JET 14-Inch Deluxe Pro Woodworking Bandsaw, 1-1/4 HP, 1Ph 115/230V (JWBS-14DXPRO)

I was comparing this bandsaw to grizzly, the grizzly come with more options with a lower price. But how stout is the grizzly? By the way, you can buy a grizzly from their website for a lot less than amazon, and more models to choose from. Grizzly has a 1HP, 2 speed, 14 inch bandsaw with comparable guides and fence and miter gauge included for 1/2 the price of the Jet. I came very close to buying the grizzly for ~$500 but I ended up buying this Jet for ~$1000 plus another $120 or so for the rip fence, and still no miter gauge. But I'm going to give this thing 5 stars. I bought a Jet mortiser, and you can tell the second you put the thing together that it is put together right. Jet just makes quality tools, and I figured I can risk $500 on a grizzly or pay $1000 and know I'm going to get a quality machine. I was going to buy the 1HP Jet, but I decided to but this one for $200 more. If you look at the guide blocks, 1/4 hp extra, no need for riser blocks... you're gonna pay $1000 on your 1HP to get it where you want it and it still won't be as well built as this one. Every piece on this saw is just stout. It took me about 10 minutes to start cutting with it, it has a mediocre blade that it comes with but even with this blade it still cuts great. No vibrations, just a well built stout machine. The rip fence could be better, you have to put it together and square it out, not too hard. But when you get it all squared, it doesn't slide too well and when you go to tighten it it moves a little. So you have to factor in that it's gonna move when you line it up. But I've gotten used to it and it's not too bad. But the saw itself, 5 stars all the way. I'm going to eventually replace all my shop tools with Jet. Go to Grizzly's website, look at all the saws they have, all the colors and anniversary specials, etc... and then you have to ask yourself, why all the gimmicks? Who cares what color their saw is? Or if it has fancy gold letters etc... I care about how my saw performs, not what color it is. The "polar bear" model even costs more than the exact same saw in a different color on amazon (same price on grizzly's website). Why would anyone pay more for the exact same saw in a different color? Bottom line, if you have to use all these gimmicks and specials to sell your saws, then they must not speak for themselves. Now look at Jet. Everything on a Jet is plain, same color, and SOLID as a rock. Jet doesn't lower their prices to compete with the others because they know that people who want quality and a warm fuzzy that they know exactly what they are getting are willing to pay for it. I'm not saying Grizzly saws aren't quality, I don't know. But if you use gimmicks etc.. then your saw isn't speaking for itself. If you want to spend $1000 and know exactly what you are getting, buy this saw.

My band saw arrived, free delivery, right on time. A kind hearted truck driver looked at the four steps up from the street level to my workshop floor and offered to use his dolly to get it up for me if two of us heaved from behind. Knowing that the saw was a bit top heavy, because it is massively cast in its frame, I took a different assembly approach. I had my helpers and the driver set the main carton containing the saw up onto a stout table bench, and lying on its side. In that position I unpacked and bolted the base onto the main saw body. Now I had the full saw and base as one solid unit, still mostly protected in its lower packing materials. We then gently pulled the unit till it could slowly tip and angle down onto the floor, finally some moderate assist brought it safely upright. We had arranged a 6 foot long carpet on the floor ahead of time, but upside down. The saw tilted down and onto the end of this carpet. Now one of us held the saw safely upright, while the other acted as mule, and pulled the saw quite easily into the next room where it was to reside. For those of us who have one-horse businesses and workshops, this proved to be a great way to go, no need to lift the heavy saw and balance on top of its base. I recommend this horizontal first approach. For big shops with lots of gear, other approaches will work.In short order the table was set in place and the supporting side feet, the blade tension-ed, the wheels given a hand spin to see all appeared good, then I just had to switch on and see how it behaved. I was very pleased. It was so quiet and steady running. Couldn't stop there, just had to take a few cuts on a 2 by 4, followed by a trial run on a fresh 10 inch dia walnut bough, it went through it like butter. That bough was then up ended and cut through the middle, and in this ripping mode it had no problem, and all this with a 6 tpi blade. 3 tpi blades will work even better. This Jet model was chosen as I wanted maximum cutting diameters to prepare bowl turning billets. I have owned two other 14 inch band saws, Delta's, and added the column extenders to cut boxwood billets for my work as a baroque flute maker, then sold them when I had enough flute billets to last me, but now I have added bowl turning to my interests I needed this Jet high height model. So far it is the sweetest band saw I have owned in this price range, so I am giving it top marks, thank you.Rod Cameron