Replies

1. 
   riverr1 | Apr 15, 2003 07:54pm | #1

   Big Country,

   I think you are making a "small" mistake. There are much bigger saws available! ;^)

   Hey, enjoy the beast!!!!

2. 
   RoyinMD | Apr 15, 2003 07:58pm | #2

   Tom,

   DO IT! DO IT! Don't even listen to yourself trying to be all rational like that. No one here will ever call you crazy.

   Who every dies with the most toys, WINS!

   Enjoy, Roy

1. 
   alanplanesaw | Apr 16, 2003 07:03pm | #8

   Sorry, the correct saying goes,

   He who dies with the most toys -- still dies!

2. 
   Vibart2 | Apr 20, 2003 03:59am | #17

   Who every dies with the most toys, WINS!

   Who cares if you can't take it with you along with a gigantic pile of wood & enjoy wood working on into eternity.....

1. 
   RoyinMD | Apr 20, 2003 08:34am | #18

   If I only knew when to start (and finish, DOH!) my own coffin!

   Pine box or walnut, No Contest!

   Smiles, Roy

3. 
   ian | Apr 16, 2003 04:19pm | #3

   You can afford the 20 incher ?

   It will fit in your shop ?

   You wont have to build a new shop arround it, cause you can't get it into your current shop ?

   YES you are crazy     not to have ordered it already  : )

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 16, 2003 04:58pm | #4

   b c

      If you really see the need in the future for 15" plus, have the money and space; time's a wastin'.

      I would like the Mini-Max 16" which has the same 12" re-saw capacity as their 18". Just not the throat capacity. That would honestly fit my needs. Just be honest with yourself and make the call...

   Good Luck...

   sarge..jt

1. 
   b1gcountry | Apr 16, 2003 05:41pm | #5

   Their 18" isn't as nice as their own saws though (somebody else makes those). I do have the money, although I need a new shop, er- garage, and I was saving it up for building one, but what good is a shop without something to live in it, right? The basement is where its going now. The MM20 is 75" tall. The basement is 79" tall. I am 78" tall. I'm going to make sure the saw will still fit when the mobility kit is installed, and if it does, I'ma gonna order it!

   Oh, btw, the machines are on backorder, so I'm not really wasting any time here by asking this question.

   Tehe!

   Tom

1. 
   b1gcountry | Apr 16, 2003 05:43pm | #6

   PPS, one of the reasons for wanting the 20" too is the ability to use a carbide blade on it. The 16" wheels fatigue the blade too much (at least that's what Erik over there told me.)

   Tom

1. 
   Andrew | Apr 16, 2003 06:52pm | #7

   I don't see how a 16" wheel would fatigue a carbide blade. Only the tips are carbide, the blade body is a really flexible spring steel. Tensioning it on the other hand may be a problem. I had some bad luck with thin carbide blades on my 16" laguna, but I'm still not sure whether it was the saw or the blade or both.

   With that said, the blades are longer on the 20" saw, and more teeth = longer blade life. If it fits in the shop you won't regret buying it. It's not just he who dies with the most tools, but he who dies with the biggest tools wins :)

   You can never have too big a saw!

   Edited 4/16/2003 11:53:08 AM ET by Andrew

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 17, 2003 04:58pm | #12

   b c

      The more I think about it, the more I agree you need that 20". Even if you never need the capacity, you still got it in reserve if the occassion occurs. Besides, at you height, the height of the machine beside you will look more in proportion when you take pictures of you working with it. ha..ha..

   Enjoy whichever...

   sarge..jt

1. 
   b1gcountry | Apr 17, 2003 05:53pm | #13

   Well, a much more sensible argument than the ones I've been telling myself.

   Tom

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Apr 17, 2003 06:40pm | #14

   b c

      I don't think a sensible argument at this point will do any good. You've got your mind set on a 20" already haven't you? Just call it "men's intuition". ha..ha..

   Ho, ho... to work I go...

   sarge..jt

5. 
   alanplanesaw | Apr 16, 2003 07:06pm | #9

   I have become a fan of Wilke Machinery's bandsaws.  I bought their Bridgewood PBS 540.  You might call them before you buy. 

   At a large show, I went back and forth between Laguna, MinMax and Wilke.  Settled on the Wilke due to its stronger construction.

   Alan

1. 
   b1gcountry | Apr 16, 2003 08:05pm | #10

   Well, its too late for doubts, I've succombed to the dark side. I am now a MiniMax owner. I put the deposit on the MM20, but I made sure I would be able to switch to the MM16 if I decided that was too much. I talked to Jim, and he recommended a 40Amp circuit wired at 220. Can you believe that, 40A! That makes it bigger than my central AC.

   Tom

1. 
   BOBABEUI | Apr 16, 2003 11:38pm | #11

   I think you can't go wrong with the MM.

   I recently received my long awaited MM16.. Have not had the opportunity to get the right number of people to get the saw into the basement yet (485 pounds!). Needless to say the machine looks awesome.. I can't wait to fire it up..

   Good luck with your purchase

6. 
   10fingers | Apr 18, 2003 09:06am | #15

   Hello,

   I think you should look at the auctions on ebay for bandsaws.   I have seen 36" saws go for $400 and up.    If you want a really big saw for a good price, these auctions look ok.

   Chuck

7. 
   JamesC67 | Apr 20, 2003 02:42am | #16

   Tom,  The heck with being rational and all that junk just go ahead and order.

    Do It,

     you know you want to so go ahead Dooo IT

    COME ON DOOOOOO IT, I Dare you just bite the bullit pick up the phone and call it only hurts the pocket book for just a little while so again I reinerate DO IT!!!!!!!!   hahaha

    Sincerely J. Clark