Grizzly GO636X 17" Ultimate Bandsaw

[GoonMan]

I purchased this Bandsaw 2.5 months ago. Running a 1 1/8" Wood Mizer 160" band saw blade on it. This was left over from when we had the Wood Mizer LT-40 bandsaw mill. This band saw cuts great, does great at resawing and up until Thursday night I had not had any problems with it.

I was cutting some wood for a friend and the blade broke. It snapped at the top and shattered the door safety switch and messed up the blade tensioner Gauge cable. I went to Grizzly today in Springfield MO and talked to their service/floor personnel. They ordered new parts for me on warranty. The door safety switch is not in stock and they will have to remove it from a new bandsaw and ship it too me. I can still use the band saw. I also showed them on the 21" and 24" bandsaws that there is a Guard at the top to protect the switch but not on the New 17". I have to call their tech support on Monday to see if they will retrofit my bandsaw or add this guard to the next line of 17" bandsaws that they make not sure if they will. I will have to modify mine to either protect the switch or just remove it. I figure a piece of angle screwed in the upper support will protect the switch. I also learned what I think is a valuable lesson in not believing the tensioner gauge.

Other than this minor problem this is a fantastic bandsaw. Cutting Veneers, turning blanks and cutting out projects is fun with this saw.

This was my retirement present to myself and we use it where I work in a saw mill.

I give this saw a 8 and find the price reasonable. It has a 16" height cutting capacity. I have not tried it at that height but have cut 6" it boards so far to try it.

[fibertech]

Randy, I have the G0555 and love it. Fortunately, we are having a house built and I will live less than 35 miles from the Grizzly headquarters in Bellingham. The keep a full supply of blades, etc, there. -Derek