Grizzly bandsaw question.....

[BobM]

Over the years I have built several selfbows and a few BBOs. Most of them I hunt with for a while and usually wind up giving them to buddys or local kids and building another for me.
 Most all have been built using stave splits worked down with an axe, hatchet, and/or drawknife and on a rare occasion some help from my tablesaw. About three years ago I purchased a Grizzly bandsaw; 16in, 2hp, and still in the crate from a friend who decided he did not want it. Brought it home and it has set in the shop until this week. I finally got it together, adjusted and running.
I have only played on some scrap with it so far and it looks like it may have potential.
Question is, not having used much power tools before, is it really a time saver only on reducing excess wood, or is there other uses I am not seeing for it?

Bob

[JW_Halverson]

I have made some awesome firestarting kindling out of character bowstaves with my bandsaw.  Note: Excercise extreme care when bandsawing the belly wood off a character stave, easy to take too much out of the bottom side that you can't see.  Nowadays I use a 3# felling axe with a 6" hickory handle to chop staves to dimension.  Beefs up the forearms and shoulders as well as removes wood quickly. 

I have slotted arrow shafts to accept tang type trade broadheads.  Just a little touch up with a folded piece of sandpaper finished the slot.  Set up a jig to control depth of cut and to make sure you are centered in the shaft. 

[Pat B]

I have a 14" Grizzly with a 1hp motor and love it! With the 16" and 2hp motor you can get a resaw set up for making backing strips and lams for glue-ups. I use my saw for arrows like JW and to cut shafts to length. I use it to cut antler, bone and horn for overlays and have use it to cut rawhide strips that were too thick to cut with a knife.
  Eliminating a few hours of hard work reducing excess wood from a stave is enough reason for me to have a band saw. 

[mullet]

 I use mine for reducing wood on staves. But when I start getting close I go to my hatchet. Like JW, I've ruined some nice staves with my bandsaw.

[sulphur]

ARE YOU KIDDING
no seriously, i also have a 14" grizzly and its absolutely the best.  go slow till you get the hang of it.  and learn how to keep it tuned up.  it has tons of adjustment.  what a great tool.

[Justin Snyder]

Use it with caution, but by all means use it. Leave a litte extra wood to be removed with hand tools.

[Catahoula]

Hi,

I use mine for making Native American Style branch flutes...but...I have a buddy who is teaching me bow making and I am teaching him flute making...he bought a Griz 14" like mine for the flutes and a few weeks ago after getting used to the saw looked at the stave he was going to start working on and went after it carefully with the bandsaw...he couldn't believe how much faster it went with the saw but the real plus for him was the time not using the spoke shave and other tools on his 60 plus year old elbows, shoulders, back etc.  There was a time he was making so many bows he messed up his joints and had to stop for several years.  Anyway give it a try...carefully.

Rand

[denny]

I have a i hp ridged 14 inch. It is a work horse. But you will find many uses. But like said watch character staves as a propeller twist will be too thin on one side . Paul comstock says, cut your sides triangular first then remove material from the top easily.As foe resaw it is the ticket. Good luck Denny

[bigcountry]

Practice, and patience.  Only way to learn that is to ruin a few staves.  I did.

[Eric Krewson]

My bandsaw is the work horse of my shop. Reducing staves, removing excess wood in handles, profiling staves, cutting splices, cutting up hickory scrap for my BBQ grill and dozens of other uses. I wouldn't be with out one.

[Catahoula]

Hey Eric,

I agree...I use the bandsaw first and only when I have to turn to the table saw or radial arm saw.  Much safer than those rascals.

Rand

[Alpinbogen]

Bandsaws let you spend alot more of your time finessing tiller rather than slogging away at bulk waste.

[Pappy]

I use mine all the time also,for just about everything,Just remember to keep the side of the stave/board that you can't see away from the blade,when reducing wood from a stave I make 2 cuts on my lines keeping the part I can't see away from the blade.It will leave a High  spot right down the center of the stave,then rasp it flat. It saves a bunch of time. 
   Pappy

[islandpiper]

In his lifetime, Antonio Stradivari is said to have made about 1,400 violins and other instruments.   He could have doubled his output with a good bandsaw. Get one, and as stated above, TUNE IT to work it's best.  Then, you will use it for household chores, cutting stove wood, making toys for the kids, oh....and making bows, too. 

piper

[BobM]

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. While I am not powertool ignorant, this is the first bandsaw I've had. From the little playing I have done so far it seems to be a winner!

Thanks again,
Bob