Thread: My replacement Bandsaw findings

What about the Laguna 18BX? An 18" saw, 3HP at 15 Amps and gets great reviews.

Tool Review: Laguna 18BX - FineWoodworking

Agreed...great machine! but $3500 plus delivery is more than I have in mind. Also looking at the Harvey HW616E. 3HP, 400mm Cast Iron wheels, ceramic guides for $2K plus delivery. It appears that these are a “stretched” 14” machine and about 60 kilos heavier than the Leda 16”
Any of these in the group? If so I’d appreciate your comments and reviews.

I just pulled the trigger on the HarveyHW616E. I expect to have it next week and once I have it I will give my thoughts on it. From what I have read, it stacks up pretty well for the price point.

I have heard and seen accusations that the Hammer machines, saws, combinations, BS's etc are made in China but no one seems to have any proof of that happening and until someone does have the proof I think the accusations are unfair, not everything written on the internet is based on fact. I don't think the Hammer BS's are anything special these days and are largely riding on past glory from when the Asian machines were definitely very poor in quality and performance apart from Jet.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

I have heard and seen accusations that the Hammer machines, saws, combinations, BS's etc are made in China but no one seems to have any proof of that happening and until someone does have the proof I think the accusations are unfair, not everything written on the internet is based on fact. I don't think the Hammer BS's are anything special these days and are largely riding on past glory from when the Asian machines were definitely very poor in quality and performance apart from Jet.

Seems to me that IF Hammer BS’s are not made in China or Taiwan, then the Felder group would be crazy not to be right up front and say where they are in fact made. By leaving it as it currently is and not taking the opportunity to defend their products origins, tends to make me think that they are likely Chinese or Taiwanese made.
pretty happy (at this point��) with my decision to buy the Harvey HW616E though.

I have seen that argument many times and that is all I have seen. Accusations require proof so until there is proof there is nothing to defend.

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

I have seen that argument many times and that is all I have seen. Accusations require proof so until there is proof there is nothing to defend.

So, to be clear, where are they made then?

By the way, I am assuming, that the bigger more professional level Saws with the Felder brand attached are not Asian made. The Hammer branded version appears to me to be a budget handyman level of saw. I must admit they are very appealing to me, just more money than I was prepared to outlay.

As a broad sweeping statement, we all probably need to pay more attention to the veracity of assertions we make. It's all too easy to propagate half truths and outright falsehoods by simply repeating what we've heard without taking the time to validate it ourselves.

Regardless, I think in this day and age, origin of manufacturer is getting to the point of being irrelevant. Considering China (which is commonly used as a proxy for poor quality; used to be Japan, and Germany before that), they have world leading manufacturing capability. Specification and quality control are far more relevant, and are a direct result of the investment a company is prepared to put into their product.

Also, let's not start on what constitutes an origin of manufacture.

For me, trust in the brand is a far larger issue than manufacturing origin.

I bought the Rikon about 6 weeks ago, I must say it punches well above it’s weight for the price. One minor adjustment straight out of the crate and it hums nicely, I’m pretty impressed, deep cuts 8” rosewood no problems at all. It does what it has to do, and for $1800, it is great value.

Originally Posted by TerryOz

I just pulled the trigger on the HarveyHW616E. I expect to have it next week and once I have it I will give my thoughts on it. From what I have read, it stacks up pretty well for the price point.

Whats the outcome?


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Originally Posted by TerryOz

So, to be clear, where are they made then?

I am not asserting anything at all, you were the one who made the statement. For Felder to refute that statement by you or someone else there needs to be proof that is irrefutable in nature and that has never been demonstrated. Felder can't refute anything simply because someone on the internet says that a product is rumoured to be made in China. As Lance has said, the internet is full of assertions of this nature, another brand that regularly suffers from this is SnapOn tools. This could deteriorate into something that is not good so I won't post anything more on this.

Originally Posted by Damienol

Whats the outcome?


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I won’t have it until they deliver it, but once they do and I have it unpacked and set up, I’ll post a bit of a review.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

I bought the Rikon about 6 weeks ago, I must say it punches well above it’s weight for the price. One minor adjustment straight out of the crate and it hums nicely, I’m pretty impressed, deep cuts 8” rosewood no problems at all. It does what it has to do, and for $1800, it is great value.

Where did you get the Rikon from?


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