"Andrew Staats" wrote in message . com...
I'm looking to upgrade my bandsaw - my current saw is just too small for
rounding out large blanks, slabbing logs or resawing wider boards.
Currently I'm using a chainsaw and maul to do most of the
rough work. I'm looking in the 16-18"/1000$ range - does anyone have any
recommendations for saws/blades?

Wet wood needs a fair amount of horsepower and a decent blade. I like
to use the Timberwolf 3/8" 3tpi AS blade for cutting wet wood (i.e.
bowl blanks), for resawing I like to use a 1" Lennox Trimaster carbide
blade. A 1" carbide blade needs a saw that can tension 25000psi and
has 20" or larger wheels. After a lot of searching I upgraded from a
Jet 14" to a Minimax MM20. The MM20 has 20" throat, 15" resaw
capacity, and a 4.8hp motor, it also has the beefiest frame in its
class, very stout guide assembly, cast wheels, and is just a very
massive machine for the money. It's made for Minimax by Centauro,
which is a top maker of bandsaws. The Euroshop/Aggazzi bandsaws are
probably the next best, followed by the ACM bandsaws that are imported
by Bridgewood (their pro series), Felder, and Laguna. In 220V1phase,
60hz trim the stock ACM motors tend to run very hot which is why
Bridgewood replaces the ACM motors with American made ones and Felder
substitutes Austrian ones. Except fo the motors the saws are the
same. The Bridgewood Pro is probably the best value of the ACM saws.

In the 16"-18" /$1000 range you're talking exclusively about light
weight asian imports. The frames are much lighter and the guide
assemblies are much less stout than the Italian welded steel frame
bandsaws. One decent light weight Italian saw is the Minimax S45
which is made by Minimax but it's a bit more than the $1000 limit
you've set.

One thing I've found with my Minimax MM20 is that I use it a lot for
general purpose cutting that I use to do exclusively on the tablesaw.
For example, for initial stock prep I like to use the bandsaw, instead
of the tablesaw, for ripping. The kerf is less, feed rate is higher,
and it's much safer. I also like to use the bandsaw for ripping any
thick stock (say 16/4 leg stock). I find that using the carbide blade
I'm able to get a very nice finish that cleans up quickly with a ROS
or a quick pass over the jointer set for 1/64" cut.

I would seriously consider the Minimax MM16 or MM20 bandsaws.