In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....

The November 2004 issue of American Woodworker magazine has a good
review of heavy duty bandsaws, including both Laguna and MiniMax.

"Steve DeMars" wrote in message
news:JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06...
In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....

"Steve DeMars" wrote in message
news:JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06...
In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....


Here's an interesting article by an individual who compares the two with
actual field testing.

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/r...cles_206.shtml

Bob

"BillyBob" wrote in
t:


"Steve DeMars" wrote in message
news:JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06...
In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....


Here's an interesting article by an individual who compares the two
with actual field testing.

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/r...iews&file=arti
cles_206.shtml

Bob




Note that the opinions of that oft-cited article are perhaps two years old.
Models and market conditions have probably changed some since then.

Patriarch

"Steve DeMars" wrote in message
news:JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06...
In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....

I went through a similiar thing you are. I chose the minimax. You won't
regret it after you wipe all the cosmoline off. g Great machine.
SH

I chose Minimax as well... Out freakin' standing machine!
Tom
"Slowhand" I'm@work wrote in message
...

"Steve DeMars" wrote in message
news:JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06...
In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....

I went through a similiar thing you are. I chose the minimax. You won't
regret it after you wipe all the cosmoline off. g Great machine.
SH

"Patriarch" wrote in message
. 97.136...

Note that the opinions of that oft-cited article are perhaps two years
old.
Models and market conditions have probably changed some since then.

True. the top end Laguna saws are probably equal to the Mini-max, since they
upgraded their motors on their higher end saws. I think Laguna ought to
focus on the high end. Their lower end saws are among some serious
competition and I don't know that they compete all that well.

Bob

BillyBob wrote:
"Patriarch" wrote in message
. 97.136...


Note that the opinions of that oft-cited article are perhaps two years

old.

Models and market conditions have probably changed some since then.


True. the top end Laguna saws are probably equal to the Mini-max, since they
upgraded their motors on their higher end saws. I think Laguna ought to
focus on the high end. Their lower end saws are among some serious
competition and I don't know that they compete all that well.

Bob


Minimax just upgraded as well. Their MM16 has a 4.5HP motor and 16"
resaw depth. Pretty similar to the Laguna LT16HD. Minimax is about 70
lbs. heavier, has a cast iron fence and a few other features, but it's
getting to be a coin toss.

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:13:41 -0600, Steve DeMars wrote
(in article JobOe.1388$tB5.838@okepread06):

In a 16" band Saw . . . Pros, Cons, Experience?

Any input appreciated . . . .

Currently saving nickels for a 16" MiniMax....



Check out Yahoo's discussion groups, lots of info there.

I have a previous generation MM16. Fantastic saw! The new generation has
greater cut depth and more (4.8) horsepower. I think this class of saw is
worth the upgrade price over the standard Jet/Delta/Griz in the same size
class _if_ you need the extra features (heavy resawing, etc.).
If you can afford it, the 24" saws are even nicer.

-Bruce

I've got the Laguna Tools 16 SEC -
http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/BandSaw.html

only gripes


1. table tilt turnion is stamped steel, not cast iron
2. rack in rack and pinion blade guard is nylon not
metal
3. table tilts only one way beyond about 3 degrees
4. to tilt the table there's a handy knob on
one side but you need a wrench for the other
side's bolt

As for the cast iron fence - the LTs have them but
they're too short for resawing. For that matter
the tables are kind of small. You'll probably end
up making a new larger table - with extensions
AND a resaw fence. This one's the one I did based
on American Woodworker article.

http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/Resawing1.html

I'm not sure what you'd need a 4.5 hp motor for, even
for resawing or cutting up mini-logs. A 3/4"
3 TPI hook tooth blade will do it IF you set the guides
up right, have the proper tension and a fence that
can be set to parallel the blade's "lead" My saw will
handle 1 1/4" blades but they just generate more
heat and the tension they need ain't great for the
bearings.

Having 18 or 24 inches of exposed blade puts
my teeth on edge unless a power feeder is
used.

Bottom line - when you get up into the $1200 to
$2000 bandsaws they'll all do just about anything
you can think of a bandsaw can do - fairly easily.

charlie b