Grizzly Ultimate 14" Bandsaw

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- Bob Darrah
  
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posted
18 years ago

Mon, May 2, 2005 6:35 AM

I know that the topic of which bandsaw is best comes up frequently but I would like to hear from those that have had the Grizzly Ultimate 14" bandsaw for awhile. It's been out for a couple of years and I think I can get some good opinions now. How is it holding up? Is it still a good machine when adding the 6" riser block? Are the bearings good? Does the Carter blade guide fit the Grizzly bandsaw? Is there anything I should know before buying one? I am looking at the Jet 14" that is on sale and will be choosing one of them by the middle of the month. I'm fairly knowledgeable about the Jet. I will be cutting mostly Big Leaf Maple and Maple Burl for the lathe and it will be getting usage daily. I also have some Desert Ironwood that I will cutting. I know I have to have a bi-metal blade for the ironwood. I found that out on a smaller saw.

Thanks to any that leave messages for me!

Bob

- G
- George
  
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posted
18 years ago

Mon, May 2, 2005 11:05 AM

Carter guides are for resawing. I'd stick to ceramics for roughing. They're very slick, hold the blade in check well, and don't corrode if you forget to clean after a green/wet wood session.

My experience with Grizzly is less than positive, but a lot of people feel the price difference is worth the chance. At our school shop we had a lot of cracked castings, and the bandsaw wouldn't hold a setting long enough for you to turn around and exchange tool for workpiece. Casting faults cheerfully replaced in all cases, though the bandsaw problem was solved by getting a Delta to sit next to its 50-year-old ancestor.

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- roper.nick
  
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posted
18 years ago

Tue, May 3, 2005 1:27 AM

Greetings Bob,

I have had the G0555 with the riser block for over a year now, with no complaints at all. It is used almost daily and the only thing I have ever replaced is one of the guide berrings that froze on me after getting a piece of alabaster wedged in just the wrong position. It runs smooth as silk and have never experienced any sort of setting changes despite the fact that it is often called on to handle much more than it was designed for. While I like Jet tools and have several, grizzly has a real winner in this one.