SHOP FOX W1707 2 HP 17-Inch Bandsaw

List Price: ~~$1,499.99~~
Our Price: $1,249.00
You Save: $250.99 (17%)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Category: Tools
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Product Details

Manufacturer: Shop Fox
Model: W1707
Product features:

Blade tensioned indicator
Micro adjusting geared table
Quick change blade release and tensioning
Miter gauge
Cast iron wheels

Accessories:

Bench Dog 10-035 Bench Cookie Work Grippers, 4-Pack

Tools and Hardware Reviews of SHOP FOX W1707 2 HP 17-Inch Bandsaw

Customer Review: Excellent buy !
Summary: 4 Stars

I own a Delta 14" bandsaw. It works fine, but I wanted something
to resaw boards, and cut thick hardwood that tends to bind in the
smaller Delta. So I started shopping around. Looked at the Rikon, Jet,
Grizzly, et all.. They are all pretty much the same in that size/price range (in fact I suspect they are all made in the same factory, and aside from finish and add on features are pretty much the same saw)
I finally setteled on the Shop Fox..Have had it for a year now.
This is not a $2,000 saw. However it does what I want it to do very well
I cut hardwoods. Oak, Maple, Cherry, Walnut, Purple Heart, Chessnut, and several other varieties of wood have gone through this saw without
a problem. I cut a 12" x 12" x 48" hunk of white oak into 12" x 3" by 48"
boards..smooth as butter.
Suggestions. Use good blades. The Grizzly 17" saw is almost exactly the
same as the Shop Fox, and the Grizzly blades work great. In fact I tried
a couple of expensive 'bonded metal' blades, and went back to the Grizzly.
Also if possible have this unit set up at the shop where you buy it.
I am not really good at making fine adjustments to machinery, and spent
a couple of hours aligning the blade drive wheels, and a few other things
so the machine would run straight. It does now...Also keep the inside
of the cabinet clean. I hooked the saw up to a 3 Hp 4" dust
collection system, and ended up unhooking it and using a shop vac.
The commonly used blade tension/positioning adjustments are all done
with one size hex wrench - get a 6" long wrench, or extension, that
bottom back blade guide roller is a reaaal streach.
I use this saw mostly to cut big hunks of hardwood into smaller more
usefull hunks of hardwood, and have even sawn boards out of logs with
very satisfactory results. I suspect one could put a 1/8" blade on this machine, and do fine work and scroll cuts etc..but... well....nah.. That is what the 14" Delta is good at.
The 17" Shop Fox has a few nicer features then the Grizzly( table and fence to mention two of them) and is about the same price, and seeing that Grizzly distributes both of these saws..I was told that Shop Fox is
a slightly upscale more refeeened version of the Grizzly product.
Also I have quite enough green painted woodworking tools in my shop thank
you very much, and the Shop Fox and Jet white make a nice contrast :)
So if you are looking at the Grizzly et all 17" bandsaw,,take a closer look at the Shop Fox..For about the same money you get a significantly better saw. Neither are as good as $2,000 machines, but then they do not cost $2,000 either...

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Description of SHOP FOX W1707 2 HP 17-Inch Bandsaw

With 12" of cutting height and a 16-1/4" throat capacity, this bandsaw is built to handle large cutting chores. Its 2 HP motor has plenty of power to push 1" blades for resawing. Thoughtful engineering makes this saw a pleasure to use and includes convenient controls, a pair of dust ports for efficient dust collection, ball bearing blade guides and easy-to-read tension scale. Standard features include fence, miter gauge and 1/2" blade.