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Rikon 18" bandsaw 10-347

Joined
Feb 26, 2018
Messages
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Location
Nashville, TN
Thinking about upgrading my old trusty 14" band saw and have been reading about the Rikon 10-347...4 horse and 19" re-saw. Just wondering if anyone on here has experience with this saw or knows of anyone who has used it. What do you/they think about it and what have you heard?
Thanks
 
Joined
Jul 19, 2018
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Ponsford, MN
I googled it and it looks like the basic machine was made in the same Chinese factory as my 18" Delta band saw. The only real difference that I could see was the increased height and it looks like it has a rack and pinion for the table tilt. There may be improvements in some of the details that would only be evident with a comparison between the various brands that are based on the basic Chinese design.
 

Randy Anderson

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Joined
May 25, 2019
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Not sure of the differences other than size but I bought the Rikon 10-326 (14") earlier this year and really like it. The tool free bearing guides are nice and the rack and pinion table is very handy. The fence has a very nice feature for squaring it up to the blade that I didn't appreciate until I used it. No complaints so far. If you're gonna be in the bowl business you gotta have a big mean bandsaw. I have ruined a couple of green wood blades on mine but my own fault really. The thumb knobs to tighten the bearing guides need to be really tight, especially the thrust bearing. I just snugged mine up and it slipped, blade went too far in and side bearings flattened all the teeth. Other time I started it with blade not tensioned and blade got messed up enough to call it done.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
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Penrose, NC
I have had the Rikon 10-347 for about a year. Love it. Great power, features and fit and finish. I chose it over a Laguna because I saw no difference ( other than a great customer service record for RIKON, and a well....very spotty one for Laguna...) RIKON built their factory in China, and they have RIKON employees there as QC folks. As a comparison - Laguna has parts built in China by various contracts. Those are sent to Italy, and assembled, and sold as "Italian" saws.:D I think the 10-347 is the best value available. 4hp, 19" - and fantastic bearing guides....

Coincidentally...I sold a Jet 18" before I bought the RIKON
 
Last edited:
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
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Location
Novi, Michigan
All of these imports share many of the same parts - how else could they be priced as low as they are?? This Rikon looks like it shares many parts with my Laguna 18BX. Looks like a great saw!

Years ago, I was calling a Crazy Benzys store (a Harbor Freight type store - before there was HF) and asked what brand of air tools they sold. Their response was - it doesn't matter. If you buy enough of them they will put your name on them!!

Still makes me laugh almost 40 years later and is still true today.
 
Joined
Feb 25, 2018
Messages
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Location
Novi, Michigan
I recall that it was a Porsche 917 in the Gulf "livery" (as they say!), which was also used on the Ford GT40. One of my favorite color combos!

I once had a 2006 Ford GT for a weekend (I used to work in the Ford Performance group) in the Gulf livery that people absolutely lost their minds over when seeing this car on the road! Stunning. Sorry - my heart is starting to race again.....
 
Last edited:
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Messages
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Location
Penrose, NC
Thanks. Kinda looks too good to be true for the $$, keep waiting for the bad shoe to fall :confused:

After a year of pretty frequent use cutting a lot of large blanks and piping a considerable amount of lumber - I would say that the shoe has dropped. And it landed solidly on - "buy another RIKON" maybe even bigger next time:D
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2021
Messages
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Location
Vancouver,WA
I'm seriously considering this very bandsaw. I doubt Rikon has any 10% off sales this year but...maybe?

It seems a good value. Is it worth the $800 over a good 14" saw (Laguna, Rikon, Harvey)? Probably.

Is it worth $1,500 more than a 17" Grizzly (G0513X2BF)? That's what I need to decide. The 19" of height could come in very handy not to mention 4HP.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Messages
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935
Location
Penrose, NC
I think it is the best balance of price, performance and support - of all the brands. I almost bought the Laguna that is most similar to this....and it was close in price. BUT...the on-line reviews of Laguna's poor customer service - plus 2 local turners that I know very well have had nightmares with their Laguna products. That is not a popular thing to say on the forum because Laguna is very well marketed...
The added weight, H.P. , height and width of the table are worth it so me. Just like with a lathe...you either spend more once - to get the largest you can...or you will spend twice, because after you outgrow the one you bought - you will still need bigger. I have extremely happy with mine. Love the tool-less Carter style guides as well. The dual dust collection ports. cast iron wheels, etc...
Shop the on-line retailers of the model. Then go to your local Woodcraft or similar and see if they will price match. And, sometime a store manager can authorize a discount on a tool that they don't advertise.
Hope that helps!
T
 
Joined
Feb 8, 2021
Messages
230
Likes
102
Location
Vancouver,WA
I think it is the best balance of price, performance and support - of all the brands. I almost bought the Laguna that is most similar to this....and it was close in price. BUT...the on-line reviews of Laguna's poor customer service - plus 2 local turners that I know very well have had nightmares with their Laguna products. That is not a popular thing to say on the forum because Laguna is very well marketed...
The added weight, H.P. , height and width of the table are worth it so me. Just like with a lathe...you either spend more once - to get the largest you can...or you will spend twice, because after you outgrow the one you bought - you will still need bigger. I have extremely happy with mine. Love the tool-less Carter style guides as well. The dual dust collection ports. cast iron wheels, etc...
Shop the on-line retailers of the model. Then go to your local Woodcraft or similar and see if they will price match. And, sometime a store manager can authorize a discount on a tool that they don't advertise.
Hope that helps!
T
Thanks
 
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