8/23/2007 Great News - Carter Products are supporting RIKON Bandsaws, click here!
RIKON 10-340
18" Woodworking Bandsaw
Based
on Fine WoodWorking's "Best Value" Author's Choice award in their June
2004 issue, I placed an order for this saw in September 2004 and took delivery
in November. Yes, there was a waiting list to get one of these saws and
for good reason - they are a "good value" for their performance at a
"bargain-basement" price.
There are better, more expensive 18" bandsaws on the market
that will out perform this saw and, if the owner of one of those saws used this
RIKON, I'm sure they would find it somewhat lacking in performance to their $2,000 saws. If you purchased, or are planning to purchase, the RIKON 10-340,
then you should expect "good" performance vice "great"
performance. If only great performance will satisfy you, then spend the
$2,500 it requires. 
If you purchase (or purchased) a RIKON, then be
happy, you got a great "value" for your money. Take a look at the thumbnail profiles for the feet and vise jaws I cut for my
woodworking bench using this saw - not bad, not bad indeed! Click on the
thumbnail photos to see the full-size pictures, then use your Web browser's Back
button to return to this page.
My RIKON has performed well with only a couple of minor problems. The blade that came on my saw was not of good quality and dulled very quickly (no surprise for a $900 saw!). Therefore, I purchased some Wood Slicer blades (Fine WoodWorking rated them a "Best All-Round Performer" for speed, flatness and smoothness of cut) from Highland Hardware, but couldn't tension them significantly on my saw. The problem was the hard stop tension limit screw (Parts Diagram, Item 47, Page 14 of the Owner's Manual) was not adjusted correctly to allow for the difference between blades manufactured by various suppliers. Suppliers of bandsaw blades use a tolerance of + ¼ inch for the specified length of the blade. The original blade that came on my saw was 141¾ inches in length and tensioned correctly. The Wood Slicer blades measured 142¼ inches in length. Two counter-clockwise turns of the hard stop tension limit screw quickly resolved the problem. I would like to thank Ed at Highland Hardware and Steve at RIKON for helping me to resolve this problem quickly.
Note: I have received several emails from people experiencing the next issue.
The second "potential" problem I noticed with the saw is that the side of the upper cabinet flexed when tensioning a 1-inch Lennox carbide tipped blade for resawing purposes. I noticed this problem when I had to run the blade tracking adjustment screw just about all the way in to maintain proper blade tracking alignment on the upper wheel. I was not sure if this would eventually lead to a damaged saw, but I took a proactive precaution by designing and fabricating a stiffening plate to provide additional support to the upper cabinet and wheel shaft assembly. This did require drilling six holes in the side of the upper cabinet, but I feel the additional support may avoid a problem down the road. Click on the thumbnail photos to see the full-size picture, then use your Web browser's Back button to return to this page.
I know a RIKON saw comes with a two year warranty, but I elected not to chance it (by-the-way, they stand behind their warranty, I broke the tracking lock handle by over tightening it and they replaced it under warranty over a year after delivery of my saw). If anyone would like a Stiffening Plate Kit, I'll gladly fabricate one for $200 USD. I'm not sure if this kit would void any RIKON warranty and, if that is an issue for you, please contact RIKON directly at 877-884-5167. If your saw is already damaged (I know of no cases), I would like to know - please send me an e-mail at the address below. This kit might well repair any damage your saw has suffered since it should (no guarantee) pull the side of the upper cabinet and wheel shaft assembly back into acceptable alignment (unless severely damaged due to over tensioning). Please allow 3-4 weeks for fabrication and delivery. I accept credit card payments via PayPal's send money option or if you would prefer, you can contact me via my e-mail address below to arrange for payment by check or money order. Note, this kit only works with the older 10-340 model and not the newer 10-345.
If you have any questions please e-mail me at: dave@swigerwoodworks.com
The RIKON Warranty
Although RIKON warrants their products for two years, they stand behind their products a lot longer than that. The tension spring and upper wheel shaft assembly needed replaced in my saw this year and they supplied the parts for free, including free shipping! My bandsaw is four years old and two years out of warranty - how many manufacturers stand behind their products like that?
Carter Products for Rikon Bandsaws
For all those who email or call me about third party support/availability for upgraded blade guide supports, here is the latest news.
Carter Stabilizer Guides are now available for the 18" saw: Rikon 2 by Carter Products and for the 10- and 14- inch models: Rikon 1 by Carter Products. Carter's Stabilizer guides allow you to make elaborate scroll saw type cuts with your bandsaw using a 1/4" blade - it's truly amazing, I saw a demo at the Baltimore Woodworking Show.
On January 17, 2007, I spoke with Terry Camp at Carter and he informed me that Carter is working on "Roller Bearing Conversion Guide Kits" for Rikon bandsaws. Roller Bearing Conversion Guide Kits provide complete three-sided blade support that allows you to cut perfectly straight resaw/rip cuts and traditional radius curves. Carter guarantees they are better than any other guide system on the market.
The addition of these guides should make this "good" performing saw a "great" performing saw all for under $1,250!
For more info and to check availability, please contact Terry Camp or Jeff Folkert at Carter Products. Carter's toll free number is 888-622-7837 and please tell them you saw this on my website, thanks.
Mule Cabinet Bandsaw Fence
I replaced my RIKON original fence with a Mule Cabinet fence recently and can't say enough good about it - an excellent fence that beats any other aftermarket fence. It clamps straight and true and is built like a mule! I installed mine (installs easily) on the backside of the saw table to avoid issues when swapping out blades. Click on the thumbnail photos below to see the full-size pictures.
Key Links for this saw:
Rikon Tools:
The Tool Center, aka Cyber Woodworking Depot:
Highland Hardware:
http://www.tools-for-woodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=295
Mule Cabinet:
http://www.mulecab.com/bandsaw.html