Jet 12" Bandsaw - Any Thoughts

admin

I am looking for a large band saw and I am thinking about Jet's 12" 3/4 HP model. Northern Tool has it for $1150, or Ebay for $900, while the price not what I want, but I don't think that I can find even a used 12" for under $700.I am only a Hobie welder, but do the majority of the fabrication work for my company for my region (with my tools, so I do get a little tax write off) Please give me your thoughts.
Reply:I picked up a 'MetalMax' version of this saw from a local dealer (they look identical, the vice looked a bit beefier on the MetalMax).  It was affordable and it works.  The blade is junk, but the rest of its ok (so far).  I liked the fact that it can be wired for 110v or 220v.  The manual is very cheesy, and its made in taiwan...  Oh yea, It was square which was nice, and it has a little table you can do vertical cutting with.  Its a little dangerous in the vertical position.  The fluid cooler works good (damn thing will spray crap everywhere if not careful) and blades can be found online.Anyhow, for us weekend warriors and maybe a small fab shop, I think its fine.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:I have that Jet saw, pretty sure mine is a 12".... nonetheless.. it was cut a lot of material over the years never had to replace anything except the blade which are available pretty much anywhere. I think I paid around 900 at the time (quite a few years ago).  Actually I did have to tap and Helicoil the bolt hole that the fixed jaw of the vise pivots on but the was nothing.... coolant pump or motor issues. Even the cylinder that guides the saw down has never had to be serviced._________________Chris
Reply:Have you checked out Grizzly Industrial - they have a 12" band saw for $750.00 plus shipping http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0561. I've been to one of ther showrooms in PA and their stuff seems pretty decent.Sure, I can fix it... I got a welder!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by fwalz3Have you checked out Grizzly Industrial - they have a 12" band saw for $750.00 plus shipping http://www.grizzly.com/products/G0561. I've been to one of ther showrooms in PA and their stuff seems pretty decent.
Reply:Northern even sells the generic version of that saw model 14573. In the store this week it was on sale for about $750.00. I lucked out this week - walked through their store at lunch time and they had a slightly smaller 10" saw just like this: http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...&PARTPG=INLMK3with a price of $264.11.   I paid for it Tuesday and picked it up yesterday. They said it was lucky I bought it Tuesday because they just got an email that the price was wrong. Supposed to be on sale for 600. It must have been at that price for a while because they said they sold at least five of them at the low price. I finished setting it up tonight and its cutting nice and square. I'm pretty tickled with it. I think it was a special buy for Northern since it does not show up on their web site. It's identical to the Enco model - it came with the same manual Enco has available online. Luckily Grizzly also sells a version of it so I was able to download a decent manual!http://www.grizzly.com/products/G4030A friend of mine on another forum has had the Jet 12" for years and he's  happy with it. Brad