right through it like my old ones do!
The other evening (while my Mother-in-law was napping) I decided to strop them on my 2000 grit wet/dry paper, the FlexCut stropping thing and then give them a really good stropping on the leather strop. WOW, they both, the new Dockyard and the Warren ones got almost as sharp as my old ones. I can't believe that I had stropped my old ones to such a great edge! Just goes to show what a difference stropping makes!
Okay, out of here, I really have to catch up some things (just wish it was carving!!). Callynne

P.S. why aren't the smilie faces working or is it just me?

Nope smilies don't work for me either, unless sometimes I can type in the letters and get one?

:-*you guys always remember , we carvers will never have to retire and as artists we should live for a long time...

Congrats on the new bandsaw, a carver's best friend... On the sharpeing, I have yet to buy a tool that was sharpened as well as I liked. They just don't seem to spend the time required to get them to the 'sticky' sharp stage.

That's great, Callynne!! I've only had my 12-inch Craftsman about 6 months, and I'm already unhappy with it. When I bough it, I was certain I'd never want to cut anything more than 5 inches thick.....lol...and now I'm getting angry because it LIMITS me to 5 inches thick.

Time for a new one! Reading this post just gave me the kick I need to get it done (I hope).

Teri

[AlArchie]

Callynne, congratz, on the new toy! Sounds great. I have a 12 ' Craftsman, but it is the tilt head, and has a clear 6' cut and if re-sawing I can go to just over 7' if I keep the cut to less than an inch thick, so it clears the light. some of these 12 inch saws have a riser available that will extend the gap a few inches, too, so Terri, you may not need to get a whole new saw......check with Sears and see if a riser is available.

Al

Hmmmm...thanks, Al, I'm off to check that out.

Teri

I too use the infamous Craftsman 12' bandsaw. I need to make an auxiluary tilting table for it. Maybe then it will pull it's weight. Come to think of it, the drill press, lathe, and table saw are Craftsman too and they aint so hot either :. Stick to their hand tools.

[noel58]

Sounds great! I too own a 14'. Don't forget you still can increase the capacity more by adding a 5' spacer to your saw, its an option you can get. Of course you need longer baldes too. Another great thing is to get a blade repair kit so you can buy blades in a roll and just cut off what you need, some think its cheaper. I own three old Sears band saws and two collecting dust UNDER my bench. Sears used to provide a leather belt with their saws. I keep the third one just for power stropping with the bandsaw. Good Luck.

The Jet 14' is a wonderful tool (saw)! Buy the extender and necessary length blades....recommend timberwolf.