Older Vs Newer Bandsaw

[Ed in Tampa]

I have the cast iron bandsaw. I never up graded because the aluminum table would have forced me to redesign my bandsaw storage. I made my own circle cutting jig. Made my own fence using my miter gauge. Also I like cast iron..

Saw no reason to change

[davemcghee]

I'll keep my cast iron table. Simply because I have the Carter Magfence II and that thing is perfect for the bandsaw. Easiest fence to set up and position. I wish my table saw top was cast iron.

[rcplaneguy]

I love the cast iron table. My storage demands the compact size.

[Beave2012]

'Inside' has not changed much and all are easily 'updated'. Rear dual guide bearings is the significant internal 'upgrade'.

IIWM, get the table 'upgrade'.

There has been a trunion change, but, I do not know if that comes with the new table.

I just bought the upgraded table and fence when it was on sale. I didn't get a trunion change, just simply a new table that bolted down.

That being said, I upgraded for the use of the clamp down fence for resawing (my new favorite function). I did do this on the older cast table, and dedicated an extra miter gage with the clamp removed and a piece of MDF bolted to it for a fence, so it could work for that.

All in all however, if I had to do it again, I would wait and buy a craigslist bandsaw when it "goes on deal" that has the newer table. That way I would get 2 bandsaws for the price of 1 or less.

I do like the new upgraded table however. and LOVE the fence, but now am stuck trying to find another way to store yet another piece of SS gear...

[Wes7373]

>Ed wrote:

>If you have a table system with tubes like the 510 or 520 you can make very a very large table size with little effort.

>Ed

Ed, I know this is an older post, but any chance you have a picture of how this would look? Just trying to figure out my new (to me) 520 and the ci bansaw table v. upgrading to the new one.

[reible]

>Ed wrote:

>If you have a table system with tubes like the 510 or 520 you can make very a very large table size with little effort.

>Ed

Ed, I know this is an older post, but any chance you have a picture of how this would look? Just trying to figure out my new (to me) 520 and the ci bansaw table v. upgrading to the new one.

Take a look here:

http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewtopic.php?t=13405

Ed

[Hobbyman2]

aluminum table wont rust , I like the fence , I like the dust groves,I don't have a cast iron table ,,,,but,,, I would imagine the flat table is every bit as good ,,,,, small stuff like tree bark can catch on the dust groves when breaking down a tree limb ,,, where on a cast iron table it wont? if I had the chance ,,, I would just get another saw and have both.

JMO

[BuckeyeDennis]

I like my cast iron table, and I keep thinking that I'll get a magnetic fence for it. But so far, I haven't found anything that I can't do with a miter gauge in one of the two slots. So I spend my spare change on other toys.

[Wes7373]

Thanks a bunch, Ed - very creative solution!

Another quick question, the miter gauge that fits the tablesaw doesn't seem to fit the ci table for the bandsaw. Am I missing a separate miter gauge that belongs to the bandsaw table?

wes

[reible]

Thanks a bunch, Ed - very creative solution!

Another quick question, the miter gauge that fits the tablesaw doesn't seem to fit the ci table for the bandsaw. Am I missing a separate miter gauge that belongs to the bandsaw table?

wes

The miter gauge should work. There is a washer that goes in the t-track that will not fit the cast iron bandsaw table but it can be removed. I've also cut a washer so it can be rotated to fit both application.

Ed