240V Bandsaw recommendations

[Johnsond]

Hi All 

looking at my options for a decent bandsaw. 240V would be the preferred option, primary function would be cutting tenons in up to 6 inch beams normally softwood ie DF or occasionally hardwood. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations or experience good or bad.

 

[Woodworks]

Presuming 6" beams are pretty heavy so there may be plenty with that depth of cut but far less that are stable enough with big beams on the table. The old adage "they dont make them like they used to" applies here. Cast iron table would be a must IMO. The classic older bandsaw that was always recommended was the old Startrite 352 (never used one but know lots of pros who did) Its on the small size though but has a more than big enough cut. I picked up a big old single phase Wadkin and refurbished it with smart guides and fence for less than £1000. Nice thing with a bandsaw is they are pretty simp[le bits of kit so getting and old one and bringing it back to life is not a very complex job.

[trigger_andy]

3 hours ago, Johnsond said:

Hi All 

looking at my options for a decent bandsaw. 240V would be the preferred option, primary function would be cutting tenons in up to 6 inch beams normally softwood ie DF or occasionally hardwood. Just wondering if anyone has any recommendations or experience good or bad.

 

If I was gonna be cutting tenons on a Bandsaw I agree with Woodworks and Id be looking for an old Cast Iron one from the auctions. They are always at my local auction, which to be honest has folk coming all the way from Inverness to attend. 

 

Have you tried cutting them on your Woodland? Its a bit of a faf but I cut the tenons for my 8" beams for my log deck on my Mill and it worked well. The shorter pieces where tricky but I used two scaff boards to house them as they where shorter than the bunks and I used a set of Vice Grips to set up a stop so the cut was the same length each time. I did all the cheeks at one depth as it was just a Log Deck but where I to do them properly I think Id cut all the cheeks at one depth then readjust the height and do the shallower cuts after. 

 

Unless you're planning on doing tenons on a regular basis its a lot of money to spend. 

 

I bought this Metabo Bandsaw in the package I bought from London. As the reviews where good and it had a fence etc I gave my old one to a friend. I wish I never now as this Metabo is quite crap and under powered. As others have said, it struggles with 2x4". 2" dried Oak seems to make it struggle to the point of stopping and having to back back out the cut a fraction. And thats with a brand new blade. 

 

http://www.tools-warehouse.co.uk/METABO-BAS-317-BANDSAW-PRECISION-PACKAGE-240-VOL/product/TB2740/19019750/

 

[ucoulddoit]

I've been using a Sheppach Basato 5.2 for about 15 years and am very happy with it. 240V, has a cast iron table, 300mm depth of cut and a max 25mm blade size. Often use it for cutting tenons and the photo below shows it being used with roller supports when resawing some oak for window frames. Longest piece was almost 4m and weighed about 50kg initially, but the saw was quite stable despite 'pushing' really hard to overcome the friction on the table. Quite expensive though if it is just used for cutting tenons. I bought a ripper blade a while back after good reviews on Arbtalk, which are usually used for horizontal mills but is great for resawing large timbers on the vertical bandsaw. I wish it would take wider blades than 25mm and am pretty sure the Jet bandsaws have this option. I never cut the full 300mm depth of cut, but it is very accurate and with a decent blade can cut 200mm wide veneers, 2 or 3mm thick, all day long. I'd go for a significantly larger depth of cut that you need for regular use to be sure of having enough power, accuracy and stability.

 

Andrew

[Johnsond]

2 hours ago, trigger_andy said:

If I was gonna be cutting tenons on a Bandsaw I agree with Woodworks and Id be looking for an old Cast Iron one from the auctions. They are always at my local auction, which to be honest has folk coming all the way from Inverness to attend. 

 

Have you tried cutting them on your Woodland? Its a bit of a faf but I cut the tenons for my 8" beams for my log deck on my Mill and it worked well. The shorter pieces where tricky but I used two scaff boards to house them as they where shorter than the bunks and I used a set of Vice Grips to set up a stop so the cut was the same length each time. I did all the cheeks at one depth as it was just a Log Deck but where I to do them properly I think Id cut all the cheeks at one depth then readjust the height and do the shallower cuts after. 

 

Unless you're planning on doing tenons on a regular basis its a lot of money to spend. 

 

I bought this Metabo Bandsaw in the package I bought from London. As the reviews where good and it had a fence etc I gave my old one to a friend. I wish I never now as this Metabo is quite crap and under powered. As others have said, it struggles with 2x4". 2" dried Oak seems to make it struggle to the point of stopping and having to back back out the cut a fraction. And thats with a brand new blade. 

 

http://www.tools-warehouse.co.uk/METABO-BAS-317-BANDSAW-PRECISION-PACKAGE-240-VOL/product/TB2740/19019750/

 

Hoping to make a few more tables etc and the short pieces required for the legs would probs be easier on a dedicated bandsaw but I was sketching out a few jigs last night in regards the sawmill option and what would make it user friendly. 
Keep your eyes open Andy down your way if anything comes up ?.

[trigger_andy]

Just now, Johnsond said:

Hoping to make a few more tables etc and the short pieces required for the legs would probs be easier on a dedicated bandsaw but I was sketching out a few jigs last night in regards the sawmill option and what would make it user friendly. 
Keep your eyes open Andy down your way if anything comes up ?.

Will do.  

 

 

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Maybe worth signing up to their news letters? I think the auctions are all on-line just now, but even when they are back up and running with folk actually turning up you can place a proxy bid anyway. 

[ucoulddoit]

On 01/09/2020 at 08:51, ucoulddoit said:

I've been using a Sheppach Basato 5.2 for about 15 years and am very happy with it.

 

I noticed an auction just outside Glasgow coming up with a Sheppach Basa 5 which might be of interest. That's the updated model of the Basato 5.2. Current bid is £55! Hope the following link to the auction on 24th Sept works.  Also, I realise I should have pointed out that 240V machines like this need a 16A supply

 

Andrew

Sweeney Kincaid

WWW.SWEENEYKINCAID.COM

 

[Woodworks]

17 minutes ago, ucoulddoit said:

I noticed an auction just outside Glasgow coming up with a Sheppach Basa 5 which might be of interest. That's the updated model of the Basato 5.2. Current bid is £55! Hope the following link to the auction on 24th Sept works.  Also, I realise I should have pointed out that 240V machines like this need a 16A supply

 

Andrew

Sweeney Kincaid

WWW.SWEENEYKINCAID.COM

 

Looked at that model at a show. It was by far the best designed machine there plus it was more heavily built than most of the same capacity. Liked the fence system so much its what I fitted to my old Wadkin

Edited September 12, 2020 by Woodworks

[roys]

14 hours ago, ucoulddoit said:

I noticed an auction just outside Glasgow coming up with a Sheppach Basa 5 which might be of interest. That's the updated model of the Basato 5.2. Current bid is £55! Hope the following link to the auction on 24th Sept works.  Also, I realise I should have pointed out that 240V machines like this need a 16A supply

 

Andrew

Sweeney Kincaid

WWW.SWEENEYKINCAID.COM

 

I use Sweeney Kincaid quite a lot.

Remember to budget roughly an additional 30% onto your bid price to cover auction fees and tax.

[Johnsond]

Managed to pick that up which should do the job. 
 

On 12/09/2020 at 20:30, ucoulddoit said:

I noticed an auction just outside Glasgow coming up with a Sheppach Basa 5 which might be of interest. That's the updated model of the Basato 5.2. Current bid is £55! Hope the following link to the auction on 24th Sept works.  Also, I realise I should have pointed out that 240V machines like this need a 16A supply

 

Andrew

Sweeney Kincaid

WWW.SWEENEYKINCAID.COM

 

Bid on that for a while but baled at £655