I remember the first time my Craftsman Professional 14 bandsaw whispered through hard maple. The motor sang. A thin ribbon of wood curled away. My hands felt steady. That moment locked this saw into my shop life.
You came here for clear help. You want clean cuts, safe moves, and smart fixes. You also want facts that rank on search pages. This guide gives that. We cover setup, blades, upgrades, and daily habits. Each tip shows you how to make the Craftsman Professional 14 bandsaw earn its floor space.
Why this saw still matters
Woodworkers keep this saw close because it blends power, size, and price. It fits in a one car garage and still slices eight inch boards. You can move it alone, yet it feels solid when you push stock across the table.
- Cast iron table lets parts glide with little drag
- One horsepower class motor cuts oak without groans
- Two speed pulley on some models helps soft metal work
- Bearing guides steady the blade
- Dust ports collect chips at the wheels and the throat
That list looks plain. The payoff shows in smooth kerfs and cool blades.
Meet the family
Craftsman sold a few core models.
- BAS three fifty often labeled one two four point three two six zero seven
- Twenty two four zero one that shares parts with the Rikon ten three twenty
- One one three point two four eight three four zero cast frame from Taiwan years
Blade length shifts by model. Many take ninety three point five inch. The BAS three fifty uses ninety nine point seven five inch. Check the decal inside your door before you buy blades.
Key numbers that guide your cuts
Skip fluff. Focus on numbers that hit the wood.
- Resaw height about eight inches
- Table size near sixteen by twenty one inches
- Wheel size fourteen inch which sets blade bend stress
- Motor pulls nine to ten amps on standard current
- Footprint on stand roughly twenty by twenty five inches
Each stat ties to a shop choice. Reach eight inches and you bookmatch panels. A wide table supports tall boards. A small footprint lets you spin the saw on a mobile base.
Setup that feels like tuning a guitar
A bandsaw out of tune chews lumber. A tuned one sings. Follow this order.
- Clean wheels with alcohol then dry rag
- Slip fresh urethane tires if cracks show
- Place a sharp blade on the wheels and center it on the crown
- Tension until the blade rings when plucked
- Track by spinning the wheel by hand until the blade sits steady
- Square the table to the blade with a trusted square
- Bring side guides three paper sheets from the blade body
- Set thrust bearings to touch when you push into stock
- Repeat guide steps under the table with care
- Check fence parallel with a long straightedge
Make a hardwood gauge block for guide gaps and you cut setup time each week.
Blade choice made simple
Your blade forms the cut face more than the motor. Pick smart.
Tight curves
- One eighth inch or three sixteenth inch width
- Fourteen teeth per inch for thin work
Gentle curves and mixed tasks
- One quarter inch width
- Six to ten teeth per inch
Straight ripping and light resaw
- Three eighth inch or one half inch width
- Four to six teeth per inch
Heavy resaw
- One half inch or five eighth inch width
- Two or three teeth per inch skip tooth
Keep three teeth in the cut at all times. That rule saves blades and skin.
Resaw steps that deliver smooth faces
I slice panels weekly. Here is the flow.
- Dress one face and one edge on the jointer
- Mount a sharp half inch three tooth blade
- Tension high without stalling the motor
- Set a tall fence square to the table
- Feed slow and steady with both hands flat on the stock
- Let the blade pull dust to the ports so the line stays clear
- Plane or sand the fresh faces with light passes
One horsepower pushes through eight inch oak if you stay patient.
Curves that look hand drawn
Smooth curves lift a piece of furniture from plain to graceful. The Craftsman Professional 14 bandsaw owns that task.
- Use a narrow blade
- Mark the curve bold with a soft pencil
- Cut relief slots on tight inside corners
- Keep stock moving so no burn spots form
- Sand with a spindle or drum after the cut
Dress the back of the blade with a stone to help tight turns.
Joinery on the bandsaw
You can saw joinery once the setup sits tight.
- Tenons with a fence and stop block
- Bridle joints by clearing slots in steps
- Half laps with many thin passes then clean cheeks with a chisel
- Dovetail waste by dropping to the baseline then tapping waste away
A smooth kerf wall speeds final chisel work.
Upgrades that earn cash back in saved time
Your saw runs fine out of the box, yet small mods make life sweeter.
- Rikon one three nine zero zero fence bolts on with thin washers
- Carter bearing kits let you dial guides fast
- Urethane tires last long and shed dust
- A link belt calms low speed vibration
- Locking casters on the stand grant easy moves in a tight shop
Add one upgrade at a time. Feel the change before the next move.
Maintenance schedule you can keep
After each session
- Brush dust off guides
- Vacuum under the table
- Drop blade tension if you pause work for a week
Each month
- Wipe tires with mineral spirits
- Check blade for dull spots
- Verify table square
Each year
- Inspect wheel bearings for grind noise
- Replace tires if hard
- Align wheels with a long straight edge
- Examine belt for cracks
Make a small notebook. Write date and task. This log shows wear patterns before they bite.
Safety habits that stick
- Lower the guard to just above the stock
- Keep fingers clear by using push sticks for scraps
- Wait for the blade to stop before you reach in
- Hit the large stop paddle with your knee if trouble flares
Good habits feel slow at first then save time because cuts flow without fear.
Used saw buying list
You may find a Craftsman Professional 14 bandsaw on a local sale board. Bring this checklist.
- Motor reaches speed fast without smoke smell
- Wheels spin free and coast for ten seconds
- Tires show no cracks
- Guides adjust with no slop
- Table lies flat under a straightedge
- Frame shows no cracks near upper post
- Fence locks tight if included
- Tension knob moves smooth
Bring a short scrap and ask for a test cut. Listen for squeal. Feel the kerf wall after the cut. Rough walls signal dull blade or deeper issues.
Daily routines in a small shop
Furniture panels
- Joint edges
- Mount half inch blade
- Slice bookmatched pairs
- Plane light after rest
Interior decor curves
- Fit quarter inch blade
- Draw graceful arcs on walnut blanks
- Cut relief slots
- Sand to final line
Small joinery
- Use fence and stop block
- Cut tenon cheeks in two passes
- Test fit with matching mortise
Each routine feels quick once muscle memory sets in.
Troubleshooting fast
Problem, cause, fix in three words each.
- Drift, dull blade, replace
- Burn, slow feed, speed up
- Vibration, worn belt, swap belt
- Noise, bad bearing, change part
- Blade jumps, poor tracking, adjust knob
Solve one issue at a time and test. That method isolates the true culprit.
Simple jigs you can build in an hour
- Tall fence from plywood and clamps
- Circle jig with a pivot pin in the miter slot
- Zero gap throat plate cut from thin ply
- Angle sled for chair legs at five degree bevel
These jigs sit flat on a shelf yet add miles of range to the saw.
Caring for the cast iron table
A clean table stops scratch marks.
- Scrub pitch with mineral spirits and grey pad
- Dry fully
- Apply plain paste wax, buff after ten minutes
- Rub again after each long session
Boards will glide like ice on glass.
Quick reference chart
| Task | Blade width | Teeth per inch | Fence needed | Feed tip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Veneer slicing | Half inch | Three | Tall | Steady push |
| Drawer runners | Quarter | Six | Yes | Light pressure |
| Tight arcs | One eighth | Fourteen | No | Keep moving |
| Tenon cheeks | Three eighth | Six | Yes | Sneak approach |
Print this chart and tape it to the upper door.
Short answers to common questions
Can this saw resaw eight inch maple? Yes it can with a sharp half inch blade and slow feed.
What is the three tooth rule? Keep three teeth in the wood to avoid grab.
Who built my saw? Craftsman sourced from more than one factory, so check your label and year.
What blade length do I need? Many units use ninety three point five inch, yet the BAS three fifty uses ninety nine point seven five inch, so measure your wheels if uncertain.
A touch of science
Wood cutting looks simple yet mirrors ideas from brain science. Your eyes guide the cut with a layered process much like brain inspired hierarchical processing. Signals move from broad shape to fine detail. Your hands adjust feed through feedback loops. The blade path shifts through tiny cues. That loop feels like approximate gradient steps during learning. You watch the kerf and update pressure. Each pass gains deep supervision from both sight and sound. Over time these small updates lead to hierarchical convergence where eye and hand flow as one. Translationpractice locks skill.
Noise and shake fixes
Remove the blade, spin wheels, feel for wobble. If smooth, the blade caused shake. Install a new blade to confirm. A link belt also calms drive line hum.
Metal cutting note
The lower pulley setting slows the blade, yet still runs too fast for steel. You can slice thin aluminum with a fine tooth blade if careful. Use wax stick on the teeth to clear chips.
Storage tricks for small shops
- Hang blades on a peg board hook and label each width
- Slide the saw on a mobile base and tuck it against a wall between sessions
- Store push sticks in the lower cabinet to keep them handy
Space gains mean stress drops.
Fence love
Many owners add the Rikon fence. It bolts on with slim washers. The rail scale stays true. For tall boards clamp a straight maple strip to the face and raise the strip a hair at the outfeed end. That trick eases burn marks.
Creative projects that shine
- Curved floating shelves in walnut
- Live edge coffee table top bookmatched for mirror grain
- Arched slats in a soft headboard
- Gentle serpentine drawer fronts on a hall chest
Each project shows the grace a bandsaw can bring.
Drift cure ladder
- Check blade sharpness
- Confirm tooth pitch for stock thickness
- Raise tension slightly
- Move side guides closer
- Verify fence square
- Adjust tracking knob
Work through the ladder in order and drift fades.
When a part fails
Parts still exist online. Search model number then part tag. Bearings, tires, and switches ship fast. Many parts cross fit with Rikon lines.
Cast frame model note
The one one three point two four eight three four zero model owns a heavy frame. People swap new guides and run fine cuts. Check the tension arm for cracks. A small weld can save the frame if needed.
Final words
The Craftsman Professional 14 bandsaw proves thata middle size tool can lead a big list of projects. Tune it, feed it sharp blades, and treat it with simple care. You will pull clean veneers, tight curves, and square joinery. The saw will give back smooth faces and calm hands.
Grab a fresh blade today. Dress the table. Cut one thin panel. Feel the smile grow. That joy is why sawdust smells sweet.
You build. The saw follows. Good luck, and send a photo when the joinery lines glow.