Fernhollowman how long have you had yours?
Mid November of 2006
What blades are you using on it?
Timberwolf. 1/4" and 1/2"
Is it planted in your shop or is it mobile?
It's on a Delta "cut 2x2 oak to fit" mobile base but it hasn't moved yet.
Any quarks to the saw that a woodworker should know?
Although it's spec'd to carry a 1-1/4 blade, I ruined that blade within ten minutes because it started to cut the frame. That may have been inexperience on my part, not being careful enough with the tracking. I read the bandsaw book whilst flying out to Vegas, and thought I had things under control. I tossed the big blade (I was resawing rescued cherry firewood) and put the TW 1/2" 3TPI and I think that's the blade for me.
Although I read all about bandsaw drift, I have not experienced any. I heightened the fence with MDF, and when I resaw against the fence, there isn't 0.005 difference in the lead slice and tail slice.
Trying to cut using the calibration on the fence is a joke, but then again, the PM AccuFence is my reference.
I can't make the blade flutter, but I think most have that problem regardless of the size or brand. That's some mojo magic that may come later in my life. I just tensioned the TW to the gauge setting for a 1/2" blade and everything works well.
The roller guides have no jackscrews to hold adjustment, and setting them is a little dicey as they'd like to move while you tighten them. You get used to it, though.
I called Tech Support to ask a stupid question, and was speaking with a tech within one minute. I refuse to discuss my stupid question. Admitting it was stupid is as far as I'll go. When I call Powermatic for non-stupid questions, my hold time is measured in half-hours. I haven't asked PM a stupid question, yet.
Switch is NOT magnetic, meaning it can restart after a power failure without any further interaction from you. I'd prefer a magnetic switch, although the scenario of power fault -> my fingers in the blade -> power restored -> fingers gone is about as probable as finding a politician who doesn't lie (or steal).
Blade changes, though inconvenient, are not difficult. Good access through smooth doors.
Twin 4" dust ports.
2-year warranty. Local availability from Toolferone. Friendly delivery, if you tip well.
Seems like I got mine on sale for $1,000 plus, of course, Easely's salary.
Cleaning up today, I brushed off my 10" Black and Decker 3-wheel bandsaw that was a birthday present from my wife many, many years ago. I almost didn't even bring it into the new shop, thinking it was a toy. Even offered it to a guys on Craigslist who wanted an old bandsaw to saw up venison. Was gonna put $25 in my pocket and send it on its way.
Well, I did put it in there, and put a new blade on it, and tensioned and leveled and squared, and you know what, it's the most under-rated thing in the shop. Rare is the project when I don't use it to nip an edge off something, or cut one of my many scraps to length, or otherwise find the utility of a 1/8" blade. Gonna start a thread on under-rated tools one of these fine days.
Back to the Rikon. I would recommend.