So far, I've done all my roughing out using just my powercarver. I'm moving into bigger pieces, though...and though it would be better to do SOME of the roughing with some sort of power saw. At this point, I have only a sabre saw that I use to cut wood to size. I'm thinking I should invest in a table-top saw - (either a band saw or scroll saw?) that will allow me to cut along lines, etc., rather than just my usual hacking away. I need it to cut through wood that is up to 5-6 inches thick - is that possible? What about speed of the cut? I just die while waiting for my sabre saw to get through some pieces of wood. I want to be sure I get the fastest cut I can get. I just want to get to carving!!

What do you suggest as options?

Teri

[Nancy_G]

IMHO Â* there aren't any options..... there's only the 14' Delta band saw - floor model. It's PERFECT - even for a total klutz like me. Â*It slices through 6' wood like butter, requires VERY little mantainence (how DO you spell that word?) and you can buy an adapter/extension so it will handle wood up to 12' thick.
The only problem I have with the Delta is the 'throat' is only 14' deep so if you're trying to lop off an 18' chunk of wood from a 48' piece you have to have a different method. Â*Then I have to call DH to use the radial arm. Â*I'm scared to death of that radial arm.
I also have a little bench band saw but never touch it. Â*The big Delta does everything and does it like a dream.
Any scroll saw probably won't cut wood thicker than 2' or so.

[AlArchie]

Teri, Nancy hit it right on the head as far as the type of saw; Â*only a bandsaw can handle that kind of work. Â*Pick up a good instruction manual and check over at Wood Magazine for an excellent instruction on tuning up and maintaining the bandsaw. Â*

As far as brands go, I have a Craftsman 12' that handles up to 6' thick material, and it works Â*'OK', but not great. Â*It takes a bit of Â*'tuning' to keep it running true. Â*I bought it because of name recognition and I thought it was made in the USA.......OOOOOOPS! Â*It's another Taiwan product. Â*So, going on those lines, I would now look at Jet or Grizzly, as they offer a good product (although foreign made, too) at a fair price.

A few years ago, I bought a Sears lathe, too. Â*Know what? Â*It IS a Delta! Sears markets by bidding out their products, so sometimes you can find Delta, Milwaukee or B&amp sold by Sears as 'Craftsman' products. Â*Just check it out and watch what you buy. Â*It may be that Delta is an off-shore product now, too. Â*Seems like we can't make anything here anymore, although they are built to our specs and design.

Another mistake I made was buying the 'fancy' electronic model. Â*It is good, don't get me wrong, but because of all the fancy shrouding, it is hard to adjust and set the guide blocks. If you find a model with the ball bearing guides, GET IT!Â*The plain model is the best choice in my HO! and get the one with the tilting table, NOT the tilting head; Â*again it works fine and is easier to hold the work because the table remains flat and parallel with the floor, but it's another adjustment to get out of whack! (well, that's either a yup or nope, depending on how I feel that day, as for the most part I am partial to the tilting head, even given the adjustment fuss. Â*If you don't use the tilt that much (which you probably won't for roughing out blanks) thats a nonsequiter, anyway!

Shop around and find one you are comfortable with; Â*DON'T get a table top model; Â*it won't handle the heavy work, no matter what they tell ya!

Hope this helps and doesn't add to the confusion of buying tools.

Al

Put a vote down for the Grizzly.
We have had it for years, thick and thin wood.
It cuts great and was reasonable$
My husband has been buying their products for years.He did have one return on a Mortise machine, but it was handled quick and with no problems.
Michele

guess I have to put in my .02....think RIDGID, just kidding, but I like mine and I especially like the lifetime warranty, also as with other bandsaws, you can get an extension if you want to cut larger wood....suggest you do this at time of purchase though because other wise you will have to buy new blades as the old ones will be too short!

[Nancy_G]

My 14' Delta has tilting table to make those ... ??? er... ah ... whatcha call 'em ... diagonal cuts, and after I cut out blanks I run at least 99% percent of them through again on all 4 sides at 45* (I think -- maybe you noticed, I ain't none too smart with machinery). I want those sharp side edges all knocked off/rounded off. It sure saves me a lot of time & effort rough cutting with a chisel. Dumb as I am I have no trouble at all with the adjustments and alignments. It just takes seconds and no brains at all.
Remember - you're hearing from an old HOUSEWIFE who got her bandsaw when she had just the vaguest idea of the difference between a screwdriver and a wrench. :

[mdallensr]

Some recent 'consusmer-product' type reviews of band saws gave the Delta, Jet and new Grizzly good marks (for afforable machines). I have the Delta, use it a lot, and like it. The comment about scroll saws is correct; you can't do thicker than about 2', and thicker than 1 1/2' can be tedious and less accurate than a band saw. There are some really high-end band saws that most of us won't bother with due to the price (Laguna is one). However, if you're only going to do smaller carvings such as Santas, you could probably get by with a good bench model and save $200-$300. Be ready to use a shop-vac for dust collection.

BTW, I worry more about my band saw than my radial arm saw. If you ever saw a butcher cutting meat on a band saw, you'd know how quickly you could lop off a valued body part. Band saws seem safer because they're quiet and nothing's moving other than the blade, but that can be deceiving. I think radial arm saws and table saws earn our fear and respect because the danger is so obvious.

[lorax]

I dont want to get into a tinkling match over brands (cough Rigid cough cough), but I will tell you what not to get. I have a craftsman tabletop that has three wheels to give you bigger throat depth. The problem with the design is you need three hands to put the blades on, and they pop off much easier than the two wheel kind. I'm not saying anything about Craftsman specifically but BEWARE THE THREE WHEEL DESIGN!!! or if it doesn't bother you, you can buy mine

[AlArchie]

That's the one thing I really do like about the tilting HEAD Craftsman, is being able to knock off a 45 degree corner, like Nancy says, but with the table still flat and level with the floor. Trouble is getting the darned thing lined back up to true 90 degrees again, even with the electronic digital readout! Have to take the table (front) off everyso often and clean the threads and stops. I guess every advantage has it's trade-offs. Oh, ya, and that Craftsman lathe was made by Ridgid, not Delta, like I first said, although I think delta did do a series for tham a while back!

Al

[Callynne]

Â* Â* Yesss, I am so happy you all are having this conversation. Â*Next thing I buy after my AutoMach is going to be a big bandsaw. Â*I had asked about it when I started carving, knew I needed something better for taking off waste wood than my own two hands. Â*My son-in-law gave me his old Craftsman band saw, it's very small though, only has about four inches cutting space. Â*That leaves a lot that can't be cut! Â*
Â* Â* Funny, a year ago I was afraid of my husband's tiny little scroll saw, now I scare him trying to lob off as much wood as possible with this little band saw. Â*Can tell even a little one is something one has to 'respect' though. Â*
Â* Â* Keep all the good information coming! Â*Callynne Â*