Bandsaw Capacity

[Woodworking_Hobby]

I inherited a G0555 14inch grizzly band saw a long time ago when I really started working with wood and to be honest I probably do not use it to its full extent and still learning how to use the saw. It has a throat capacity of about 6 inches. It also came with the six inch grizzly riser block kit and a much nicer fence than the cheap stock fence. To install the fence I am going to have to install the riser block which makes the throat depth 12 inches. I am thinking the better fence will pay off in the long run, I was just interested if it will be too challenging to improve my skills (resaw / rough cutting / etc) with the larger saw of if that does not matter since the same basics still apply.  Currently it is almost not worth me trying to resaw as I cannot consistently get good results but I need to take the time to really understand the process, saw setup, and blade requirements. 

[Chet]

This video will give you a great starting point to tune up your saw and get it work well for you.

 

[pkinneb]

Here is another resource for you. I use this process and their WoodSlicer blades on my saw for resawing

Download Slicing Wood: A Practical Guide to Successful Resawing (PDF)

[Von]

I'm by no means an expert and I upgraded to that same saw with the riser and have never regretted it. The extra capacity is great and I've had good luck resawing. I have found tuning bandsaws fairly straightforward when I take my time. 

[Coop]

I too own the same saw with the riser and tall fence and have really enjoyed working with it. I use the Timber Wolf 1/2” x 105”, 3 TPI blade on it and have really good results resawing. 

[Woodworking_Hobby]

Thank you for all of the comments!  I will let you know how the upgrade goes! 

[fcschoenthal]

I bought the G0555 probably in the mid 90's. I haven't done the riser upgrade, but have thought about it many times. I'll probably just upgrade the bandsaw to one of the Laguna's with the increased height and more features already built in, but that's only when I get to a pain point with the Grizzly and find a used one at a good price.

[JustAnotherGuy]

Installing the riser block won’t make it harder to learn resawing or rough cutting. A 12" capacity just gives you more room, not a steeper learning curve. Blade choice, proper tension, guide setup, and feed rate are what really matter, and those skills transfer directly whether you’re cutting 4" or 10". If anything, the better fence will help you learn, since consistency is a big part of resawing. I’d install the riser and fence, then focus on dialing in setup with a good resaw blade.