I would recommend you buy "The Bandsaw Book" by Lonnie Bird. It is a very good guide for understanding how a bandsaw works and how to tune it for optimum performance.
The Grizzly G055 has gotten great reviews, is priced very well, and has a strong following.
I have a Delta Shopmaster BS100, 9 inch bandsaw that I received as a Christmas present two years ago that I have literally only used a few times. When I got the saw I was building Shaker/Craftsman style furniture - straight lines - and just never really used it. When I decided to branch into curves and resawing I upgraded and intended to use the old saw occasionally but it sits idle.
If you simply want something to play with until you can afford a 14 inch saw I'll let you have it for 50 dollars, including a stand, 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 blades. The 1/8 and 3/8 blades are still in the package and have never been used. The 1/4 is on the saw and has cut maybe 20 ft of 3/4 stock...really!
If you return the saw to me in like condition, I'll give you the 50 dollars back. Alternatively, I believe you could sell the saw for the same price once you get the new 14 inch saw. This saw is NOT in the same league as the Grizz G055 but it is a bandsaw and the basic operation, guide adjustment, tensioning and blade tracking are the same as a REAL bandsaw. It will cut and it most certainly will make you appreciate the new saw you eventually buy a whole lot.
Here's a link to the saw
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00006JZZT/102-9005441-2104122?v=glance&n=228013
I have attached a few pics of the saw below.
If you are interested and are going to the picnic I could bring it then, or, if not, perhaps we could arrange a shuttle back to your area via other forum members attending the picnic.
Chuck
