Grizzly G0555 vs G0555XH: is the resaw upgrade worth it?

At a glance

How this comparison was built. We did not test any of these machines. Everything below comes from the specifications Grizzly and Amazon publish and from how the designs work. Where a competitor detail is not in a listing we can verify, we describe the class of machine rather than guess at a number.

What actually differs

The two saws share a name and a 14 inch wheel size, but the real difference is in the vertical dimension and the motor. The G0555 resaws up to 6 inches. The G0555XH resaws up to 12 inches without adding a riser block. A riser block, which is a common upgrade to the standard saw, does add capacity, but it also adds a joint in the frame. A one-piece cast-iron frame holds tension and alignment more consistently, which is the argument for buying the XH instead of upgrading the G0555.

The motor is the second difference. 1 HP is the limit of the G0555 and a dull or wide blade will stall it in thick hardwood. 1-3/4 HP is real power for a 14 inch saw, and for deep resaw cuts that extra power is what keeps the feed from stalling. Both saws are prewired for 110V or 120V and can be converted to 220V, so both work in an ordinary garage.

Who should buy which

Buy the G0555 if your work is curves, small parts, and occasional resawing within 6 inches. It is the safer machine to learn on, takes less floor, and costs less to get running. The tall list of things it does well is shorter than the list of things you can make with a bandsaw anyway, and a well-tuned 1 HP saw will cut curves in thick stock all day.

Buy the G0555XH if you want to open up boards into thin leaves, make bookmatched panels, or cut thick stock into thinner stock instead of buying thin stock at a premium. It is a saw that pays for itself in lumber you do not need to buy. In our G0555XH review we go through the details.

• Choose the G0555 for curves, joinery, and boards up to 6 inches.
• Choose the G0555XH for veneer, bookmatching, and wide boards.
• Skip both if you cut metal; read our wood versus metal bandsaw guide.

Honest weaknesses

Neither saw is a beginner's no-effort machine. Both require tuning, and the blade in the box is rarely the right one. For resawing, you want a wide blade with few teeth per inch. For curves you want a narrow blade. A 14 inch saw with a 12 inch resaw capacity also demands a slow feed in dense hardwood, and it is not a replacement for a larger bandsaw if you resaw all day.

Dust collection is poor on both, as it is on almost every bandsaw: the cut happens inside a cabinet with open doors and chips go where the blade throws them. A sized collector on the 4 inch port helps, but a respirator is the real protection.

Amazon-sold alternatives

For the G0555 class the closest Amazon-sold saw is the WEN BA1411, listed as a 1 HP, 11-amp saw with 6 inches of depth and a 14 by 14 inch cast-iron table. For the G0555XH class, the Rikon 10-1414 is listed at 1-3/4 HP with 14 inches of resaw capacity. See the full comparisons: Harbor Freight, JET and Rikon.

The verdict

Decide by the widest board you will resaw. If it is under 6 inches, the G0555 is enough. If it is wider, the G0555XH saves you from the riser block. The extra motor is a bonus that makes thick cuts more comfortable. For the rest of the decision, read the G0555 review, the best bandsaws guide and the table saw versus bandsaw comparison.

Frequently asked questions