Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

I wrote to Rikon to see if there was a dealer near me where I could actually
look at one of the bandsaws. (This is the model that got a "Best Buy" rating in
Fine Woodworking a month or so ago.) Anyway, while there isn't one around here
yet, they said Woodcraft is going to start carrying them in about six weeks.
Retail is about $1000, I think. If anybody's interested....



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

thanks alot I was hopin for some info on a smaller Rikon saw 14", if
woodcraft is going to carry them I'll try to contact them.
happiness!-Frank
"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message r.com...
I wrote to Rikon to see if there was a dealer near me where I could actually
look at one of the bandsaws. (This is the model that got a "Best Buy" rating in
Fine Woodworking a month or so ago.) Anyway, while there isn't one around here
yet, they said Woodcraft is going to start carrying them in about six weeks.
Retail is about $1000, I think. If anybody's interested....

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Check out the Woodtek also at the same price. Notice the cast iron fence on
it as opposed to the Rikon's aluminum... Cast iron wheels too. Not sure if
the Rikon has the same. Anyhow, the Woodtek will be mine when money
permits. :)

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPR...9&LARGEVIEW=ON

Brian.


"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
.com...
I wrote to Rikon to see if there was a dealer near me where I could
actually
look at one of the bandsaws. (This is the model that got a "Best Buy"
rating in
Fine Woodworking a month or so ago.) Anyway, while there isn't one around
here
yet, they said Woodcraft is going to start carrying them in about six
weeks.
Retail is about $1000, I think. If anybody's interested....



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Brian wrote:
Check out the Woodtek also at the same price. Notice the cast iron fence on
it as opposed to the Rikon's aluminum... Cast iron wheels too. Not sure if
the Rikon has the same. Anyhow, the Woodtek will be mine when money
permits. :)

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPR...9&LARGEVIEW=ON


I'm going on the recommendation of the author in Fine Woodworking. If money
were no object, I'd go for the Laguna. Unfortunately, I'm not as independently
wealthy as I'd like to be. Besides, I'm a relative newbie. I've never used a
bandsaw; never took woodshop in high school. Most of what I know I learned by
reading and stumbling around the shop.

I figure this'll be like when I got into computers: spend the money and then
I'll be obligated to learn how to use it. But I digress....

The author specifically mentioned the ease of changing the blade. I can't
remember any of the rest right now.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Brian wrote:
Check out the Woodtek also at the same price. Notice the cast iron fence
on
it as opposed to the Rikon's aluminum... Cast iron wheels too. Not sure
if
the Rikon has the same. Anyhow, the Woodtek will be mine when money
permits. :)

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPR...9&LARGEVIEW=ON


I'm going on the recommendation of the author in Fine Woodworking. If money
were no object, I'd go for the Laguna. Unfortunately, I'm not as
independently
wealthy as I'd like to be. Besides, I'm a relative newbie. I've never used
a
bandsaw; never took woodshop in high school. Most of what I know I learned
by
reading and stumbling around the shop.

I figure this'll be like when I got into computers: spend the money and then
I'll be obligated to learn how to use it. But I digress....

The author specifically mentioned the ease of changing the blade. I can't
remember any of the rest right now.



--
And minimal deflection when tensioned and put under load (resaw). Good resaw
capacity. The Rikon looks like a nice saw... Tom
Work at your leisure!

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
.com...
Brian wrote:
Check out the Woodtek also at the same price. Notice the cast iron
fence on
it as opposed to the Rikon's aluminum... Cast iron wheels too. Not
sure if
the Rikon has the same. Anyhow, the Woodtek will be mine when money
permits. :)

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPR...9&LARGEVIEW=ON


I'm going on the recommendation of the author in Fine Woodworking. If
money
were no object, I'd go for the Laguna. Unfortunately, I'm not as
independently
wealthy as I'd like to be. Besides, I'm a relative newbie. I've never
used a

That's fine. I'm just trying to point out another option in your price
range. Did Fine Woodworking include the Woodtek in their writeup?

Brian.

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Brian wrote:

That's fine. I'm just trying to point out another option in your price
range. Did Fine Woodworking include the Woodtek in their writeup?


Yes, they looked at the Woodtek 118-199, along with the Agazzani, Bridgewood,
Craftsman, Delta, General, Grizzly, Jet, Laguna, Lobo, and Rikon (all 18"
models). They found the Bridgewood PBS 440 and the Laguna LT18SE the best
overall and the Rikon the best value. The best overall cost 2-3 times what the
Rikon does.

This is not to say that the other saws were deficient. The bitches had more to
do with the ease of changing and adjusting blades and frame deflection.

BTW, the article puts the street price of the Woodtek about $100 more than that
of the Rikon (they say $900). List price is higher, of course.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

I'd be curious to hear what they had to say about the Woodtek, if you
wouldn't mind.

Thanks.

Brian.


"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
.com...
Brian wrote:

That's fine. I'm just trying to point out another option in your price
range. Did Fine Woodworking include the Woodtek in their writeup?


Yes, they looked at the Woodtek 118-199, along with the Agazzani,
Bridgewood,
Craftsman, Delta, General, Grizzly, Jet, Laguna, Lobo, and Rikon (all 18"
models). They found the Bridgewood PBS 440 and the Laguna LT18SE the best
overall and the Rikon the best value. The best overall cost 2-3 times what
the
Rikon does.

This is not to say that the other saws were deficient. The bitches had
more to
do with the ease of changing and adjusting blades and frame deflection.

BTW, the article puts the street price of the Woodtek about $100 more than
that
of the Rikon (they say $900). List price is higher, of course.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Brian wrote:
I'd be curious to hear what they had to say about the Woodtek, if you
wouldn't mind.


Woodtek 118-199:

They scored it as good in the resaw test, excellent in the curve following test,
and very good in table lock effectiveness. On the negative side, it scored only
a fair in blade changing ease and was ten out of eleven tested in frame
deflection (lower is more desirable).




--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
news:kJbMc.178446

Woodtek 118-199:

They scored it as good in the resaw test, excellent in the curve following
test,
and very good in table lock effectiveness. On the negative side, it
scored only
a fair in blade changing ease and was ten out of eleven tested in frame
deflection (lower is more desirable).

Found the article. Here's a direct link:
http://www.dropship2u.com/rikon/10-340review.pdf

They must be hosting that page from a dialup connection. Anyhow, give it a
chance to load.

Now a couple things... (1) I honestly think these machines are now so
similar (minus the higher end makes, Laguna, Agazzani, etc) that the
deflection is going to be roughly equivalent. And any variance you see from
brand to brand is also likely to be seen from machine to machine within the
same brand. I have no way to verify this, but I'd bank on it being true.
(2) I think there are other considerations when shopping for a bandsaw. I
do believe that the Woodtek has cast iron wheels and trunions while the
Rikon has aluminum wheels and stamped steel trunions. Would need more info
from Rikon to be sure, but to me this is significant. (3) I think the
equivalent Grizzly model to the tested Rikon is in fact the G0514. Not the
more expensive G0506 they actually tested. Check the specs. I wouldn't be
surprised if the G0514 and the Rikon were in fact the *identical* machine
with different name tags with the exception of the slighter larger Rikon
table. The Grizz currently runs $925, and I can't find the Rikon online for
less than $999.

FWIW

Brian.

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

And as I typed this, I see that the Rikon does indeed have cast iron
wheels... Hmm, that machine is looking better and better....

"Brian" wrote in message
...

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" wrote in message
news:kJbMc.178446

Woodtek 118-199:

They scored it as good in the resaw test, excellent in the curve
following
test,
and very good in table lock effectiveness. On the negative side, it
scored only
a fair in blade changing ease and was ten out of eleven tested in frame
deflection (lower is more desirable).

Found the article. Here's a direct link:
http://www.dropship2u.com/rikon/10-340review.pdf

They must be hosting that page from a dialup connection. Anyhow, give it
a
chance to load.

Now a couple things... (1) I honestly think these machines are now so
similar (minus the higher end makes, Laguna, Agazzani, etc) that the
deflection is going to be roughly equivalent. And any variance you see
from
brand to brand is also likely to be seen from machine to machine within
the
same brand. I have no way to verify this, but I'd bank on it being true.
(2) I think there are other considerations when shopping for a bandsaw. I
do believe that the Woodtek has cast iron wheels and trunions while the
Rikon has aluminum wheels and stamped steel trunions. Would need more
info
from Rikon to be sure, but to me this is significant. (3) I think the
equivalent Grizzly model to the tested Rikon is in fact the G0514. Not
the
more expensive G0506 they actually tested. Check the specs. I wouldn't
be
surprised if the G0514 and the Rikon were in fact the *identical* machine
with different name tags with the exception of the slighter larger Rikon
table. The Grizz currently runs $925, and I can't find the Rikon online
for
less than $999.

FWIW

Brian.

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

Brian wrote:
And as I typed this, I see that the Rikon does indeed have cast iron
wheels... Hmm, that machine is looking better and better....


I swear I saw a Rikon ad that said the 18" saw listed at $899. Now, of course,
I can't find the damned thing. This is going to drive me crazy.

They seem to have a real low profile in the marketplace, though Woodcraft should
fix that. The $999 price at Toolcenter.com at least includes delivery to a
business loading dock; it's another 75 bucks to get them to bring it to your
house. (What in hell's the difference?)



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN


http://www.mortimerschnerd.com

Rikon 18" Bandsaw
 

In article ,
Mortimer Schnerd, RN wrote:
Brian wrote:
And as I typed this, I see that the Rikon does indeed have cast iron
wheels... Hmm, that machine is looking better and better....


I swear I saw a Rikon ad that said the 18" saw listed at $899. Now, of course,
I can't find the damned thing. This is going to drive me crazy.

They seem to have a real low profile in the marketplace, though Woodcraft should
fix that. The $999 price at Toolcenter.com at least includes delivery to a
business loading dock; it's another 75 bucks to get them to bring it to your
house. (What in hell's the difference?)

the difference is that a 'business loading dock', which is at trailer height,
they can just run the pallet off, with a pallet jack or fork-lift (usually
supplied _by_ the dock . takes all of about 3 minutes

'Residential' delivery, involves getting it from truck-bed height down to
ground level. "Somehow". whole bunch more time/effort and tools/machinery
that 'somebody' has to supply. Often takes a _lot_ more time -- like 20-30
minutes. They may have to use a lift-gate truck -- more expensive, and
maintainence-prone, probably have to pay the driver a higher rate, per
union contract.

For trucking companies that deliver _primarily_ to commercial locations,
residential delivery is a _major_ pain in the anatomy. They _do_ it, because
it is necessary, but they don't *like* to do it.

Probably 2/3 of that surcharge is 'justified' by additional direct costs
incurred. The remainder is 'nusiance' factor, to 'discourage' people who
"don't really need it" from using the service.