need a band saw recommendation

[jeffp51]

I need a band saw. Not too expensive.  Not poor quality.  I don't ask for much.  I have many harbor freight tools.  some are good, some are not.  I don't know if harbor freight bands saws are any good.  Any other recommendations?  This would be for bow work and for lathe work.

[chamookman]

I used a JET 14" for many Years. Cut many miles of Osage with it without a Hic-up  ! Bob

[Pat B]

...and I use a Grizzly 14' with a 1hp motor. I've had it for years and never had a problem with it.

[Morgan]

I use a 14” delta. Can find good buys on them used and parts are readily available if you find one dirt cheap or free but in need of repairs.

[Eric Krewson]

I probably made 50-75 bows on an older American made 12" Craftsman, It is only 1/2hp but with a 3tpi skip tooth blade it did what I wanted it to do. I transitioned to a 2hp Griz when I built my shop.

I see these old craftsman saws on Craig's list and the Facebook Marketplace fairly often, usually for around $100, sometimes less.

[TimBo]

Those Craftsman saws are not bad - I used one for years also.  I finally found a really nice 70s Rockwell Delta with a 1.5 HP motor and the riser block, and I am very happy with it.  The main difference is ease of resawing, so if you aren't doing that, the Craftsman will work great.  Bandsaws need adjusting a good bit if you change blades, and I imagine HF or other cheaper saws might be fussier than others (and less prone to staying in adjustment).  That is based on reviews and not personal experience, but I have also had a lemon saw (Delta knockoff) that didn't stay in adjustment worth squat, and it was a pain.  Grizzly or Jet are well regarded, or you might look into Rikon. 

[Don W]

I had the harbor freight 14" I bought almost 35 years ago. I had to replace the motor about 15 years ago. I retired it about 6 month ago, only because I restored a walker turner. The harbor freight needed some parts and I don't need 2. I know it really doesn't help, because today's models are probably different, but they're also pretty reasonably priced.

All that said, buy the best one you can afford.

[Hawkdancer]

I got a Grizzley 14" and am pleased with it - but not cheap, and I had to get some young guys to help with the set up!  I did get the base mount with wheels!
Hawkdancer

[Trapper Rob]

I have a 14in grizzly

[Eric Krewson]

I had a friend who was in poor financial shape and wanted to sell his Rigid bandsaw, I sold my Craftsman and bought his almost new saw which was 1.5 HP. What a piece of junk!

The blade wouldn't tack on the wheels, now way to adjust it so it would. Rigid had a lifetime warranty so I had it back in the shop twice and they couldn't fix it so Rigid sent me another saw.

I was sick of the saw by then so I  hade the "new" one sent to my brother in Knoxville. Turns out it wasn't a new saw but a return missing a bunch of parts. When he tried to get the parts the dummy parts girl would send him any part he wanted but she didn't know a blade guide from a motor and no telling what she would send. It took him a year to finally get he saw running.

Rigid switched their manufacturers because they had so much trouble with this saw. I wouldn't buy another one with the Rigid name on it if it was gold plated.

There was a Craftsman 12" in the Local Facebook Market place yesterday for $50.

[hoosierf]

Shop Fox 13” 1hp. Decent saw - about a thousand OTD with the base I recall.   Happy with it running a 3/4” blade.