General band saw has one-piece frame

General International has introduced its 18” heavy-duty band saw, model 90-290M1, designed to meet a wide range of shop needs. The saw offers a 12-3/8” resaw capacity and features a one-piece frame for added stability.

“When cutting through that much workpiece thickness, higher blade tensions are required to keep the blade on line, which is where the heavy-duty label of the machine comes into play,” says General product manager Norm Frampton. “The saw’s bigger and stiffer one-piece frame won’t flex under the extra tension and its cast-iron wheel with very wide ribbing will bear the brunt of the extra tension without bogging down through the cut.”

The band saw is powered by a fully enclosed, fan-cooled, 3-hp, 220-volt motor with two cutting speeds (approximately 600 and 840 rpm), according to General. It also features a 24” x 20” cast-iron table that tilts from 45 degrees to the right for bevel cuts.

The saw comes with an Excalibur rip fence system, curved guide block and a 6” wooden resaw auxiliary fence.

A blade guide system with 10 points of contact is another highlight, designed for increased precision and fine-tuning ability, according to General. Both the upper and lower blade guides support the blade and keep it on line from five different points of contact — two on each side and a thrust bearing behind.

“This helps the user to ensure that no matter the blade width or tension, the guides can be set to help keep the blade on line with minimal flexing through the cut,” says Frampton.

General has also included its new laser line maker and provided on-saw storage mounts for the miter gauge and rip fence. A magnetic safety switch with lockout compliments the safety features, which also include a foot brake that simultaneously slows down the blade and disconnects the power supply.

Contact: General International, 760 Jessica St., Murfreesboro, TN 37133. Tel: 888-949-1161. www.general.ca

This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue.