Reply To: Share your experience with bandsaws
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After breaking my elbow about 4 years ago, even after it had healed I found anything that needed a lot of sawing a bit of a problem. So, I decided that even though I wanted to be true to hand woodworking and as Paul used one as well, to buy a bandsaw. As we all know, bandsaws of any decent size and quality are not cheap, even used ones requiring travelling hundreds of miles to collect or needing a van to transport it in. I have very limited funds and searched for over two years, but as they say, patience is a virtue, because a month ago I came across a brand new, never used, still boxed (nice and easy to put in the back of the car) Sheppach Vario 3.0 for a price that I had to check, in case the seller had made a mistake. It took some putting together as it was very heavy and I had no help, but with a little ingenuity and the use of fulcrums I managed it. Okay, it may not be a Startrite or some other preferred brands which are just too expensive for me, especially with a decent cutting depth, but with an 800w induction motor and a maximum 8 inch depth of cut, quick blade release and stand with wheels to boot, it will do me just fine. I’ve ordered a couple of blades from Tuff Saw and already have a Record dust extractor. There will be a steep learning curve I’m sure, but I’ll use the Alex Snodgrass set-up technique to help me on my way.
I have quite a small workshop and will have to move it out of a corner whenever I need to use it, but that’s a small price to pay for being able to cut any large piece close to my guidelines quickly, accurately and with little waste. I have a really nice log from an old Walnut tree just waiting to be cut to size that I can hopefully now turn into something beautiful.