Charnwood B250 bandsaw Re-Review After 2 Years of Use

[@CasualDIY]

All my tools, woodworking accessories and video making kit is now in one place for you to check out. These are Amazon affiliate links. With a purchase through this link, you get an awesome tool and you will support my channel without spending a penny more. Link to Amazon is just below! Thanks! Tools I use and recommend: www.amazon.co.uk/shop/casualdiy

[@krismarkduthie2178]

Thanks for taking the time to post this re-review! Good to hear about long term experience with a tool rather than initial impressions!

[@CasualDIY]

Thanks, yes I think it gives a better knowledge and information on what you can expect from a particular tool👍

[@David-xu3yk]

Loving these long term reviews you're doing!

[@CasualDIY]

Thanks mate, I think they are worth the while and are showing a full picture of the tool👍😁

[@alfrose9831]

Another great review mate. You made some really good points about setting up too.

[@CasualDIY]

Thanks mate, yes it could be very troublesome 🤔

[@Greebstreebling]

Thanks so much for sharing this real world experience. I am looking for a bandsaw currently and its great to be able to make a properly informed choice away from the manufacturers claims.

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you for watching 👍

[@mickyork41]

Thanks. Was considering this for re-sawing wide hardwood boards up to 150mm into laminate. Sounds like it’s not up to the job. Really useful video.

[@CasualDIY]

Definitely not, even with a better blade it will struggle.

[@briansworkshop01]

Again thanks for your honesty great review and video thanks for sharing 🍺🍺👍👍👍👍

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you for watching Brian. Just two more re-review videos to go and then back to project videos 😁👍

[@Rockstars-Gig-Memorabilia]

Great review. I learned a lot from it... thanks for taking the time.

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you kindly for watching 👍

[@MulletWoodStudio]

Great review - I've just realised I've watched nearly all your videos and haven't subscribed, so that's now sorted! Hope you can keep going with the channel after the move, but if not good luck with everything! :)

[@CasualDIY]

Hehe thank you kindly 👍

[@Badgerworkshop]

Looks a lot like the record power I have. I would love a bigger one

[@David-xu3yk]

Oh, we'd all love a bigger one 😉🤣

[@CasualDIY]

Don't we all 😂👍

[@philipbebb3529]

Hi Tom, sorry if this is no longer relevant to you but I have only just seen your posts. I have just bought the Charnwood B350 Bandsaw and have set-up issues with it. In your B250 re-review of 2 years ago you referred to the 'capstan' on the bottom rear of the machine as being the fixing and adjustment point for the lower wheel, though you haven't shown in either video the process involved for adjustment, other than to say it is very difficult. I believe my lower wheel needs to be moved approx. 2mm to the left as it is rubbing against the black metal blade guard fixed by the lower bearing assembly. Can you offer any information please.

[@CasualDIY]

Im guessing you have tried the top adjustment knob at the back of the machine. I have never had the need to touch the bottom wheel adjustment and in theory you never should. In this case I would just start adjusting it slightly. There should be something on this in the manual. Sorry I can't help more.

[@philipbebb3529]

@@CasualDIY Hi Tom, thanks for your reply. Yeah I tried for some 3 hours to set my machine up, unsuccessfully. After consultation with Charnwood customer service and them sending me a new aluminium extrusion that holds the upper bearing guide assembly, my blade is still pressed against the right hand bearing. I then noticed that the blade was also running against the right hand side of the black metal guard located with the lower bearing assembly so it would appear that moving the wheel some 2mm approx. to the left would solve the issue. Charnwood then sent me literature that they thought would reposition the wheel as I thought you may have done, but that 4 bolt 'capstan' on the rear is clearly only for adjusting the tracking rather than repositioning the wheel, I guess with manufacture and assembly all done in China they don't exactly know what can or can't be done. Thanks again Tom for your trouble.

[@CasualDIY]

@@philipbebb3529 sorry I couldn't help more

[@Thesidingsworkshop]

Great review mate full of information cheers

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you for watching my friend 👍😁

[@theislandworkshop8453]

great review mate

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you buddy

[@dustisamust5602]

Sorry to ask here but here goes. I have the Evolution miter saw with 1 inch arbor. They say to use only their blades but they show reversing the washer for installing 5/8 inch arbor blades in the manual. Have you tried this on either of your table or mither Evolution saws? I'm interested in the table saw but don't want to be locked into their blades. Again, my apologies.

[@michaelevans1658]

Found the same with the Axminster version ,takes me ages to do bearings and I find the head deflects slightly when you tighten bearings up ,thus upsetting your settings.

[@CasualDIY]

Yes it's very difficult and problematic to set them up correctly 🤔

[@tony4360]

Hi Thomas you should try the lumberjack bs 340 bandsaw I have one spot on tool have a look ,keep up the good work 👍

[@CasualDIY]

Cool, thanks if I will have an opportunity I will check it out

[@Tracks777]

awesome content

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you very much

[@hectorgerco2963]

I changed the motor

[@Yahatacooky]

Once again a great vid, would you get a larger Charnwood? What is the band length in cm (Żart)?

[@CasualDIY]

Hmm if I could afford it then I would go for Record Power

[@wallopadonkey]

@@CasualDIY which one

[@CasualDIY]

@@wallopadonkey the one that would be on offer 🤣 at least 14 inch

[@lancejasper3272]

How about sharing the difference between your currency and US. I enjoy your videos keep it up.

[@bricofast]

Thanks for the review👍👍👍🇵🇹🇵🇹🇵🇹

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@Ianf1x]

I have 14 inch version table has a step in it the bearing fell off on First use contacted Charnwood didn't want to known saw dust builds up on depth adjustment. The knob shaped off on both front and underneath had to make new parts when set up only stays cutting Good for a shot time then needs resetting. Never buy British stick to germen😂.

[@CasualDIY]

Hehe we all get that one tool that it's just rubbish out of a box. It's a bit of a gamble, you never know who was on the assembly line 🤣

[@gervaissawyer4779]

Doesn't look as if that machine has done much work! I use my Charnwood 12" for business. With small mods and good blades, it has earned me thousands of pounds. Guides can easily be improved and the frame made more rigid by reinfircing and clamping the lower door. Add a shear board below the lower guides to keep ulley clean and improve dust collection. I will saw to an accuracy of -0 +0.2mm all the time. As supplied the fence had a slight twist that caused some head scratching!

[@CasualDIY]

DIY use mate. Use it every week more or less but not on a business scale. Good tips for improving the tool tho thanks. Shame things like that are not part of the tool to begin with

[@owdjockey4459]

Hi I have the free-standing Charnwood B300 which I purchased over 4 years ago. i'm surprised you did not mention the difficulty when to clean out the plastic Rise and Fall Cog, located with a mass of metal plate in the upper wheel cabinet. over the years I have had to nibble away at some of that metal to clean the cog. There is a seperate paper on the way to access and clean the cog, but it does not work or is still very difficult to get at. Its a real pain and very very poorly designed and buuilt.. i've replace all of the bearings over the time i've had the machine. Would I buy another one? 100% NO! Was it worth the £400+ I paid for this machine NO! I am a Hobbyist, so I 'm not using this machine on a daily basis.

[@CasualDIY]

To be honest I've not had that issue at all. My saw still works just fine. Maybe it's an issue with your model. Mine is the B250.

[@Martin_Coombs]

I have the Lumberjack 350 version. That rise and fall cog is a nightmare to clean out. I am sure I take it apart differently each time. The blade guide bearings are really not up to the job and adjusting them usually takes me 30-40 minutes on a good day!

[@owdjockey4459]

I forgot to mention on my first post, that surprise surpris this a Chinese machine, using cheap parts and with a poor design. The large emblazoned Union Jack on the front of the machine is just to let you know that the blade is from the UK. Very clever marketing.....However, I won't be sucked in for a second time.

[@CasualDIY]

I think almost everything is manufactured in China or most parts for everything nowadays unfortunately

[@patricksmith4424]

​@@CasualDIYYes, I can't believe people are still using the term "chinese one" often in a derogatory tone. As you say everything is made in China now, even the high end stuff. The problem with Chinese stuff is that it is generic ie manufacturers will put their name on machines which are identical to other manufacturers. China has a gargantuan global out put, so the custom bit doesn't really come into it. Are any bandsaws still made in the uk?

[@GabiFodorrasRO]

Un big like super !!

[@CasualDIY]

Thank you kindly my friend 😁👍

[@hectorgerco2963]

I changed the motor