Replies

1. 
   HoustonHeights | Dec 14, 2005 09:10am | #1

   I purchased the MM16 a few months ago.  Like you, I had narrowed my search to Mini Max and Laguna.  My understanding is that both companies sell great bandsaws.  I ultimately chose to buy from Mini Max because of their stellar reputation for customer service.  So far, I have been extremely pleased with my decision.  The MM16 is great.  I recently resawed a 14" wide Mahogany board with a Lennox tri-master 1" blade.  The machine didn't even seem to break a sweat, and the resaw surface was remarkably smooth.  Also, I've found Mini Max's cutomer service to very friendly and helpful (even after they had my money).  Their service guys are very knowledgeable and eager to help, even with typical newbie questions like I had.  In fact, the other day I got a call from Sam Blasco, one of the Mini Max guys, just to check in to see how the saw was working out.  A great saw, and a great company.

1. 
   detailman | Dec 14, 2005 04:23pm | #2

   Hi HoustonHeights,
   Thank you ever-so-much for your input. Very valuable. I am guessing that you may live in Houston, TX from you "name." I actually will be in Houston from 12/19-12/27 for the holidays! I will be in Spring, TX. Perhaps you could find time to let me see the saw. No available retailers around here, so I don't get to "touch and feel."
   Thanks again for your relply,
   detailman

1. 
   HoustonHeights | Dec 14, 2005 11:36pm | #3

   Here's a link to an article I found helpful.

   http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=reviews&file=articles_206.shtml

1. 
   detailman | Dec 14, 2005 11:44pm | #4

   Hi again,
   Thanks once again for your input.
   detailman

2. 
   douglas2cats | Dec 15, 2005 04:00am | #5

   My story is pretty similar to HoustonHeight's. I'm a happy MM16 owner for about 6 weeks or so. Here's my $0.02 on the MM16.

   The Saw: Awesome. Love it. Run (don't walk) to your phone and order one. The manual is the weakest part of the purchase. Instructions for setup are a bit out of sequence, and some other info just seems to be missing - such as informing you that you need to remove and re-install an Allen screw after moving the foot brake pedal from it's shipping position. The plastic throat plate insert on mine is also a bit tweaked and I may end up calling them to get a replacement. The saw is an absolute joy to use though.

   The Lennox Tri-Master blade is worth every penny. If you're going to do resawing, get it - you wont regret it.

   The Mobility Kit: I don't like it and IMHO it's inherently unsafe. If your floor isn't extremely smooth, it's easy for the leveling plates to catch and bring you to a jerky halt. With only one hand on the saw (the other is on the Johnson bar), there's not much you can do to stabilize the beast if it starts rocking a bit. I've got a standard mobile base on order (a Delta unit) and will mount the MM on it when it arrives.

   The Miter guage: Pretty worthless IMHO. I just picked up an Incra V27 on sale to use with the MM instead.

   If you can get a better price by having them leave out the Mob.Kit and Miter gauge, go for it. Even though their website lists these as accessories, I think they tend to include them as Std equipment though, and may not sell the saw without them. Worth a try though IMO.

   Happy Hunting

    

   If you build it he will come.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/14/2005 10:18 pm ET by douglas2cats

1. 
   detailman | Dec 15, 2005 03:07pm | #6

   Good Morning,
   It sounds like overall you feel you made a good deceision with the MM16 despite some of its less than ideal features.
   Thanks for the input,
   detailman

3. 
   forestgirl | Dec 15, 2005 10:03pm | #7

   Tom (tms) has had his MM16 for quite awhile now, and has good things to say.
     Apparently he had used the Laguna also. 
   Here are some links to his past posts:

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=fw-tools&mg=C2915862-4065-43A7-99DE-AF2A11FB877F

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=fw-tools&mg=B6964ED1-5588-4CF4-8169-DA7AF0D0A64C

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=fw-tools&mg=E0080868-9A9C-4679-9164-EF06A8A6CED0

   http://forums.taunton.com/n/find/findRedir.asp?webtag=fw-tools&mg=2E04C3C2-0DC0-4D12-9388-9707B071D607

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)