Metal Cutting Bandsaw

EdCaffreyMS

EdCaffreyMS

"The Montana Bladesmith"
Hey Gang..... just wanted to share. My Jet, 7 x 12 bandsaw is about on it's last leg. It's been around for over 20 years, and the gearbox/bearings are overheating with light use. So.... before year's end, and because I can write it off on taxes, I've been nosing around, looking for a new saw of the same size/type. Long story short, there's none that I can find, that are not China made, so I went to Grizzly for a look..... they just happen to have a sale on until Jan 1...... $950 plus $129 freight! Considering the closest new one is from Harbor Freight....for $999 plus freight...... I think I'm gona go with the Grizzly.

I know not everybody needs or wants a saw like this..... but it my go to for sawing anything bigger then guard stock (AKA: for cutting damascus/accordion cutting) Here's a link: https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-7-x-12-1-hp-metal-cutting-bandsaw/g0561

While I'm at it, I wanted to share a new source I found for bandsaw blades (for anything larger then the 44 7/8" blade for portabands....those I still buy in quantity off ebay). https://lacuttingproducts.com/ I've been buying Bi-Metal, 93" blades for the 7x12 saw for about $30 each. Pretty good deal.
 
EdCaffreyMS said:
Hey Gang..... just wanted to share. My Jet, 7 x 12 bandsaw is about on it's last leg. It's been around for over 20 years, and the gearbox/bearings are overheating with light use. So.... before year's end, and because I can write it off on taxes, I've been nosing around, looking for a new saw of the same size/type. Long story short, there's none that I can find, that are not China made, so I went to Grizzly for a look..... they just happen to have a sale on until Jan 1...... $950 plus $129 freight! Considering the closest new one is from Harbor Freight....for $999 plus freight...... I think I'm gona go with the Grizzly.

I know not everybody needs or wants a saw like this..... but it my go to for sawing anything bigger then guard stock (AKA: for cutting damascus/accordion cutting) Here's a link: https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-7-x-12-1-hp-metal-cutting-bandsaw/g0561

While I'm at it, I wanted to share a new source I found for bandsaw blades (for anything larger then the 44 7/8" blade for portabands....those I still buy in quantity off ebay). https://lacuttingproducts.com/ I've been buying Bi-Metal, 93" blades for the 7x12 saw for about $30 each. Pretty good deal.
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That is a nice saw. I imagine it would cut up one of your huge cannisters well...I am looking at the Grizzly mills currently because of the sale.
 
Just my opinion..... and depending on the size you're after, in my experience, the smaller grizzly brand mills tend to be much more accurate/tight then their larger ones. I've been very happy with my G0704 bench top mill. I also have a large Grizzly knee mill, that was discontinued, but right from the start, it wasn't even remotely accurate/tight. It's good to within about 4-5 thousandths..... but the bench top is closer to 1-2 thou.

That being said, remember this.... you can always do small work on a large mill.....but you CANNOT do large work with a small mill. The G0704 is pretty much maxed out with a 5/16"" end mill. If you plan to do any face milling, it can work with a 1" face mill....but it is painfully SLOW......even with super shallow cuts/passes. On the big knee mill, I can run a 3"/4 insert face mill, and grab 5-10 thou at a pass, depending on travel speed.
 
Yeah I was looking at the GO704 as the possible buy. I do not have a ton of space in the shop so I was going on the small side but not the smallest.
 
Chris Railey said:
Yeah I was looking at the GO704 as the possible buy. I do not have a ton of space in the shop so I was going on the small side but not the smallest.
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I don’t mean to De rail the thread but I really like the look of the precision Matthews bed mills. Not quite as big Or expensive as a knee mill but looks like you could do fairly large work on it. Maybe something to look at. They don’t run sales sadly.
 
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