Getting 14" bandsaw - does it make sense to keep 9" benchtop for narrow blade ?

[Michael Jasper]

Hi - I'd appreciate some perspective from y'all. I currently have a 9" Grizzly benchtop bandsaw, which I'm hoping to upgrade to a Laguna 1412 when they're back in stock. I find that changing blades on the current one is enough of an inconvenience that I tend not to do it unless I really really have to - so I don't take as much advantage as I might of the different options. (I tend to change my table saw blade more frequently - but that doesn't require re-adjusting guides, tension and tracking.) I thought about keeping the 9" with the narrowest blade installed so I could use it for finer work and leave the new one with a resaw blade. My shop is quite small though so keeping the second machine on a stand is not possible. I'd have to find a place to keep it and pull it up on the bench to use. Even finding a place for that will take some work.

Is it silly to keep the small one for this purpose? How quickly can folks change the blade on something like the 1412? I'm sure performance on the Laguna will be much superior so maybe it doesn't make sense to keep the Grizzly at all.

Another option is to get a scroll saw. I could keep that under my bench and pull it out pretty easily for when I need to do curves - although I realize a scroll saw is not exactly the equivalent of a bandsaw with a narrow blade.

Mostly I'm looking for a reality check here - any thoughts?

Thanks!

[Paul F Franklin]

IMO, it would be very nice to have a second bandsaw with a narrow blade. IIWM, I'd find a way to keep it. If you find you don't use it much after a while, you can always sell it later.

[ChrisA Edwards]

I have a Laguna 1412 as my only bandsaw. I've been thinking of getting a smaller one just to have one with a thinner blade.

So I would keep it.

[Jay Norton]

I have a 10” and a 14” and use them as you describe. I find it very useful to have both.
I resaw and do some rough ripping on my 14”. I use the 10” almost every time I am in the shop.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

I have a 16" bandsaw and have been contemplating a smaller one to go with it. I keep a resaw blade on the 16" and it would be nice to be able to cut tighter curves without changing the blade.

[Larry Frank]

I have a 16" and a 10" bandsaw and still use the smaller one a lot.

[Tom M King]

Wouldn't want to be without either of the two little 10" ones. The 14" is my least used bandsaw.

[Dave Sabo]

If you have the space, why not ?

[Sam Force]

I have a 17, 14 and a 10 inch BS they all get used, each has their own purpose

[Kyle Iwamoto]

Ditto. I have a 10" and 2 "big" ones. I use the little one a lot.
About the scroll saw. I only use it for very tiny curves and delicate small stuff. Slow, blades break often, lots of issues..... It has it's place also.

[Ira Matheny]

Absolutely, keep both. 9'' is great with the 5/16"-3/8" blade. 14 " with the 1/2"-3/4"
I have three. 10", 14" & 18". All are dedicated to different tasks. Seldom change blades.

[Bill Carey]

I have a Laguna 1412 as my only bandsaw. I've been thinking of getting a smaller one just to have one with a thinner blade.

So I would keep it.

2nd this. I'm currently shopping for a small one to keep a narrow blade in. I have a 1412 and love it. Changing the blades isn't hard just a PITA.

[Stan Calow]

I kept a scrollsaw for several years thinking it would be more useful for general woodworking than it turned out to be.

[Dennis McDonaugh]

No surprise in these responses!

[Michael Jasper]

Wow, thanks everyone. I actually expected people to say "ditch the small one, quality difference will be night and day, etc". Didn't realize how common it was to have more than one.
I've been strategizing on finding ways to keep them both setup. Have to do some major re-organizing.
Thanks again.