Just spent two days in the shop working on a project that required extensive
angle cuts to make multiple pieces at all different kinds of finished
lengths. Started out with 10' long stock, and all cuts were angle cuts 45
degrees and others.
I used my 4x6 harbor freight special for these cuts and it was quite the
cluster... Spent more time in the set-up / tear down / set-up cycle than
actually cutting it seems like. Making various angle cuts required moving
all kinds of stuff in the shop to provided enough clearance for the stock
when mounted in the saw, as it was sticking out at various angles. Of course
you also have to pull the saw out away from the wall for more clearance.

Then there is the mucking around with vice angle each time, having to prop
the saw stand up on 2x4's because all my standard work supports are taller
than the saw bed etc.

Yeah, I know, the saw:
only cost ~$200
has 101 mods available to make it better.
has a large user base with info on the net.
yes, I'm using a good blade.
is a good value... etc, etc, etc.
However, I need to be working on my projects, not on the bandsaw itself.

The really cool thing is I'm off to the steel supplier this morning to get
three 20' sticks of material, all of which will be cut up at angles for this
project... fun stuff.

Then the 2006 Grizzly catalog arrived in the mail... and I see this:
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G9742
specs:
Max. capacity rectangular @ 0 degrees: 5" x 6"
Max. capacity circular @ 0 degrees: 5"
Max. capacity rectangular @ ±45 degrees: 3-5/8" x 3"
Max. capacity circular @ ±45 degrees: 3-5/8"
Max. capacity rectangular @ +60 degrees: 2-3/16" x 2-3/16"
Max. capacity circular @ +60 degrees: 2-3/16"
Blade speeds: 80, 120, 200 FPM
Blade size: 64-1/2" x 1/2"
Motor: 1/3 HP, 110V/220V, 60Hz, 1720 RPM
Amps: 7/3.5
Drive: V-belt
Transmission: sealed worm gear
Overall height: horizontal 42-1/2"; vertical 54-3/4"
Height floor-to-table: 28-1/2"
Overall width: 15-3/16"
Overall length: 38-5/8"
Overall bed: 19-1/4" x 13-1/2" x 3"
Foot print: 27-3/4" x 17"
Angular cuts: -45 degrees to +60 degrees
Blade size: 1/2" x .025" x 64-1/2"
All ball bearing drive wheel and blade guides
Shipping weight approx.: 176 lbs.
$450

What a concept eh? Pivot the saw head about the material, vs pivot the
material about the stationary saw... Under perfect shop conditions a person
would leave the saw against the wall and have the material racks along the
same wall for feeding to the saw with minimal material handling. In my case
I store my material vertically and would still need to pull the saw away
from the wall a bit. But at least with this thing I would not have to be
flipping the material around and clearing a 15' circle around the saw to get
the job done.

What am I missing here, besides being a bit more expensive than the 4x6?
There must be some catch that I'm overlooking. Why are these not more
popular? It seems like for a crowded home shop situation this would be a
beneficial bandsaw design? Maybe the pivot does not hold fast resulting in
inaccurate cuts?

It looks to me like this saw uses basically the same head unit as the 4x6
saw.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G1010
specs:
Capacity: 4-1/2" round, 4" x 6" rectangular
Blade speeds: 80, 120, 220 FPM
Blade size: 64-1/2" x 1/2"
Motor 1/2 H.P., 110/220V , 60Hz, 1720 RPM
Amps: 9/4.5
Drive: V-belt
Transmission: sealed worm gear
Overall height: horiz. 38"; vert. 55"
Height floor-to-table: 32-1/2"
Overall width: 15"
Overall length: 38" Overall bed: 26" x 9-1/4" x 3-1/8"
Floor space: 18-1/8" x 41-1/4"
Angular cuts: 90 Degrees to 45 Degrees
All ball bearing drive wheel and blade guides
Shipping weight approx. 115 lbs.
$250

Wayne