Pierre what saws do they use at the centre you go to mate talking with Richard Raffan recently he said France is by way of the centre of true turning where they are taught so well. I must say his saws did more work, heavy work that is cutting large rounds etc than most saws I have ever seen. I also believe firms lined up to have him critique use and comment on such equipment. What does he say in his books videos etc worthy of a gaze mate. Bear in mind he is an Englishman who learned and earned in the UK and has the most International experience of ten woodturners as a production turner where minutes count and gear has to pay its way.
Anyhow good luck mate I went the very old and strange route but at no time did I depend for my future and made time to modify, change upgrade and work a huge meat saw a 36 inch C frame and a few others I have the larger many named Carba Tec 3 hp motor unit that has as many faults as most but it has cut the equivalent of a small forest of tough as Teak Aussie Burl I try to use a hardened steel blade, replace the guide bearings re route the suction places and keep it lined up. Seen and used heaps of understated band saws with quite some success. Wish you success as well. One time I took a trailer load of burl to my mate I spoke of just now we cut everything on the 3/4 ton load in half. Now I know Burl grows on trees but it does not throw itself on my trailer is hard won and paid for from up to thousands of miles from here the one long term favourite you may have guessed is Brown Mallee mine from South Australia.no good luck there either but intelligent burl gatherers who make their living cutting and preparing. All Burl sold for the great overseas market has to be free of bark or animals, ever tried to separate the bark mate its horrible.
Enough Pierre have success mate.
Peter.
Peter.
