A hobby user's bandsaw
Written: May 12 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Gets the job done quickly, accuarately, and quietly. Great warranty.
Cons: Some parts must be replaced
The Bottom Line: A very good choice for almost everyone whos not a professional.
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| petevu's Full Review: Ridgid 14" Band Saw BS1400 |
The best thing about Ridgid is their lifetime warranty. I really can't get over how well they stand behind their products. These days you can expect a company to make excuses, blame it on you, and not help you at all, but I felt comfortable talking to Ridgid whenever I had problems with their past products (I own a 14.4 Ridgid cordless drill).
I titled this review as "A hobby user's bandsaw" because its perfect for those who are just working around the house, or building a few things that interest them. I really wouldn't expect to see this saw in an actual workshop or butchers, but it fits in perfectly to my garage. And as a hobby user, you really have to consider price as one of the major factors, and I feel like for the 350 dollars, the price is perfect, plus a few additional addons...
A few things I would replace are the rip fence and definately the blade. Personally, I rarely ever use the blade that came with any product. I've found that 3rd party blades are almost always better for me. I have already replaced the blade with a timberwolf blade, but thats the only one i tried, and it works for me, so I dont plan on trying other blades that could be better. The general rule on blades, I find, is that you really get what you pay for, even thought they all look alike, so just chose what you can afford. The rip fence I have personally NOT replaced yet. I recieved this information from a coworker who owns the same saw, and is pushing me to replace the rip fence. He is a reliable person, and I will replace it, just wanted you guys to know that its not me PERSONALLY, but someone I really trust. With these changes, you should make your saw increase greatly in value. We're I to just leave everything stock, I feel like the saw would not be worth the I paid for it.
At the beginning I praised Ridgid's customer service, but this specific saw has alot going for it aswell. The motor is a 3/4 HP TEFC induction motor. What does this mean? Average to Good power (perfect for a hobby/home improvement user) and QUIET! The last thing u want is for a neighbor to come by your house and tell you your saw is waking their baby, because theres nothing you can really do to make a saw quieter. I strongly dont recommending closing your garage door or working in a closed room, becuase you will get a sinus infection. It happens all the time, and its not pretty. But you won't have to worry using this saw because it really is more quiet than the usual saw.
The stand it comes on is as solid as a bolt on table can be. If you can, I would fabricate your own table just for that piece of mind, but I wouldn't worry too much if you use the included stand. It looks fairly fragile, but its actually a more solid stand than it looks. Assembly is easy with the right tools, but if you are having trouble assembling any power tool, you probably shouldnt be using it.
The blade guides are really cool. They allow precise changes that I didn't even think I needed. It really makes life easier becuase if you've ever used a bandsaw before, theres an understandable ammount of accuracy you can expect... but ridgid has gone further to make sure you have a precise cut. I applaud ridgid for this feature.
In conclusion, chosing a bandsaw thats right for you is one of the most important decisions you will make when building your workshop. The Ridgid 14" saw is a good choice for beginners, and is powerful and reliable enough to use daily for a long, long while. Take advantage of that WONDERFUL warranty!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
petevu
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Reviews written: 15
Trusted by: 1 member
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