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Thread: Bandsaw choice of 3
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24th September 2015, 01:19 PM #1Member
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Bandsaw choice of 3
Hi everyone
I am looking to purchase my first bandsaw. I started looking at 10 inch models as they are relatively cheap but after reading lots over the past couple of months and thinking through all I will want to do with it I clearly need a larger model. I am also unlikely to buy another I the next 10 years or more so I want to make the right call. My uses will be cutting bowl blanks from logs for turning, some box making, cutting knife scales, some resawing of logs and general cutting duties associated with turning and blanks.
The basic specifications I have come up with are 250-300mm depth of cut, >1.5HP, decent sized table, useable fence, known brand with support and availability of spares if needed. I started with a budget sub $1000 but have soon realized this is not practical for a new machine with these specs. So I can go higher but price is definitely a consideration.
Here is my shortlist - I am after any suggestions and feedback given my requirements. Any more I have missed? Cost of delivery is a significant element - I am rural NSW but if available in Sydney I am planning to be there next month and will have means to pick one up.
Hafco BP355 -245mm max cut sits it just outside my specs but seems like a very good value unit. I would just like bit more height $1155 pick up.
Woodfast MBS400 16" - ticks all my boxes on specs (not available in Syd that I can find) $1800 delivered
Laguna 14/Twelve - ticks all my boxes on specs (although slightly smaller than the woodfast) $1675 pick up
I have been looking for second had past few months but nothing suitable close by has come up. I did very well with getting my lathe and turning tools second hand (saved huge amount) but bandsaw is not see easy it seems.
The current front runner is the Laguna but am interested in others thoughts especially those that may have been in similar position as me recently.
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24th September 2015, 01:51 PM #2GOLD MEMBER
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I bought the hafco bp355 recently. it has served me well without any issues. I see it as a cheaper alternative to the laguna 14/12. The main differences I see between the 2 machines is the table tilt trunion on the bp355 is kinda crappy, on the laguna it looks to be a much better engineered component. lucky for me, i have not needed to tilt the bandsaw table...ever. also the blade guides on the bp355 are cheap, but they are just blade guides...fancy ones just cost more without any great added benefit apart from slightly easier adjustment...meh
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24th September 2015, 02:09 PM #3SENIOR MEMBER
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I just bought the hammer N4400, but I checked out all the bandsaws in the 14" to 18" range. I think you would be hard pressed finding a better machine than the Taiwanese Laguna 14". There is 2 14" Laguna's, one chinese and one taiwanese. Whilst I thing the chinese machine is still pretty good, when comparing the 2 the Taiwanese machine looked much better quality.
FWIW, I have a mate who is a professional cabinet maker (I am talking fine woodworking, not mass manufactured chipboard) and he reckons the carbatec gear is fine. As I understand it, the quality of most is the same, and once the saw is tuned properly they all cut the same!
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24th September 2015, 03:22 PM #4Intermediate Member
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I bought my Laguna 14/Twelve about 18 mounts ago with re saw king blade very happy with it
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24th September 2015, 05:21 PM #5Woodworking mechanic
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The newish Laguna at my local Men's Shed doesn't have a motor brake so it runs on for some time after its switched off It now has had a flashing light and a buzzer fitted that indicates that it's still turning after switch off.
Don't know if this is standard for the Laguna but not a good feature I feel.
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24th September 2015, 06:59 PM #6GOLD MEMBER
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I have a 14/12 and use it not quite every day but close. the majority of the time I use a 10mm 12 tpi blade on it for cutting out the armrests on the chairs I make and hasn't missed a beat, its cut almost a couple of thousand arms so far. when I do swap over blades I have found that there has been no change in tracking
and I'm up and running in minutes whereas on my previous bandsaws it could be up to 10 -15 mins maybe more.
the only pains have been a slight wobble on start up which I fixed by a couple of timber wedges under the base and one knob on the bottom guide is a pain for my hands to get to.
at the time I was buying I did want to get the Laguna lt14suv but it was out of stock and they had the 14/12 on the floor so I bought it thinking that maybe I would upgrade further down the line but I don't think I will as I'm getting good results with no issues.
also the resaw King blades have my vote you get an incredible cut from them.Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they
bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs .
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24th September 2015, 11:39 PM #7Member
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- Tamworth, NSW
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24th September 2015, 11:44 PM #8Member
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