Factory-Reconditioned Ryobi 2.5-amp 9-in Band Saw With 1/4-in X 6 TPI ZRBS903 Review

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(More customer reviews)A few days ago I received my reconditioned band saw. I have had my problems with reco items before and usually I buy some extra protection for sensitive items like cameras or electronics. A band saw I thought is not such a critical thing.

Firstly, I was warned by the other review describing the poor packaging. What that reviewer described applied to my unit, too. It seems the styrofoam was left out and stuffing a little paper and some plastic blisters in is insufficient. They could do better without much cost.

Thanks goodness all items were there and looked fine. The setup was easy enough. The machine is designed and manufactured well for the amateur who is looking for a low priced item but it is far from professional. I did not expect that, though, and the saw is better than some of the low priced Chinese equipment. I think it is cheap that the plastic insert that covers the hole in the table around the blade showed wear from abuse and was not replaced. In fact, I think there should be a spare. It is good hat the saw comes with lamp. I happened to have an LED light bulb at hand which fits nicely and gives me cool light.

The assembly is simple. I spent about an hour working slowly and making sure I do not miss a thing mentioned in the manual. I especially put effort into making precision alignments from the start. My experience with another band saw taught me that the blade guides are very important. The manual is not good describing this step. The blade is guided by ball bearings (which is good) mounted on ex-centric shafts which makes adjustment fairly precise. That precision is compromised by an cast aluminium assembly that is not precision milled. An index card or similar thin cardboard helps with the spacing of the ball bearings.

The tension of the blade is very important but not well described. he internet has some good help for that. Still, there is no verification for what is wrong and what is right. My worry is that to much tension will cause an early failure of the saw blades.

The vendor would do good by offering a "support package" that contains additional blades with descriptions for their optimal use plus lubrication wax, oil stone for smoothing the back of the blades, an additional insert for the saw table and may be even a fence that costs less than the whole saw.

Most movable parts are made from quality cast aluminium. That is true for the saw table, the pinion arc that holds the table, and also for the blade guides. Other machines have cheap sheet metal parts or even plastic. The parts that RYOBI uses are easy to adjust and stay in place during operation and do not flex. The adjustment knobs are good size and work well. The miter gauge could be better: there is no T-rail and the precision is poor. I may add my own assembly despite the cost and the work.

The manual does not mention that saw blades need to be "broken in". Again, the internet has information on that as well as on other problems that may occur. What I could not figure out yet is about different blade speeds. Do I need it at all? If so, can I get some device to make the speed variable?

I guess it will take me a day or two to get all the adjustments right and do some precision cuts needed to make some precision furniture. Because the saw does not work "out of the box" and the description falls short in some areas I rate the band saw a 4 out of 5. If you are willing and able to do what is needed to get all adjustments right (which is true for any mechanical equipment) the RYOBI band saw will be a valuable addition to your work shop.

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Product Description:
This is a factory reconditioned power tool. Reconditioned generally means that the tool has been returned to the manufacturer, who brings the tool back to like new condition. Some tools may contain cosmetic blemishes. Includes 2.5-amp 9-in Band Saw with 1/4-in x 6 TPI - ZRBS903, 59-1/4-in Blade (1/4-in x 6 TPI), Work Light, Miter Gauge