TomTrees wrote:I think it is relevant for someone who dosen't want to get on a saw horse to change blades, or one who want's something else than the wee one.
I'm not sure how that's relevant to what that discussion was about either? Are you talking in parables and I'm just not getting it?
TomTrees wrote:Not sure if Scheppach are still making saws, if so seems its still the same Basato.
Scheppach still make saws, the Basatos are now called Basa's and look pretty much the same as they did 25 years ago except in blue rather than tan. If it's still built the same as it was back then I would imagine the Basa 3 for just under £500 is a lot of saw for the money, you can spend £1000 on Felder's bottom line Hammer saw and that doesn't even include the stand, shockingly!
I wouldn't still have it if it was rubbish, let me put it to you like that, and I don't treat them gently either.
TomTrees wrote:You don't seem too keen on the Centauro !
I'm guessing you have something heavier, to not think highly of the machine, either that, or not used an Italian saw or Wadkin with flat tires.
Somethings amiss here, as you have likely used as many machines as I've had hot dinners.
I well remember ..."the most expensive planer restoration in the world"
So you're not beyond a bit o fixin up.
I'm not saying anything negative about Centauro's saws, I'm saying
that Centauro/Startrite, in particular, isn't worth the time of day trying to sort out. If it was a bargain it would've been snatched up by now but it's been on there for about four months, as I said, it's £300 too much.
I had the good fortune to have used a variety of bandsaws, from British to German, Italian, Chinese, and everything in between, with prices from fifty pounds worth, up to tens of thousands of pounds worth. If someone asked me what the best bandsaw I've used was that would be a difficult question as they're practically all the same, a number of wheels with a blade that goes around them, you really can't get a much simpler machine and the only real difference between them is the size and build quality which really is of little consequence so long as it cuts timber straight and proper. If I had to be pushed on the question I would probably have to say a Lurem SAR would be the best I've used, French-made, as simple in construction as a pair of wellington boots much like the Startrite saws but with a very interesting design that the body of the saw tilts rather than the table when you want to cut angles. If I had to have one bandsaw in the workshop that would be the one I would choose over anything else (except maybe it's heavier duty cousin, the Wadkin MZ but I haven't used one of those).
A big bandsaw is nice and all but for at least 95% of bandsaw work you simply don't need the size of anything over a 350mm wheel machine, a larger machine just eats up an unnecessarily large amount of room and generally costs more to run unless you can justify needing it for that 5% of work, comparing a Startrite 352 and a Felder FB510 the Felder probably eats a half square metre more than the Startrite does, which is precious space in the home workshop unless you have an aircraft hangar to play in.
No,
I'm not afraid to fix a machine up, but I spend every working day working with wood, looking at wood, living with wood... you get the idea, so I enjoy spending my spare time dealing with something that isn't wood, which is fixing up old machinery/engineering. I imagine someone like Mike would prefer a machine to be working with minimal effort so they can get right to working wood with it, rather than spend weeks fixing it up so they can eventually use it, plus the fact it's a totally different skill-set and most people find that daunting. I'm sorting out a spindle moulder in my spare time at the moment, I'm well over a hundred hours invested into it now and I'm nowhere near finished although it is work to a fairly highish standard. If your goal is to work with wood rather than fix up machines it doesn't really make sense to fix them up, you may as well pay the extra for a straight machine if your time is worth more to you than the saving.
TomTrees wrote:That combined with the less noise factor is why I think its a good machine.
My Basato 3 runs like a sewing machine now that I changed the wheel bearings, it's actually probably the quietest one I've used, cutting is noisy but no more than any other machine.
TomTrees wrote:So yes might be a good idea to look for something a bit more cared for, instead of something fruity, but does anyone have the choice?
Of course you do, if your time is precious to you (and it should be, it's the most finite thing you have) and you do not get any enjoyment out of fixing up machinery, you spend more and either buy new, refurbished, or something in good nick, not something that's clearly been run for thousands of hours cutting cast aluminium in harsh conditions, with missing parts, and will require a lot of effort to make suitable for cutting timber.