jigsaw or benchtop bandsaw?

[mungk]

Hello guys, looking for a little advice. I'm trying to make some adirondack chairs and one of the cuts require a 27 degree curved bevel cut. I don't have a jigsaw or a bandsaw currently and was wondering which one you would use?

The tools i'm considering are the bosche js572ebl or maybe a jet JWBS-10OS 10inch bandsaw.

 

[Birdhunter]

Without seeing a diagram of the cut, my guess is that a bandsaw would be my first choice. A 14" bandsaw gives you a lot more flexibility than a 10".

 

[Kev]

Not that it would be my primary choice, but some scroll saws could also achieve such a cut - albeit a lot slower.

I'd be looking more to what the tool's utility would be for subsequent projects as any will get you there for this one.

 

[Gary in Texas]

I agree with birdhunter, you would be better off with a band saw.

I would suggest if funds are limited, look for a used 14" bandsaw, this would provide you with a lot more saw than if buying any 10" band saw.  Better motor, cutting capacity, blade and size of blade, and so forth.  I would also second the recommendation to go with the band saw and not a scroll saw.

Gary

 

[Kev]

Back on this ... If your plan IS to go on making more furniture .. bandsaw (but no, not a 10").

 

[mungk]

Thanks for the input guys. At this point i'm leaning more towards a bandsaw with the consideration that i'll be making more furniture in the future. If I end up doing some home renovations i will purchase a jig saw at that time. The reason I chose a 10" is do to space restraints and I don't have a dedicated workshop at the moment. Thanks again for the input.

 

[ssrtrey]

Mafell p1cc!

 

[Holmz]

Mafell p1cc!

I did not want to be the first to say it.  [big grin]
Or the Carvex if you want to go green. (There is a thread on them at the moment the OP may choose to read)

While a band saw is nice to have, but the jig saw may get used more us, and is all one needs for the chairs.

 

[jacko9]

At first I would say a bandsaw until I read that you want a benchtop unit which I think would be too small to be more useful than a jigsaw.  A bandsaw is a great shop tool but, I would get one at least 14" capacity.  I have a 20" Powermatic bandsaw and have to use my jigsaw when work gets too large.

 

[Birdhunter]

I'm sure the Mafell is a wonderful jigsaw. The concern I have in the USA is that it isn't as well a supported brand as Festool. I can't go to a store and handle one.  If a Festool product isn't what I want, I can drive 15 minutes and return it where I bought it. Not so Mafell.

 

[Holmz]

I'm sure the Mafell is a wonderful jigsaw. The concern I have in the USA is that it isn't as well a supported brand as Festool. I can't go to a store and handle one.  If a Festool product isn't what I want, I can drive 15 minutes and return it where I bought it. Not so Mafell.

You certainly have a point, and Festool wisely makes it easy to do the 30-day trial.
On the Harbor-freight forum they use the same logic, which here on FOG I expect people to generally expect top performing tools with less regard to price and availability.

If they were both wonderful saws, then it would not be worth mentioning the red one.
Hence, the other post on jig saws is worth reading for those considering a jig saw.

 

[grbmds]

Thanks for the input guys. At this point i'm leaning more towards a bandsaw with the consideration that i'll be making more furniture in the future. If I end up doing some home renovations i will purchase a jig saw at that time. The reason I chose a 10" is do to space restraints and I don't have a dedicated workshop at the moment. Thanks again for the input.

Others said this, but I would agree . . . If space is the primary consideration, I think I'd look for a top end jigsaw. A 10" bandsaw really doesn't give you much capability and flexibility. While a jigsaw can't do some things a bandsaw can do, for your current needs, a jigsaw would seem to be more useful and flexible. I owned a 12" bandsaw for many years and still used a jigsaw for cutting curves, especially on larger pieces. I wouldn't skimp on the jigsaw though. A really good jigsaw would be best to give you good quality cuts. I don't have any experience with the Festool jigsaws, but I do have a Bosch and I think they have even made improvements since I bought mine. If you can buy a 14" bandsaw, then that would be best. Read reviews of both jigsaws and bandsaws online or on the woodworking magazine websites like WW Journal and Fine Woodworking. I'm not sure when the last review were, but they can provide you insight in what they best can be used for as well as quality for the price.

 

[Mort]

Is there seriously a Harbor Freight forum?

 

[Holmz]

Is there seriously a Harbor Freight forum?

[big grin] I doubt it  [wink] But I have no idea..

If there was, then I would envision them slamming FOG/FT for being overpriced and not that much better than HFF/HF.
It is human nature for anything less to be not worth considering and anything better a frivolous waste.

It is difficult to weigh up what is "good enough", when time and frustration get weighed into the equation align with emotion.

I have access to an old Black-n-Decker jig saw. For some reason I do not like it, but it does do amazingly well.
For the $20 it probably cost 20 years ago, I cannot argue that a $300 version is 15x better, or a $500 version is 25x better.

 

[Kev]

I believe people often let themselves get misdirected between relative value and opportunity value.

If tool A costs $100 and tool B costs $1000, the relative cost differential is $900 and you typically ask yourself "is it really 10 times better?"

.. of course it isn't 10 times better, but it may be 20% better!!

Now, over the life of the tool will you be $900 better off for using tool B over tool A?

.. as much as it may frustrate people in relation to the value you perceive in a tool relative to other options, if you're looking at it from a business angle you need to consider the opportunity, not the relative value of A over B.

"Value" may not be $'s in business either ...

I justified buying a KAPEX with UG stand and extensions simply because the setup time made it viable for me to actually do something, the alternative (including cleaning up mess) made other options non viable in the end as I'd be investing in something cheaper that I'd never have time to use!

When I think about value I often end up thinking about fishing ... I let myself get suckered in spending near six figures on fishing gear, but the reality is ... the fish doesn't know, all they see is the bait [embarassed]

 

[sae]

I'm sure the Mafell is a wonderful jigsaw. The concern I have in the USA is that it isn't as well a supported brand as Festool. I can't go to a store and handle one.  If a Festool product isn't what I want, I can drive 15 minutes and return it where I bought it. Not so Mafell.

The guys at Timberwolf are pretty personable. Pick up a phone and give them a ring to see how they can accommodate you.