Hi,
I’m in the market for a 14″ bandsaw and looking at buying a Steel City 14″ Granite Delux Bandsaw, but I have read some negative online reviews regarding quality control and vibration.
I would appreciate any advice on the best saw for less than $1000.00.
Terry
Replies
I am still happy with this saw
My advice is save your money and buy something more than a $1000 saw.
My Laguna is one of the smaller ones but can handle "ripping, re-sawing, cut veneers, and still do all the curves that a band saw normally does".
For blades narrower than 1/4" get cool block accessory.
Nature of my work is home shop, high end work, usually, so far, very hard woods, bubinga, purple heart, cocobolo, oak, maple, but also camphor wood for secondary wood in my tool boxes resawed from a nasty old plank and prima vera nice but soft. Also walnut for chests.
Lots of resawing for drawer parts for smaller chests of drawers. But lots of resawing max width that saw can handle in seven or eight foot lengths in the bubinga and purple heart to thickness and I turned the falling boards into nice veneer as I went. No problem at all !
I use mostly hand tools otherwise though have a few home shop power tools.
It may keep me firmly placed in the group of people who post overly long and wordy blowhard posts but here is one of my posts from the past to save you the trouble of looking back if you don't have the time.
To the regulars: sorry for the repeat.
>Is Laguna worth the price?
Yes !
Every time i use my Laguna it makes me smile. Since mine is lower price range there are some paint blemishes. The saw and its performance are sound as can be and after years of owner ship and use I am totally please.
The thing that sets it above the others for me:
The Resaw King Blade (it comes with the saw)
http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaw.resawking1.aspx
The Ceramic Laguna Guide System ( the guides on the least expensive saw do not look exactly like the blue aluminum ones but they work exactly the same and have the same blade support)
http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaw.guides.aspx
You can watch the video on line now you do not need to get a DVD in the mail
http://www.lagunatools.com/bandsaw.lt14se.aspx#
There is nothing I would rather have at any price except a big old giant Laguna which I don't really need and do not have the space for it.
Happy sawing.
Which Laguna Bandsaw?
Roc,
Which Laguna do you have? They now import both Italian and Taiwan (Or China). I've seen the Asian made 14-inch bandsaw and it's pretty impressive. However, I've always wanted an Italian made bandsaw and if I upgrade, I think I'd go with the Italian made model.
Oh I Agree
It would be cool to have one of the Italian bandsaws ! When I ordered they were making these small Lagunas in Belgium but by the time I hashed ever thing out and got the money together they were coming from another country. I believe mine is made in Bulgaria ( too lazy to go look but I don't think that is too important to you but if it is I will go look).
I have some paint issues on mine. Looks like they opened a new batch of paint part way through painting mine and didn't stir it up, meaning the gray is just a little different on part of one of the doors. No big deal I suppose. Usually I would get all bent about something like that but I was so thrilled with the performance of this saw and the ability to finally do near effortless re-sawing that I didn't want to give it up for a better paint job.
Oh yah . . . I have the basic 14" that sits on a stand ( not the floor model ) no foot brake.
PS: I wouldn't shy away from the Taiwan saw. I have some well made power tools that were made in Taiwan. The quality of the China ones could vary a whole lot.
Ha, ha, ha . . . in the past the Italians haven't been know for their quality control . . .
some times along the lines of . . . "Send it out; if it comes back we will worry about it then ". I have actually had really good luck with top of the line Italian made bicycle frame tubing and parts but have heard horror stories.
European Made...
I guess that I thought I heard that LT14 SEL was made in Italy. But I guess I need to check on that. You are correct, it's not critical where it's made but whether the product is of good design and build quality. Then there's the question of what happens if something isn't working or if there is a flaw, is there a good dealer or repair network? Brands like Delta and Powermatic have the edge there or in theory since they have more dealers and service centers.
For me, it comes down to just wanting an italian made machine. My bike frame is made in Taiwan and my parts come from Vicenza. I have an admiration for some of those fine Italian machines. Oh well, who knows if I'll actually ever do it, my 14 inch Rikon is tuned up pretty nice but I'd love more resaw capacity!
Good luck
>what happens if something isn't working or if there is a flaw, is there a good dealer or repair network?<
I would call up Laguna and ask them about that.
NOW . . .
be warned that anything can happen and probably will when you dial this number. Apparently the Laguna boys operate on a different plane of reality than you and I.
Patience in the extreme is my advice ( and working your way up the chain of command if necessary ). Over all I have had a good experience and gotten my questions answered. Others here have had problems. I can see how that could happen but from working with the public I can understand how the Laguna people can some times get frustrated with the callers causing problems and acting silly.
My perspective, from buying power tools at stores and on line, is what ever you get is likely to have some problems , usually minor, and they may not show up until you spend some time with them.
My modus operandi is to tear the thing down and rebuild it checking everything and making right as I go. Often cutting, drilling, smoothing, welding you name it to make the "blank" into MY tool the way I want it. For example I drilled and tapped my Laguna fence so I could quickly bolt and unbolt the tall resaw plywood fence. I added thin shims to the back of the auxiliary plywood fence to correct it so the plywood is very square to the table ect. A nut driver and the fence is on or off as needed with no futzing around.
There are many things in this world I will never be worth a dam at but , luckily for me and my woodworking hobby, this mechanical thing is no obstacle.
Not to blow my horn too loudly but often as not I can do a better and more thorough job than the repair center. So you may be as well off doing the same.
Often those places are low wage rush job deals so be ware.
A woodworker has to be a jack of all trades . . . maybe even a psychologist when it comes to talking to the customers and the power tool suppliers. Not being much of psychologist I fall back on holing up with my mechanic's tools and circumnavigate the problems that way.
roc
Thanks for the link to the on line video demo. I got a good feel for the company and the tools. What did it run, 2 hours? 1 1/2 ? As an old film editor I could see ways to tighten up the production a lot without missing anything important, but I enjoyed it anyway. Thanks again.
Seems Like it any way
>How long 2 hr ?<
Ha ha
I think, in a way , that is a good thing. Not too sliick in their promo. Perhaps throwing the money saved on the vid. toward getting the power tools built and out the door.
Anyway say what you will about the staff I think the owner is generally a good guy doing a great job.
go old
there are lots around you should not go near a grand, but it matters really on what you want to do with it. I have two bandsaws. I have a Grizzly 17" HD saw with a resaw blade on it and I have a 1934 delta bs set up for cutting small stuff. I paid 750 for the griz 6 years ago and just recently this past year bought the delta for 200. I'm going say this, if i could only have one, get an old saw! The old american iron just can't be beat. I picked up an old 16" walker turner I'm replacing the bearings in now and put a new motor with it and for 300 or so I will have a heck of a bandsaw. You see a trend here? be patient and go over to
http://www.owwm.org/viewforum.php?f=4&sid=5b567ae2e438da3a7daee18e70dd6e74 and wait someone will post a bs for a good price. another option is to go to http://www.searchtempest.com and it will search all the craigslists around your zipcode based on distance. I found that delta that way. I'm telling ya you will find a good deal if you just look.
With your budget, you can get Grizzly or Delta 14” band saw. These saws are economical that has good quality for the price.
On the other hand, if you just plan on saving the money and get something more than $ 1000 saw, consider Trajan 914 located at http://www.utilitybandsaw.com. This quality machine tool provides fast precise cutting and operator safety is a priority.
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