Hello: Has anyone else had this problem with an LT18? When I first received the saw it had a ¼” blade which I left on for a while. I then went to install the 1″ Resaw King and could not get the lower guides lined up. A call to Laguna and I was told there was a problem with the dimension of the spacer/mounting block and was shipped the new part and the problem was solved. Yesterday I went to reinstall the smaller blade and have the same problem in reverse. There is not enough adjustment, fore and aft, to accommodate the smaller blade. I am not going to dismantle the guide mounting every time, I hope. Still waiting for a call back (24 hours now) from them, hopefully with a permanent solution.
Duke
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Edited 4/11/2007 10:38 pm by dukeone
Replies
I have an LT-18 and have not experienced this problem. Mine is an older model and I did upgrade to the ceramic guides.
Ken,
Keep us posted on this please. I am planning to upgrade my 14" Delta to a Laguna or Minimax in the next year or so. I would like to know how this pans out for you.
Lee
Lee: Just to update you: I'm working with Jeffery at Laguna to resolve this. At the moment I've put back the original lower guide mounting piece and can track the ½" blade just fine. I've sent him pictures of the lower guide setup, maybe he can see something that way otherwise? Could it be something not at the right dimension such as the "box" where the guide mounts? Can't be a design problem or there would be many complaints and the answer would be known.
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Duke,
I'll be interested in what they say. My LT18 came with the Resawking installed and when I went to put on a 1/4" blade a couple of months later it would not fit. The guides would not come up to the blade. Then in all the stuff that came with the saw I found a blue 1/4" piece of aluminum and tried that. It was a spacer block so the guides will work with smaller blades. That is the dumbest design I have ever saw. If I would have known that I would have bought the Bridgewood (PBS-440). Getting out my allen wrenches and installing a spacer block every time I want to change the blade is for the birds. I use it mainly for resawing, but the Bridgewood and the Laguna are made in the same factory in Italy and the only difference is those stupid guides. I wish I had the European style at least you don't have a spacer block and sparks everywhere with that sawdust. Get the MiniMax or the Bridgewood at $1799 it is a $1000 cheaper than the Laguna. Anyone want to buy a LT18 in Ann Arbor ,MI (Saline) give you a good deal.
Terry
Terry: That is exactly what is going on with my saw. Could this be a design flaw or are they trying to put one over on us? I can't imagine this can't be fixed with the right size/configuration of the mounting blocks. I'm going to call them again tomorrow, I will mention that I know of another LT18 with the same problem. Jeffery at Laguna made like he had never heard of such a problem before. I'm getting mad. Not just such a dumb screw-up but trying to act like they didn't know about it is much worse.
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Duke,
I called Laguna service after reading you post and they said indeed you have to put that 1/4" spacer on the bottom guides to make a 1/4" blade work on that machine. He said you could try and track it offcenter of the tire and see if that would work. I told him that was a design flaw and he said most people use that machine to resaw anyway and they haven't had any complaints about it. I will not keep changing that block just to use a 1/4" blade. A buddy of mine wanted to sell me a 14" Minimax(Taiwan unit) for curved cuts and I bought it. Nice little machine I like its fit and finish. I'll use my Laguna to resaw and rip. I don't scroll cut much anyway.
Terry
Terry: I'll give them one more call but I'm not happy about it as I only have room/money for one band saw. Their web site still says 1/16" to 1 3/8 blades. It does not mention taking the whole darn guide mount apart to swap out blades. By the way I'm talking about a ½" blade.
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Duke,
I think a 1/2" blade will work without the spacer block. I almost got my 1/4" blade to work, it was just short.
Terry
Morning Duke..
Ahhhh.... you have discovered one of the little niche's that the "Italian Stallions" have they don't mention before the sale I see. ha.. ha...
The large Euro guides aren't suited for blades 1/2" and under for all practical purposes as they don't give proper blade support for narrower blades in curve cutting. I am not as familiar with the ceramics, but as large as they are I suspect the same would be true.
I had a deposit on a MM 16 and in order to run the smaller blades you have to purchase a set of guides they offer to run "cool blocks" which do a better job of support on the narrower blades. The "Stallions" are a fine piece of machinery for re-saw but not necessarily a "work of art" for finer detail work. And I do both frequently.
In lieu of the MM, I canceled and got a Steel City 18" which has roller guides which give you a shot at decent results with re-saw and curve cutting by changing blades. To change one on it takes about 3 minutes to switch and re-adjust bearings.
But... even with that, I decided as Terry to keep my smaller Jet in lieu of selling it for a dedicated 1/4" blade for the detail work on curves and plastic and keep the SC loaded with a 3/4" Woodslicer for re-saw and ripping. And that has worked out very well for me.
I love the MM 16", but my needs were meet with the above at less cost and the only thing I really gave up was 4" in re-saw height with 16" capability on the MM which is a brute on re-saw to 12" on the SC which is very capable and more flexible as an "all weather performer".
And yes the Laguna and MM are extremely robust and quality made machines. If I were a bowl turner working with very large logs, I would have one in my shop. But for the flex I was looking for.. I decided to seek an alternative and found one I am very happy with for my own needs.
Good luck dealing with Laguna.. when I was shopping them my salesman told me anything I wanted to hear to sell his machine and when asked about a few comparisons on certain features on the MM such as the MM has heavier cast iron wheels, his was a much more technologically advanced design. That was just one erroneous comment as he pretty well trashed the competitor, IMO. I had seen both machines at WW shows and had operated both. I let him go on without dispute even though no matter how good the machine was in reality, every aspect in an hour phone conversation was better than the competitor. I didn't fall off a turnip truck down in Georgia yesterday as I suspect he assumed.
When asked about running smaller blades on Laguna, no problem what-so-ever as MM told me up-front you needed to purchase the smaller accessory cool block guides to use with them. They also told me you had to remove the rear wheel on the on-board mobility unit to get the lower body door open all the way. That's what I wanted to hear, the truth as I already had discovered these points at WW shows.
Regards...
Sarge.. jt
Edited 4/25/2007 9:32 am ET by SARGEgrinder47
Sarge: Thanks for the help. I bought the Laguna when I was just going wild buying tools and wood as I was just enthralled with my new hobby ie: I didn't do a whole lot of research. I had bought a 14" Grizzly, don't remember which model, but I didn't like it, it was too light weight looking. I worked in heavy industry and thought everything should be "industrial" strength. Maybe I should have kept it for curve work. I'll get what I can from them as far as a fix for the LT18, it seems to be as you say, it is best suited for resaw and ripping. Changing the mounting once and a while won't kill me as I don't change blades that often. I don't get around too well or I'd attend some of the woodworking shows before a major purchase.
Thanks, Duke
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Edited 4/25/2007 10:57 am by dukeone
Edited 4/25/2007 10:21 pm by dukeone
Morning Duke...
Others have stated that they can get a 1/4" blade on with the modified bracket. If that's the case, so should you and if you can't then there is a real problem. I would pursue a fix from Laguna to get some type of resolution.
Good luck with all this. If all else fails and you are not still happy with the results, you could just sell as there are many chomping at the bit to get a large re-saw BS. And they love deals. :>)
Regards...
Sarge.. jt
Sarge: I'm working with Laguna to find a solution. If I have to swap out the bracket with blade changes I'll do it: but not like it. I won't sell it either way.
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5/4 Update: The latest from Laguna is that maybe the wrong mounting bracket was installed originally. They are sending out the proper bracket, we shall see. DukeSupport the Troops, Support your Country
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Duke,I just tried with a 3/8 blade and a 1 1/4 resaw king and I could line up the guides perfectly for both. I had to move the guide assembly back and forth though. There is enough play left to accomodate a 1/4 or even 1/8 blade.
I got my LT18 last December.Eric
Eric: Hopefully that means they found out what is going on. The other possibility is that there is only a problem with a few LT18's. When the problem originally came up for me (smaller blade to larger) they understood it right away and sent the slightly different sized mounting block.
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Not sure what model LT18 you have. Mine was purchased in 2001; the model with the 12" resaw and original Euro guides. Shortly after the original thrust bearing fried itself, I switched to the ceramic guides with great success. I have no problem swithching from 1/4 to 1 inch blades, including the Resaw King. Of course the guides have to be adjusted for the differing widths; I suspect that is the case with any bandsaw, regardless of brand.
In the best of worlds, we would have 2 bandsaws: one for resawing and the big timbers and one for the scrolly stuff. We can wish.
So take a chill pill, get out the allens and let's make some sawdust.
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