Shopsmith Forums

I have two Shopsmith bandsaws but I'm also in need of something a little bigger. I going with one that can be bought with or without a foot brake. Normally it's $150 more for the one with the foot brake but right now with the holiday discounts it's a $265 difference. For $150 I was gonna go with it but debating now if I should for $265. I'm just a one man personal hobby shop and thinking if I really need the brake for that price. For anyone that has a bandsaw with a foot brake do you think it's worth an extra $265?

hdoilcan wrote:I have two Shopsmith bandsaws but I'm also in need of something a little bigger. I going with one that can be bought with or without a foot brake. Normally it's $150 more for the one with the foot brake but right now with the holiday discounts it's a $265 difference. For $150 I was gonna go with it but debating now if I should for $265. I'm just a one man personal hobby shop and thinking if I really need the brake for that price. For anyone that has a bandsaw with a foot brake do you think it's worth an extra $265?

Why do you think a brake is necessary? What saw are you looking at? I have a SS band saw and a Powermatic 14" band saw with the 6" riser block. I can't imagine why you would need a brake for wood working. I have never seen a wood working band saw advertised with a brake.

It saves you about 30-40 seconds that it takes for the blade to come to a full stop on its own for a good size bandsaw. If 30 seconds is worth a couple of hundred dollars to you then go for it.

I'm looking at the Grizzly 17" G0513x2 and G0513x2F. I never thought about having a foot brake until I seen it on their website and googled it. I saw some ppl say for $150 extra it was worth it. But with the sales going on right now it goes from $150 to $265 difference because the one with the brake isn't on sale and the one with out is.
Cast iron wheels keeps the blade turning longer after the machine is turned off than if it had aluminum wheels.

jsburger wrote:

hdoilcan wrote:I have two Shopsmith bandsaws but I'm also in need of something a little bigger. I going with one that can be bought with or without a foot brake. Normally it's $150 more for the one with the foot brake but right now with the holiday discounts it's a $265 difference. For $150 I was gonna go with it but debating now if I should for $265. I'm just a one man personal hobby shop and thinking if I really need the brake for that price. For anyone that has a bandsaw with a foot brake do you think it's worth an extra $265?

Why do you think a brake is necessary? What saw are you looking at? I have a SS band saw and a Powermatic 14" band saw with the 6" riser block. I can't imagine why you would need a brake for wood working. I have never seen a wood working band saw advertised with a brake.

hdoilcan wrote:I'm looking at the Grizzly 17" G0513x2 and G0513x2F. I never thought about having a foot brake until I seen it on their website and googled it. I saw some ppl say for $150 extra it was worth it. But with the sales going on right now it goes from $150 to $265 difference because the one with the brake isn't on sale and the one with out is.
Cast iron wheels keeps the blade turning longer after the machine is turned off than if it had aluminum wheels.

jsburger wrote:

hdoilcan wrote:I have two Shopsmith bandsaws but I'm also in need of something a little bigger. I going with one that can be bought with or without a foot brake. Normally it's $150 more for the one with the foot brake but right now with the holiday discounts it's a $265 difference. For $150 I was gonna go with it but debating now if I should for $265. I'm just a one man personal hobby shop and thinking if I really need the brake for that price. For anyone that has a bandsaw with a foot brake do you think it's worth an extra $265?

Why do you think a brake is necessary? What saw are you looking at? I have a SS band saw and a Powermatic 14" band saw with the 6" riser block. I can't imagine why you would need a brake for wood working. I have never seen a wood working band saw advertised with a brake.

OK, my 14" Powermatic turns longer than the SS after being turned off but, I certainly have never felt a need or desire for a brake.

Well I purchased today the one without the brake and took the savings and purchased a hanging air filter.

hdoilcan wrote:Well I purchased today the one without the brake and took the savings and purchased a hanging air filter.

That is an excellent choice in my opinion.

hdoilcan wrote: For anyone that has a bandsaw with a foot brake do you think it's worth an extra $265?

Since I don't own a bandsaw with a foot brake, I'm really disqualified to answer that question - but I'm going to anyway

Answer - NO!

What will a brake do for you? It will stop the blade while in a cut. Advantage? None: - you can always back the wood up a little bit.

It will stop before you cut your thumb completely off? Doubt this very seriously. A finger cut will happen before you even feel it.