I'm gonna ask this here

[GunClick Rick]

Cause leather makers and kinfe makers hang here too.When cutting antler or whatever what do you all use?The reason i ask is i was in the thrift store today and found two band saws.One was a taller table top and the other looked more like a sewing machine shaped table top,both had the platforms and both were Craftsmen.The shorter one looked a little older,but had what looked like an oil resevour?
Had a tube coming from the top down toward the cutting area.Both of them worked.The shorter one was 25.00 and the newer taller one was 35.00.I liked the shorter one better and looked like it was adjustable enough to do any gun grip making or antler knife making.They both had bolt areas where you could bolt them to a good bench top,the taller one had alot of working area and both had thier own motors.The shorter looked like it had an up and down motion more like a sewing machine where the taller one had the circular blade...

What say yee?

[WaddWatsonEllis]

IMHO,

First, personally I run from any Craftsman electric tool ... their hand tools are some of the best, but they tend to put bushings rather than bearings in their modern stuff. And if you get an electric tool old enough to have bearings, you will soon find that very few people will repair them .... and Sears (usually the only source) can take forever to get a part, and the total charge is usually going to cost more than getting a good used competitor.

Now, if you are fixed on these, there are usually three different sized woodworking bandsaws ... the first is a 'tabletop level'; perhaps good if you are doing something like scroll saw fret work, but I don't think it will open high enough for a full 2X4..

The second is a '14'' model ... meaning there are 14inches from the blade to the vertical housing where the other side of the blade goes. These will usually open up to vertically to about 8 inches; and if I remember, the Craftsman uses a 93" blade rather than the usual industry standard of 103" blade ( if my memory remembers this correctly). This means that the blade is harder to find than a standardized blade, and is usually found (if at all) with lesser blade selections.

The final size is just a 14" model that has had a riser put on the fixed blade housing, and an extension to the upper guides for the open blade (cutting) side. This type of saw is usually purchased by someone who is planning to do alot of 'resawing' (i.e. cutting veneers from big pieces of board). It usually gives a 12" (or a little bigger) vertical capacity. And uses a blade the size of the 14" moldel with about twice the size of the riser added on. Again, Craftsman's size is not the industry norm and will be either more difficult to find or will have lesser blade choices when found....

If you are going to be using this alot, I would look for a used Grizzly, Jet or Powermatic. I think you would be much happier with your purchase ....

P.s. If there is a local woodworking club in your area, I would get to be friends with a member. Old poots like me are constantly quitting woodworking and selling their tools cheap.

[Dave Cole]

Rick, it sounds like you happened onto a Scroll saw(short one with up and down motion) and a wood cutting bandsaw.The bandsaw would be more useful and stronger.But as a knifemaker I use a metal cutting bandsaw for all my steel, wood , antler cutting chores.Harbor Freight and Grizzley both have a reasonably priced metal saw for about $160-$200,(I have a HF model that I have been using for over 20 years) and with either model throw away the original blade immeadiately and get a Bi-metal blade.You can also cut antler with a handsaw, or use a Dremel with cutoff wheels( This is what I use for slotting antlers for friction folders).Dave

[Ned Buckshot]

I use a Delta BS 100 9" band saw. It's their smallest bench top model. I picked it because I need to be able to move it on and off the work table. My shop is the second bedroom in my apartment so space is at a premium.

It does everything I ask it to as long as I don't try and push it too hard.

Ned

[Josh Dabney]

GCR,

This here is MY opinion on the subject so TIFWIW.

Dave's right on the scroll saw.  This is a specialty saw that has VERY limited use.  It is used ONLY for very intricate type cutting on thin materials. It's specialty is the fact that the blade detatches. This is so you can drill a small hole and insert the blade through hole to make INSIDE cuts.  Say you have a piece of plywood 6" square and want to make a pictureframe cut-out without cutting through the FRAME part.  This is your tool. Basically a powered coping saw.   It's only other plus is the incredibly thin blade width (frome teeth to spine) making very tight radius-s possible.

The tube blows an air stream to clear chips. Due too the delicate nature of cuts this machine makes visibility is a MUST and the occasional puff of hot air from the mouth simply won't cut the mustard here.

A waste of money IMHO for anyone but a serious wood worker.

Bandsaw is another story.  I've got a metal bandsaw just like Dave's but unless you NEED to cut steel a wood type saw is the way to go.  The benchtop models like you saw and Ned mentioned are great little saws that will last a LONG time and cut like a champ. When talking about models over 10" (Depth between blade and frame) now your talking about spending some serious coin.  I agree that craftsman power tools aren't the best but for $35 run back and scoop it up !  Consider this a throw away but still expect to get YEARS of hobby service from it.  Aso, repair parts should be available from Sears if needed. 

Judging by what you want to do this is exactly the type of saw I would recommend. 

I'm hoping to add a wood saw very similar to my shop shortly after Christmas so I don't have to use the metal saw for the things you mentioned- Antler and wood.

-Josh

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

    I use my Dads 55 year old Delta Home Craft 9" band saw, it's on its own floor stand, I just bought new tires for it, I cut everything but steel with it, and it's been a great saw for my shop, I also have a Rigid Scroll saw, like Josh pointed out you won't use this saw except for real small detail work, I have found it to be very handy over the years, but it isn't a heavily used saw.

        tEN 

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Sorry if I gave incorrect information for leather work ... my background is woodwork and my experience has been working with that medium.

I was detailed to do alot of furniture type work in Saudi for radio tables, break tables and stools, etc.

I bought a saw with bushings and within two weeks   the combination of heat and heavy work had worn out the bushing such that the blade would wobble off center as much as 1/8 inch, making straight cuts very difficult.

As I have said before, IMHO it is worth the wait to get the best tool one can own. I have thrown away many tools, only to buy a better one at a later date, effectively paying for the tool twice.

I bought a Powermatic 14' bandsaw and have not looked back, except to rewire it for 220 volts and put a better blade on it ... whoever said that the blade that comes with the machine is 'do-do' is absolutely right ...

BTW, if anyone owns a 14" Craftsman, I have a 93" blade that was left at my house that is free to anyone who might need one ...just PM me an address to send it to ....

[JD Alan]

I've got a different approach Rick. Unless you are planning to cut a whole bunch of antlers, you might consider a miter box and saw.

I've used a cheap plastic box from HD with an upgraded saw to cut a half dozen deer and elk antllers. 

My wife (the woodworker in the family) has a 10 inch power chop saw that I'm sure would do the trick. Antlers are like cutting steel. 

[GunClick Rick]

Just what i needed fellers,think i will pass on them and get one later like Ned uses.Ever once and awhile i get an urge to screw something up,so parts need to be handy.You would think i would know a little more about such things as my grandfather was a good carpenter,if you ever watch Holmes on Homes tv show that would be my grandfather at that age wore the same kind of overalls and such and sure reminds me of him,but by the time i got to where i could really learn he was already up there and retired from it and gave away most of his stuff to kin.Thanks for all your voices of experience,i got a couple walkin sticks i wanna try making and some other smaller type stuff just for piddlin around with,scroll saw never entered my mind..Good stuff..