I'm looking to buy a starter bandsaw for my small workshop, mainly for furniture making. I think it would really help with cutting curves, resawing, and rough cut joinery. I came across Harbor Freight's 1 HP Bauer bandsaw, which is currently on sale for $480. The reviews seem good, and I even found a YouTube review showing it cut through a 7.25" piece of white oak without issues. Do you think it's better to search Facebook Marketplace for a different bandsaw? If you own one, what model do you have, and how do you like it? The options nearby that can resaw higher than 8" are all around $750, while a new Rikon 10-324TG is priced at $1,200. Given the performance and price, the Bauer seems like a solid choice.
2 Answers
I recently found a Rikon 10-324TG on Facebook Marketplace for $1,000. The owner barely used it after buying it last year, so I think I got a good deal! It's a significant upgrade from my old Delta 14" saw with only 6" of resaw capability. The build quality and resaw capacity on the Rikon are fantastic! I've heard good things about the Bauer, too—it's a solid choice if you only need to resaw up to 8", especially at that price.
The Bauer isn't a bad starter option at all! In my area, there are often 14" bandsaws available for between $100 and $400, so that might be something to look into if you're after something better.