Hello all,
I’m considering a new bandsaw and am hoping to buy one that will go the distance, as in last my lifetime and my boys lifetime….
I’m considering a Agazzani b18 and a Minimax MM16. The recent Agazzani has been upgraded to 13″ resaw and a 3 HP motor. Jesse at Eagle tools couldn’t offer a compelling reasons to spend $400 more for the 20″ over the 18″. The MM16 has a narrower throat, of course, but a tempting 16″ resaw and 5 HP motor. However, the MM16 apparently has the annoying trait that the throat plate has to be removed to tilt the table (Minimax says that it was designed that way so the table could be beefier by pivoting on a hinge rather than traditional trunnion, or that’s what I heard). The MM16 is $200-300 more than the b18, but this difference won’t swing the decision. (I’ve considered Laguna, but don’t really like the specs or guide systems and am a bit nervous about the customer service reputation).
Currently I’m leaning toward the zzani because of a sense that the are more finely constructed and seem to be the favorites of the Great Ones 🙂
Here are my specific questions (these don’t seem to have been addressed by what I could find in the archives and practically everyother site on the planet having to do with bandsaws…):
1) How much might I miss 3″ of resaw beyond 13″ ? Is there anyone out there with 16″+ resaw that regularly exceeds that capacity?
2) Similarly, Is it practical to mill wood 16″ wide? (i.e., if one only has a 8″ or even 12″ jointer, can stock that width be squared?).
3) How much might I miss 2″ of throat? (I know the answer to 1) and 2) depend on the kind of work I do…).
4) How much of an issue might the throat plate be-could any MM16 owners weigh in on this one?
Thanks in advance!
Replies
I never use the throat plate in my General 14". Rarely do I saw anything small enough that would fall in. Can you say scroll saw?
If you get the saw with the 16" resaw, it's clear that you also need a 16" jointer and planer. Match your jointer and planer to the resaw capacity. So with your existing jointer and planer, any resaw height greater than the width of those two tools is superfluous.
I can recall once that the full throat of my bandsaw has seen use, and I wasn't the one using it. Anything wider will likely be much wider - a job for the jigsaw.
I can't comment on the brands...
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
I've got a 16" jointer, so it's a no brainer. But, even without it depends a lot on what kinds of things you make. If you are into making reproduction furniture wider is better, even if it means pulling out a hand plane on occasion. In any event, if you go for the 13", you will surely run across some wonderful 16" wide stock that screams to be book matched.
I own a first generation MM16, that 'only' has a 13 inch resaw capacity. I don't think that I have ever tilted the table on the saw in the 7 years I have owned it, other than to adjust the table square to the blade.
I will say that more resaw capacity is better for me.. I have more than once wished the bandsaw had a 16 inch resaw capacity.. But not enough to consider re-buying a new bandsaw..
All three bandsaws you are looking at are really good machines (Azzi, MM and Laguna)
I've got a MM16 and haven't come close to using all 16" of the height yet after a couple years. I think around 10" is about the widest I've thrown at it so far. I have done some bevel cutting with it and I end up just going without the insert. IMHO the whole insert on mine isn't designed well I've never been able to get it 100% dead flat with the table. They've changed the insert and table since I bought mine to a better arrangement and while it didn't do anything to change the tilt issue, the newer type would let you make your own inserts pretty easily with a few offset slots to compensate for various angles.
If you build it he will come.
I have got 16" on my 100 year old 36" Defiance BS. The only time that I use the full height is when I am rounding up a blank to go on the lathe, and it is really great for that.
I don't recall ever re-sawing over 12, although I also have a woodmizer, so I would use that instead anyway.
Other things to think about if you have the choice, is blade speed / motor hp. If you are into production, where time is $. You should consider that.
I have a MM20 and looked very closely at the Agazzani. Both bandsaws are best in class, no buts about it.
First the easy question, I predict that you will never tilt the table on either saw. Not only is it a pain with tables this big, but it's just flat out easier to build a quick jig that tilts the workpiece and not the table.
Resaw capacity, maybe if you are slicing off veneers but I've done a lot of resawing and if I get a board that is 16" wide I just want to stare at it unmolested. Seriously, wide boards present too many other challenges, easier to work with boards that are 12" or less.
You can square wide stock with a jointer and planer, you don't need a wide jointer unless you have cupping or warping you want to get out. There is always a method or jig you can use in the absence of a jointer.
Lastly, I'm not suggesting that Agazzani has anything but good customer support, but I know for a fact that Minimax has great customer support. This is something you need to consider.
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