G'day from Townsville

[Benl]

Hello all,
I've been woodworking as a hobby for several years now, mostly turning timber into shavings and occasionally finishing a piece of furniture. Aside from an old triton saw bench I use hand tools, also old, which I enjoy but are very slow.
I'm contemplating getting a bandsaw both for general crosscutting, shaping and ripping and for resawing small pieces of timber. Much of what I use is recycled so needs to be broken down to smaller sizes.
In one of the older reviews the Sheppach basato 4 seems to come out well as a mid sized saw. Can anyone offer a opinion on this or one of the Jet or carbatec saws? Allan at the Townsville Jet shop is very helpful but I have little experience with machinery so would welcome any advice.

[Christos]

Welcome to the forum. I have a 14inch Carbatec bandsaw myself. Find it ok but would prefer to have a much smoother table.

[rocfish13]

Welcome!!

[Milo]

WELCOME!

Mate, I am pretty new to this woodwork lark but have done an awfull lot of research and looking at machines of all shapes and sizes.

In my opinion Jet is better than Carbatec stuff but I have a nagging voice that says is it worth the extra 400-500 bucks.

The low end 14' carbatec bandsaws in my opinion are junk, the are flimsy and there is no heft in them at all.

I would go a 14' Jet anyday of the week over a 14' carbatec.....

I picked up a 14' Delta which the Jet is virtually the same and it rocks!! I have a 3/4 inch bi metal blade in mine and it rough cuts anything I throw at it, I haven't put a riser kit on mine which I am tossing up whether to do it or not cause I am limited with resawing width.

If you want performance and you want to buy carbatec then you have to go their 17' bandsaw, then you are getting value for money vs performance.

just my 2 cents....

Goodluck

[Benl]

Thank s all for your replies,
Sounds like as always you get what you pay for. I'll probably save up for a larger saw.
Pardon my ignorance but what is a riser kit and what does it do?

Regards,

Ben

[munruben]

G'day and welcome

[reefology]

Hi Ben,
Welcome to the club, [as I said to my first wife when she got preggers]
I have only been as you say making shavings for two years now.
A riser is an extention or spacer that you bolt onto your saw frame to increase its height hence increasing the size of your saw,typically used on 12 inch saws which gives them the sawing size of a 14 inch,research risers if you are contemplating going that way as there are pros and cons for and against.
I have a Jet 14 inch saw which I would not recommend, on saying that the model I have sems to be in the minority, it is like a cabinet style saw, as opposed to the normal cast iron frame design,this frame is pressed steel,also I can not but blades off the shelf for it,the other Jet saws are probably better as I too have heard good things about them,thats why I bought this one.
I live up in Ingham if you wish we can keep in touch always good to have another woodie to moan to .
All the best Ben and kind regrds.
Tom.

[JJF]

G'day and welcome

[Benl]

Thanks Tom,
Yes it would be good to keep in touch, the only local woodworker group I know of is the woodturners club. Always helpful to bounce ideas around, and ask advice.

Regards,

Ben