The Ridgid BS1400 Band Saw Exposed When trying to judge a good band saw, as with any other tool, it’s important to realize that there is no such thing as perfection. People are used to different things and have different needs that make some models work better for them than they would for others. During my preparation for this Ridgid BS1400 Band Saw review, I expected that at least some things wouldn’t work to specification, and also that some oiling and pampering would be needed for larger pieces of wood. After all that preparation, I was still underwhelmed.
Getting into my thoughts… While the machine looks good on paper and while the price that I got it for was reasonable for a 14-inch tool, the problem with this band saw is that it is just not finished. Everything on it is just a bit out of sync. The blade is a bit off, the motor is a bit off, the belt is strangely tense – every single part is slightly mismatched with the other, making the end result, while nice on the eyes, bad in every other regard.
The Performance The belt (1) is obviously the wrong type, and it requires an immediate change to a fan belt. This is not a problem when you’re assembling your tool yourself, but when you are ordering something as a finished product, you are expecting a finished product and not something that will need third-party parts and an engineer to work properly.
The Motor The BS1400 features a 3/4 HP TEFC induction motor which is not weak by any stretch, but it needed a new saw and a new belt with some serious alignment so as not to suffer under the stress of cutting a 6inch piece. After these corrections were made, the motor did pull its full strength while still being very loud on occasion. To get the full picture of my experience with the BS1400, as well as an excellent alternative option, see the full article at the following URL:
https://carveyourcreation.com/ridgid-bs1400-band-saw-review