Great news - Laguna Italian bandsaw variants for Oz - potentially....hopefully!

My apologies if you've already read this on another thread that I posted about my LT18 shortcomings - but for those who wouldn't see it: I had emailed Laguna in the US wondering what would be involved in having the Italian made Laguna bandsaws available for purchase in Australia, or having them shipped in from the US or Italy for a special order (of one or more if there was enough interest).

I have had a response from Benjamin Helshoj, who I understand is the dealers sales manager for Australasia, advising that he believes Gregory Machinery will be start importing the Italian line of Laguna Bandsaws shortly.

So if anyone else, like me, is particularly interested in getting closer to one of the Italian variants, as opposed to the currently imported Chinese models, it may pay to do a bit of coaxing with Greg-Mach to encourage them and to expedite their process or confirm their decision to import them.

Of course they will be more expensive. In the US, where both variants are available the Italian version appears to be $1655.00 more than the Chinese version ($2195.00 V $3850.00 on Laguna's web site), but I think I'd rather pay the extra for a machine that I expect to be last bandsaw I buy if it gives me more confidence in its construction and finish. Also the ceramic guides, foot brake, power and general specifications of the Laguna appeal to me more than other 18's that I've been able to find available here in Oz.

Would love one move up from my Basato 5-4 hope they have them in time for next wood show. ;)

If the Italian Laguna is 57% more than the Chinee Laguna in the US, I shudder to think what it will be over here:oo:

There is already an Italian built good quality bandsaw available here. The MiniMax from Gabbetts branch iwoodlike (yes, I think its a kitsch name too) is a very well made bandsaw IMO. I tried for a couple of months to get a price and delivery date for an Italian Laguna but Gregory Machinery have never given me either, two months down the track, so they have missed out. I bought the SP500 P US with two Lennox tungsten carbide tipped blades a couple of weeks ago. It is early days but so far I am very pleased. It cuts blue gum slabs like a hot knife through butter, and about as smoothly!


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Originally Posted by Xanthorrhoeas

There is already an Italian built good quality bandsaw available here. The MiniMax from Gabbetts branch iwoodlike (yes, I think its a kitsch name too) is a very well made bandsaw IMO. I tried for a couple of months to get a price and delivery date for an Italian Laguna but Gregory Machinery have never given me either, two months down the track, so they have missed out. I bought the SP500 P US with two Lennox tungsten carbide tipped blades a couple of weeks ago. It is early days but so far I am very pleased. It cuts blue gum slabs like a hot knife through butter, and about as smoothly!


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I'd say that may have been because the Italian made Laguna's have not been imported into Australia by anyone and, up until now - per my OP, I don't believe that there has been any discussion of them being available here (none that any of my previous conversations with the GregMach guys would suggest anyway).

Re the Minimax saw's, they seem to be a great saw and it was the 800mm version of the Minimax that I was considering as the alternative to the Laguna. It appeared to have a good fully welded frame and there was a lot to like about it, however it didn't have the foot break that I really wanted and I had a preference for the ceramic guides.

The Gabbetts sales rep' did tell me that the Minimax saws are now all made in Taiwan, not Italy.......but he seemed to know less about the specs of the saw than I did from my web research - so perhaps he had that wrong?? I'd be interested if you could have a look at your saw and see if it has where it was made stamped on it.

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Originally Posted by Larks

I'd say that may have been because the Italian made Laguna's have not been imported into Australia by anyone and, up until now - per my OP, I don't believe that there has been any discussion of them being available here (none that any of my previous conversations with the GregMach guys would suggest anyway).

Re the Minimax saw's, they seem to be a great saw and it was the 800mm version of the Minimax that I was considering as the alternative to the Laguna. It appeared to have a good fully welded frame and there was a lot to like about it, however it didn't have the foot break that I really wanted and I had a preference for the ceramic guides.

The Gabbetts sales rep' did tell me that the Minimax saws are now all made in Taiwan, not Italy.......but he seemed to know less about the specs of the saw than I did from my web research - so perhaps he had that wrong?? I'd be interested if you could have a look at your saw and see if it has where it was made stamped on it.

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If you are after an Italian made bandsaw, I believe the Felder FB500 and FB600 are still made by Centauro. Moving sideways to their FB510 and 610 machines gets you an Austrian made beast.
Bot designs are quite superb with the later "in-house" made Felder being more modern than the Italian machine.

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Originally Posted by drmark67

If you are after an Italian made bandsaw, I believe the Felder FB500 and FB600 are still made by Centauro. Moving sideways to their FB510 and 610 machines gets you an Austrian made beast.
Bot designs are quite superb with the later "in-house" made Felder being more modern than the Italian machine.

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I'm not necessarily after an Italian made saw, but I am after a better made saw than the Chinese version of the Laguna that I have recently purchased and which I have posted about elsewhere here. The Laguna features appealed above others in way of the foot brake and ceramic blade guides.

Incidentally, I had been interested in the Felder 840 and had travelled up to Brisbane specifically to inspect it, however when I got there the "showroom" was closed and the rep' was not answering his phone. I left a number of messages to try and arrange another time to view it but was never called back. I was also a little put off where the details on the web site suggest that the table only tilts to 20deg.

Models sold in Aus tend not to have foot brakes. I think it is a US thing. Felder/Hammer have electronic braking which is much more efficient. The footbrake is a mechanical friction brake which wears.

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Originally Posted by Larks

I'm not necessarily after an Italian made saw, but I am after a better made saw than the Chinese version of the Laguna that I have recently purchased and which I have posted about elsewhere here. The Laguna features appealed above others in way of the foot brake and ceramic blade guides.

Incidentally, I had been interested in the Felder 840 and had travelled up to Brisbane specifically to inspect it, however when I got there the "showroom" was closed and the rep' was not answering his phone. I left a number of messages to try and arrange another time to view it but was never called back. I was also a little put off where the details on the web site suggest that the table only tilts to 20deg.

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Originally Posted by Larks

The Gabbetts sales rep' did tell me that the Minimax saws are now all made in Taiwan, not Italy.......but he seemed to know less about the specs of the saw than I did from my web research - so perhaps he had that wrong?? I'd be interested if you could have a look at your saw and see if it has where it was made stamped on it.

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My six month old MM SN45 bandsaw was made in Italy. I think the rep needs to brush up on his product knowledge

Bandsaws | GABBETT MACHINERY - Woodworking Machinery Sales Australia & New Zealand

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Originally Posted by Chris Parks

My six month old MM SN45 bandsaw was made in Italy. I think the rep needs to brush up on his product knowledge

Bandsaws | GABBETT MACHINERY - Woodworking Machinery Sales Australia & New Zealand

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Thanks Chris.

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Originally Posted by Larks

I'd say that may have been because the Italian made Laguna's have not been imported into Australia by anyone and, up until now - per my OP, I don't believe that there has been any discussion of them being available here (none that any of my previous conversations with the GregMach guys would suggest anyway).

Re the Minimax saw's, they seem to be a great saw and it was the 800mm version of the Minimax that I was considering as the alternative to the Laguna. It appeared to have a good fully welded frame and there was a lot to like about it, however it didn't have the foot break that I really wanted and I had a preference for the ceramic guides.

The Gabbetts sales rep' did tell me that the Minimax saws are now all made in Taiwan, not Italy.......but he seemed to know less about the specs of the saw than I did from my web research - so perhaps he had that wrong?? I'd be interested if you could have a look at your saw and see if it has where it was made stamped on it.

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This is my 2 months old S400P, made by Centauro

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Originally Posted by Albert

This is my 2 months old S400P, made by Centauro

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To be pendantic, and one has to be these days, that does not necessarily mean it was made in Italy. It could be commissioned by an Italian company and made in Outer Mongolia.

Another example is Grobet Saw Files. They are stamped sorry, printed "Grobet Suisse" or "Grobet USA". The fact is that only two brands of saw file are now made in Europe, and neither are Grobet - theirs come from India.

Indeed, even if it actually says "Made in Outer Mongolia" they can say that if that's where the greatest value adding takes place. In the case of Indian made saw files I suspect that the packaging done in Suisse would cost more than the Indian production of the file itself.

BEWARE!

The info from Gabbetts on my MiniMax S500P US is that it was made in Italy. Some of their reps at the shows seem to know nothing but talk to [email protected] as he is the sales rep for these machines. Certainly much of the documentation is in Italian. I will have a search on the machine to see what it says. It does not have "made in China" on it!

I guess that I wouldn't buy an Italian car for quality and reliability, so being Italian isn't necessarily the point. However, theories about country of origin aside, the quality of the product is what matters and from my limited experience of two weeks ownership this seems to be a high quality machine. It is certainly much higher quality than what I saw from local suppliers such as H&F and CT.

It does have a foot brake, with an electronic cut out on it so one can just stand on the brake to stop the blade and cut off the power. It is a great safety feature.

The guides are very adjustable, unlike my perception of the Laguna ceramic guides. I am not expert enough to say which is best, but the design on the MM is similar to the big-old-time industrial machines like the Barker that I have seen, and they have stood the test of time. Of course, if you really love the Laguna guides they sell them as after market items so you could fit them later if necessary. I am in wait and see mode.

If there are any forumites with expert knowledge and opinions on the blade guides itwould be good to hear from them.



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