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Which Small Bandsaw


agent_zed

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Looking to buy a small bandsaw. Around the £200 and less kind of mark.

 

Now i know there will be a few 'buy a big second hand one' but i don't really want the hassle of searching for a good one and having to go pick it up and then having to fix anything that i hadn't noticed was broken or needs replacing.

 

So i have quite a choice

 

I don't really want the the cheapest aldi jobber https://www.aldi.co.uk/workzone-350w-band-saw/p/083033218141800?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxL2EvamA3QIVl-J3Ch01xAboEAQYASABEgJemfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CKKBgMOpgN0CFVID0wodS_kG1Aat £80 which actually got some good reviews and apparently is made by sheppach anyway. but i think if i just wanted to cut the odd bit now and again would be ok.

 

The screwfix titan one gets reasonable reviews but the belt is an odd size apparently. and i think it is more good for what it is/the price.

 

 

So i'm looking at a bit more expensive ones and considering the

 

sheppach basa 1.0 https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-basa-1-0-100mm-bandsaw-240v/77322?kpid=77322&cm_mmc=Google-_-Datafeed-_-Tools&ds_kid=43700024225641298&ds_rl=1249478&ds_rl=1245250&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImKWqwK-A3QIVUOR3Ch1Aog3LEAAYASAAEgJ3e_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds&dclid=CMqvucWvgN0CFTYC0wodPAICtg

 

or the

 

charnwood w711 http://www.ockenden-timber.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3077

 

Both have 300 watt motors, cast iron tables. The sheppach has a 2 year warranty and have triple bearings at the top. The charnwood has a fence that locks both ends.

 

I'm not sure how good charnwood is, anybody use their stuff. It's british made (not sure if thats good or bad anymore).

 

Or just over the £200 (£229) mark charnwood do a slightly bigger version https://www.charnwood.net/products/product/p10-woodworking-bandsaw-w715/category_pathway-152which has a 375w motor and i think triple bearing at the top.

 

The video of the charnwood inspires confidence as they cut quite a thin veneer without too much problem.

 

any thoughts?

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well if charnwood are to be believed they are made in britain whereas the aldi one according to a youtube video says on the box that you can get support from the sheppach website which is a german brand and likely made in the same factory. The aldi one is pretty much this one https://www.screwfix.com/p/scheppach-hbs20-80mm-bandsaw-240v/96071although weirdly has a (perhaps cheaper?)bigger motor?!

 

It does seem to be a tad confusing with so many re-badged things out there. A lot of the small saws do look the same. The Titan from screwfix looks similar but i think that is a different manufacturer https://www.screwfix.com/p/titan-ttb705bds-80mm-bandsaw-230-240v/5688p

 

oh hang on ... from the charnwood site 'but most of our manufacturing has now been transferred to low cost centres in Asia, where we are able to produce competitively priced, high quality machinery as demanded by the British public.'

 

So not so british after all. well that confuses the issue more.

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Think the "British Made" only applies to the blade. Look for Electra Beckham --- this was a German built machine & a good product we sold back in the 1990/2005 era.

 

Do not be temped to buy a 3 wheel machine --- unless you wish to spend 4 hours adjusting for 4 minutes cutting.

Edited by florin metal works
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Thanks all. By chance i thought i'd check my local tool stores website and they stock the charnwood saws so i can go and have a look at them and see the quality. I wouldn't be surprised if they have a demo setup so i can actually see it running. I know they have a demo area so hopefully one ready to go.

 

I'm drawn to the charnwood 10inch as it has a bigger motor than the sheppach for the same cutting depth and the fence locks both ends. I find on my dads table saw the fence is rubbish and only locks one end. If i want it accurate i have to mess about clamping the other end down with g-clamps so it doesn't move.

 

Will see what it's like in person and go from there.

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  • 2 months later...

thought i'd come back to this topic for completion.... ended up buying the sheppach basa1 as toolstation were doing a money off offer so it cost £150 in the end. So far I've been impressed. Still on the stock blade so might be even better with an upgrade.

 

Seems to be well built and worked well straight out the box, just had to set up the guide wheels correctly. I was concerned the fence would allow wandering as it was only one end fix but it locks down tight and is pretty solid. I've found the trick is to hold the loose end down on the bench and then lock the other end as otherwise it lifts slightly as you lock it and you get a tiny gap, but this way stops that happening.

 

It runs quietly and seems solid.

 

The charnwood although slightly bigger and more powerful sadly didn't look very well made. The doors were a bit more inaccurate in fitting and had no microswitches to prevent use whilst open. Not the biggest of concerns but to me a sign that corners were cut.

 

all in all pleased with my purchase, never realised how useful it would be. I'm renovating my house and just being able to zip through a small spacer or take a mm or 2 off shirting board is just so much easier than a hand saw and safer than my chop saw.

 

:)

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