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band saws

W

wd40

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Aug 3, 2004
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Santa cruz CA
I am in the market for a new band saw.
It is between the Laguna LT24 and the Minimax 24.
Does anyone have experience with either of those machines?
Thanks Wd40
 
wd40 said:
I am in the market for a new band saw.
It is between the Laguna LT24 and the Minimax 24.
Does anyone have experience with either of those machines?
Thanks Wd40
Click to expand...

Do a search of the main forum, lots of info there in a recent thread.
 
The only thing I don't like about my Laguna 16hd is the post that raises and lowers the blade guides. It is round, and there is virtually no way to adjust it for slop/accuracy as you raise and lower it. I have an older PM 6 inch saw which has a square post that has gibs (I think that is what you call them) to adjust for play in both directions, front and back, and side to side. Much better system. Other than that, I love the saw. Plenty of power, ceramic guides, and good over all quality.
robo hippy
 
I've an MM20 and it's been great. I posted on another thread that the only reason I picked MiniMax over Laguna was to save about $400 shipping (I'm on the East Coast). Look at the Laguna lathe thread to see some other folks comments on customer service by them. My two experiences with MiniMax have been great, but they were just getting questions answered - the saw has been flawless.
 
The blade guide was part of the reason my friend picked the Minimax over the Laguna. We had also heard that the new ceramic blade guides on the laguna were kind of fussy to adjust. The guides on the minimax were very easy to adjust and align.
We looked at the new Powermatic saw and I tried to find some literature on it for you. It looks fantastic. It was a little higher than the minimax in price and my friend had already purchased ithe minimax The Powermatic looked really great. No plastic parts anywhere and very clean looking. Not boxy looking like their older units. Looked like a very solid well built machine. It might be worth e-mailing them and asking for literature.
 
I have the MM S45 which replaced my old Delta 14" 3 yrs. ago, but the roller bearing blade guides pack up with sap when sawing "damp" wood. This would apply to any saw with roller bearing guides, and the expensive Laguna ceramic guides screeched like a stuck pig! I sometimes wish I had my old cool blocks back!
 
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If you don't want your ceramic guides to screach, back them off slightly. I don't consider them to be some thing to control the blade, more of some thing to guide, or keep them close. If you raise and lower the guide much more than about 2 inches, the guides will probably need to be adjusted each time. There is always some play in the post as it goes up and down. 16 inch movement up and down and there will be movement.

I agree that Laguna doesn't have great customer service. They do call me once a year and to see how I like my saw, and ask a few questions. It seems to me to be more of a case of bad communication within the company rather than neglect.

robo hippy
 
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