Bandsaw woes: Curse of the BORG

[johnpipe108]

I need a small bandsaw, and have been looking around. None of the nine inch models rang my bell, but I saw a 10 inch Rikon at Woodcraft that looked promising. I searched the web for reviews, but haven't turned anything up on the Rikon, but did find links to very favorable reviews of the Ryobi BS1001SV.

This saw had 1/2 HP, a 4" re-saw capacity, an included rip fence that drew good marks, and a "silent-vac" feature where the drive wheel has an impeller on one side which appears to do a fairly efficient job of dust-sucking.

Each reviewer re-sawed maple; one sawed a 3 inch thick piece about a foot long into 1/4 inch boards and reported surprising performance and good straight cuts using the stock blade and fence. The other reviewer re-sawed a 4 inch thick piece of 8 inch long stock into 1-1/4 inch pieces, and also commented on the good performance. Both suggested even better performance would be had with a good aftermarket blade.

I went to Ryobi's web site, found the model listed and clicked on "Buy this"; which led me to Home Depot's site which said "Opps! no such page here!". I phoned Ryobi's 800 number and the customer service rep said she " didn't see the model listed as discontinued" and gave me the SKU number after I asked her to find it, as Home Depot's POS database doesn't cross reference to Manufacturer or model numbrs. I suppose the BORG owns Ryobi, as it's their only distributor and Ryobi doesn't take any direct orders.

I visited my local Home Depot/Yardbirds (local chain taken over by the BORG) and they reported the saw listed as a "clearance" item! No items listed in stock at any local store, and they suggesed I search for stores with a display model and ask them to sell it to me (the display models don't show up in their POS computer)!

This saw came out apparently only about 3 years ago, and sounds much better than what little I've found so far in this size class; it drives me up the wall to find a tool that sounds right but isn't available!


John

[toolferone]

Allthough I have not used it myself, I have sold quite a few of them and have not heard of any issues or had any returns. I feel it a pretty decent bandsaw for the money and size.

[johnpipe108]

Thanks, I've looked around some more, compared specs, and found that the Craftsman has the best offer at the moment. I googled and found a post from these forums that HD clearanced the Ryobi around the beginning of the year.

I compared the Rikon with the Craftsman; Rikon has an aluminum table, Craftsman a cast iron plus includes a rip fence. Rikon has a cutting capacity of 3-3/8, Craftsman 4-5/8; so, it looks like Sears wins this time. Pity the currently available 10 inch saws all have only 1/3 HP; the discontinued Ryobi was advertised at 1/2 HP.

Thanks for the input,

regards, John

[LeftyTom]

John, I feel your pain. Lots of time, when I finally get my mnid made up to buy something, if it isn't "no longer available", the sale has ended. I don't know if that if my curse for being fiscally responsible (aka "cheap"), or good karma that I didn't need it after all.

[Sharp Blade]

I see that the 9"Ryobi is available at many store, maybe not ones that have not had their inventory HDized. Youi mentioned that Yardbirds was taken over, I'll bet that's the case. MAybe the North Carolina Woodworker Pony Express can help you find one in another town. I checked my local store and they have two on order, ordered this past week, they said. I have many, many Ryobi tools and have been please with MOST of them. My only casualty being my scrollsaw. A piece where the blade is held broke off.

[johnpipe108]

Thanks folks,

I couldn't wait around, and checked out the Craftsman saw which has similar specs to the Ryobi as to cutting height, and went out to Sears yesterday and bought it. See my new post at

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/s...9418#post89418

I do appreciate the offer of help toward actually getting a Ryobi; the Craftsman will serve OK, though.

Regards,

John