Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 24, 2007 06:23pm | #1

   I have used ceramic guides, both thrust and side, on various saws and they are the most trouble free guides I have ever used, they seem to have no drawbacks.  They aren't practical for narrow blades but they are my first choice for blades 1/2 wide and above.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine  

1. 
   Cincinnati | Apr 24, 2007 06:56pm | #2

   John,

   If I were using a 1" or 1.25" blade for resawing and needed to switch to a 1/4 or 3/8 blade, what problems would I see with the ceramic blocks? What solution would you recommend for the narrow blades?

   Thanks,

   Greg

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 24, 2007 08:24pm | #3

   As long as you are careful in setting the side guides, you can use the narrower blades with the ceramic blocks.  The risk is that the set portion of a narrow blade will get between the blocks which would wreck the teeth. 

   The small square ceramic side blocks used on smaller machines, like the Delta 14 inch style saws, are fairly easy to set up for narrow blades but the round blocks on the Euro type guides don't do as good a job supporting the narrow blades when only a small section on the perimeter of the block is touching the blade.

   Fact is, large machines are designed to run wider blades and most have some problem when running small blades.  In most cases you can adjust the guides to handle the small blades but the set up can be fussy.

   John W.

1. 
   bakesale1 | Apr 24, 2007 09:18pm | #4

   John:I have the euroguides on my 20"BS and find them very fussy and time consuming to adjust. Do you find the laguna guide blocks faster to adjust too?

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 24, 2007 10:05pm | #5

   We have the Laguna guides on our big Aggazani band saw and they are not easier to adjust than the original guides since it requires 3 different size Allen wrenches.  The mounts for the ceramic blocks are made differently for various makes of saws so you might find that the Laguna guides for your saw might be different and possibly easier to adjust. 

   We leave the same blade on the saw until it gets dull, so we don't do a lot of guide setting.  Once the guides are set they generally don't need readjusting for the life of the blade.

   John W.

2. 
   bakesale1 | Apr 25, 2007 03:48am | #7

   Thanks, John. I have a 20" aggi, so id be in the same boat as you, I suspect. BTW: I'm guessing one only replaces the top guides and not the lower ones too. Is that how your aggi is set up?

3. 
   JohnWW | Apr 25, 2007 04:08pm | #13

   Laguna makes both top and lower guides and I have both on our saw.

   John W.

   Edited 4/25/2007 9:10 am ET by JohnWW

4. 
   mapleman | Apr 25, 2007 05:12pm | #14

   A question for those with the ceramic guides:

   Provided I didn't want to switch from larger to smaller blades,  kept my 14" bandsaw for the smaller stuff and curve cutting, and purchased a larger bandsaw for resawing:

   Are the ceramic guides the best for resawing with a large blade?

   Also, I hear discussions about ceramic guides and "european" guides, what is the difference?

   Lee

5. 
   JohnWW | Apr 25, 2007 05:48pm | #15

   Personally, I would choose ceramic guides for a dedicated resaw machine.  I don't believe that Laguna is the only maker of the ceramic guides, they were actually invented by someone else, but Laguna may be the only source for guides that will fit European made machines.

   "Euro" style guides pinch the blade between two hardened steel discs that are free to spin, with a similar disc for a thrust bearing.  They make a lot of noise, are moderately hard to adjust, and are prone to having bearing and wear problems.  I was glad to get rid of the ones on our shop's big saw.

   John W.

6. 
   mapleman | Apr 26, 2007 07:04am | #21

   Hi John,

   thanks for clearing that up for me. I suspected that's what the euro guides were, but wanted to make sure I was correct.

   Lee

7. 
   jerry | Apr 25, 2007 06:01pm | #16

   i primarily use the mm16 for resaw - using a 1/2" trimaster carbide blade - it just stays on there - the ceramic guides are great. there seems to be lots of depth left for using them with wider blades.jerry

8. 
   bakesale1 | Apr 25, 2007 08:19pm | #17

   John: Have you ever tried to put a smaller blade (1/2" or 1/4") on the saw with the Laguna ceramic guides? I'm reading about prolems some users are having with their Laguna saws and smaller blades.

9. 
   JohnWW | Apr 25, 2007 08:37pm | #18

   I don't think the Laguna type of ceramic guides, which have a round face, work very well on smaller blades, see a comment I made above. 

   I haven't tried the guides on a Laguna saw only on an Agazzani, but there is another thread going on Knots about the problems some users are having with fitting small blades on Laguna saws.

   John W.

10. 
    Thew | Apr 25, 2007 02:48am | #6

    I have the ceramic guides on a 16HD, and I find them quicker to adjust than roller guides. At least the version I have only has one allen wrench and a thumbscrew to perform all the adjustments.Thew

11. 
    Cincinnati | Apr 25, 2007 04:47am | #8

    Thew

    What year was your LT16HD manufactured? I have one on order for delivery in June or July (awaiting the completion of my workshop). I am wondering what challenges are in front of me.

    I spoke with a Laguna tech rep today. He said the LT18 had some guideblock issues with smaller blades, but a design mod has changed that. He said he has no knowledge of guide block complaints on the LT16HD.

12. 
    jerry | Apr 25, 2007 05:12am | #9

    i just put on the laguna guides on a minimax16 - older generation. conversion was simple. after living with the euro guides for a few years tried the carters and found them way to clumsy to adjust and went with the ceramics. used them the first time this weekend to resaw some 10" claro walnut - the truest cut i've had. the blade support was precise - the full side of the blade - the bottoms were actually nudging up to the blade with no problem. setting them does take 2 different size allen wrenches - but they are independent settings - not trying to set it 2 different planes at the same time - so i found it pretty easy. for me a good investment.jerry

13. 
    Hastings | Apr 25, 2007 04:07pm | #12

    Cinci:I have the new 16HD, i.e., the same generation as yours. It was a snap to set up. I followed the DVD instructions as well as the manual and it was very easy and straightforward.The machine has been a joy to use and I often use it for ripping when my combo is not in "saw" mode.I have a lot of 12/4 cherry to resaw too.I don't think you will encounter any problem, at least not like the 18 that the OP has had.Enjoy your new shop and saw, when they are ready.Hastings

14. 
    Thew | Apr 25, 2007 08:42pm | #19

    It is three years old or so, I believe the previous generation. Mine came with a video, but it was pretty unnecessary, as setup was quick. You'll have to wire the motor, obviously, so have cable and a proper plug handy. I adjusted the fence once and have not had to mess with it since, even with different blades.Back on the ceramic guides, I have had no problem with 3/8" blades, but have not tried anything smaller.You're going to like the saw.

2. 
   BruceS | Apr 25, 2007 05:33am | #10

   I have a Jet 14"w riser block and I use the ceramic side blocks and love them, But still use the roller thrust.  I use them down to 1/4" blades but use the phenolic cool blocks on the smaller blades so the teeth can be buried.   The stock plastic blocks were the pits.   The one thing I like best about the ceramics is their ability to act as pitch "scrapers" especially when I get into a run of pine sawing.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

3. 
   terrylee86 | Apr 25, 2007 02:49pm | #11

   John is absolutely right about the ceramic guides being designed for larger blades.  I have a LT18 Laguna and the adjustment is fairly simple for larger blades.  For a 1/4" blade it is a pain.  If you are resawing as your main operation the Laguna ceramic guides are the best on the market.  I have cut sheets almost the thickness of paper with the Resawking blade and the ceramic guides.  I was just testing the capability of the saw and I was impressed.  I was more than a little iritated about the smaller bladses, but solved that when a buddy sold me his Minimax 14" to get a bigger saw when he saw me resawing on mine.  I just leave the ResawKing set up on my Laguna and a 1/4" Timberwolf set up on my Minimax.

   Terry

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 26, 2007 03:04am | #20

   >> If you are resawing as your main operation the Laguna ceramic guides are the best on the market.What exactly makes ceramic guide better than roller guides, Cool Blocks, oil soaked wood, etc. Will then damage the blade teeth if they come in contact with them? Can they be set touching the blade?Howie.........

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 26, 2007 04:50pm | #22

   Howie,

   There are several advantages that I have found:

   1.  They show virtually no wear on the side blocks even after a hundred hours of use so they almost never need to be replaced or trued up. On most designs the blocks can be rotated or flipped over to get a fresh surface if the faces do wear. 

   2.  The thrust bearing in the back does develop a groove over time, but the block can be rotated a few degrees to create a fresh surface, the thrust block is probably good for a thousand hours of service before it would need replacing.

   3.  There are no moving parts wear out, seize, or make noise.

   4.  Because they don't wear, once the guides are set they never need readjusting.

   5.  They can be set very close to the blade, the only limit being how smooth the weld is.  No other guide system gives as good blade stability as the ceramic guides. 

   6.  The crisp edges of the blocks and the ability to fit them tightly against the blade keeps the sides of the blade clean when cutting wood with a lot of pitch or resins.

   7.  They will damage the blade's teeth if they aren't set properly, but that is equally true of steel blocks or ball bearing guides, the problem is no more likely with ceramic blocks, and is easily avoided by using the proper set up procedure for the guides.

   John W.

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Apr 26, 2007 05:50pm | #23

   Thanks John, I have never used ceramic blocks and always felt that they offered no advantage over steel blocks. Seems like everything you list can be said for steel except using them for the thrust bearing--which I didn't know.To be honest, I have always used Cool Blocks on my 14"BS. I like them because I frequently change blades and the Cool Blocks can be set up touching the blade or, in the case of narrow blades, enclosing the blade. The CB's are not damaged when they contact the teeth nor do they damage the blade. This is big plus, in my opinion, for woodworkers who frequently change blades. Mistracking tends to occur just subsequent to changing blades. Because they actually contact the blade, they provide the most support to the blade. They too, are easily rotated when they wear or then can be easily refaced with sandpaper.If I had a dedicated saw for resawing, I would think the ceramics would be of benefit.I agree with you that bearing guides are noisy. When I recently replaced my 20+ year old 14" Jet, I couldn't wait to replace the bearing guides with the Cool Blocks.Thanks again for the response.Howie.........

4. 
   JeffG | Apr 12, 2022 10:46am | #24

   This forum has been really helpful. I have a Laguna LT18 that I love. I mostly leave a ¾ inch resaw blade and it works beautifully. The ceramic guides are easy to adjust. I recently switched to a ¼ inch blade for some curved cuts. Got some sparking and some black debris. Laguna customer service says this is common but I think it’s an issue using the smaller blades with the ceramic blocks. I will now look for a smaller saw to keep set up with a finer blade.
   JAG

5. 
   _mj_ | Apr 12, 2022 10:51am | #25

   The OP posted his question 15 years ago.