Serious woodworkers and crafters know that band saws are essential for decorative work. They are the easiest way to make smooth, intricate cuts for furniture and cabinets. But the powerful motors on these two models also allow you to rip and resaw lumber, too. Let’s take a look at the two 14-inch band saws from Grizzly to see which one is best for you.
Grizzly G0555 The Ultimate Bandsaw, 14-Inch
Grizzly calls the G0555 “The Ultimate Band Saw.” It’s worthy of that name, having won award from magazines like WOOD and American Woodworker. It’s a very capable and powerful tool for your workshop, and it has a lot of value for the money.
Although it’s a 14-inch saw, the actual capacity for rips is limited to 13.5 inches, and 6 inches depth for re-sawing. Should you purchase the optional riser block, you can double the re-saw capacity.
The G0555 is built to provide steady service for years. It has a sturdy steel stand and durable cast iron frame and table that give you a stable workspace. The floor to tabletop height measures 43-5/16, making this saw slightly taller than the other Grizzly we’ll review in a moment.
Inside the saw, the precision-balanced aluminum wheels sport rubber tires to dampen vibrations. As most band saws will require some fine-tuning, the Grizzly G0555 isn’t any different. Some owners report that they replaced the rubber tires with urethane to obtain even smoother results.
Besides the large cutting capacity, the Grizzly has other features that you’ll love. Its table tilts to help you perform angled cuts from 10 to 45 degrees in size. Plus, it comes with an aluminum fence and miter gauge so you don’t need to buy those separately. The fence scale even has a magnifying window.
With this one saw, you’ll have the power to do miter and bevel work as well as perform cross-cuts, rips, cut circles and curves, and make veneers. And it comes with a 3/8-inch 6 TPI hook blade so it’s ready to work right out of the box.
The 1Hp motor runs on either 110 or 220V. It has two blade speeds of 1500 and 3200fpm (feet per minute) so you have some flexibility and control over your work. These speeds are a little different than those on the Grizzly G0555LX version below.
This saw is designed with upper and lower ball-bearing blade guides to keep it running smooth and on track. There’s also a quick-release tension lever for fast blade changes. You can use a variety of blades from 1/8” to ¾” wide, and even cut some kinds of metal if you desire.
Finally, there’s a 4-inch dust port to help you keep things neat and clean while you’re working. Grizzly sells a selection of dust collectors and replacement bags that are compatible with the G0555.
More features of the Grizzly G0555 Bandsaw:
- CSA and UL certified
- 92-1/2 to 93-1/2 inch (1/8- to 3/4 inch wide) blades
Grizzly G0555LX 14-Inch Deluxe Bandsaw
Now that you’ve seen the G0555, you might be curious what makes the Grizzly Go555LX different. Here are the three differences we found.
One is the table height. The G0555LX is slightly shorter at 43 inches tall.
The next has to do with the blade wheels. The G0555LX has cast-iron while the G0555 has aluminum. Both kids are computer-balanced to avoid vibrations, but owners say that the cast iron wheels are smoother.
Finally, the two blade speeds on the G0555LX are 1800 and 3100rpm. The low speed is a little faster than the low gear on the G0555, while the top speed is a little slower.
More features of the Grizzly G0555LX Bandsaw:
- CSA and UL certified
- 92-1/2 to 93-1/2 inch (1/8- to 3/4 inch wide) blades
Recommendation
If you’re in the market for a band saw, you can’t go wrong with either of these Grizzly models. Woodworking pros may prefer the G0555LX version simply because it has cast iron blade wheels that reduce vibration even more than the aluminum wheels on the G0555.
Otherwise, take into account whether the slight difference in table height matters to you, or if the blade speeds matter to the kind of work you’ll be doing.
Click here to purchase Grizzly G0555 on Amazon.com!
Click here to purchase Grizzly G0555LX on Amazon.com!