Bandsaw purchase advice

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This topic contains 3 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by Joe Bottigliere Joe Bottigliere 4 years, 11 months ago.

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  • #7763
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    Bob Lerner
    Keymaster

    We are looking to buy a bandsaw in the $1500 price range. We would appreciate some advice on the best models in that price range. What features important.
    Thank You
    Bob & Pat Lerner

  • #7793
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    Andrew Scano
    Participant

    Hi Bob. My friend is very happy with his Laguna 14/12 bandsaw. He bought a 1” wide blade for resawing which tracks straight.

    I have a 14” Grizzly which tends to drift when resawing over 4” thickness.

    My neighbor has a 14” Jet. Likely undersized for what you are looking to do.
    Regards
    Andrew

  • #7794
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    Andrew Scano
    Participant

    One more thing, recommend selecting a saw that allows for easy and repeatable adjustment. Downtime adds up changing blades.

  • #7824
    Joe Bottigliere
    Joe Bottigliere
    Participant

    Hey Bob. I have a Laguna 14/12 also. (It’s the smaller of the two versions.) It runs for about $1.1K and accepts up to 3/4″ blades. I am very happy with it. It has lots of great features like ceramic guides, all cast iron construction, cast wheels and trunnions, rack & pinion guide adj., 1-1/2hp motor – nothing flimsy about it. I’ve resawn some hard maple about 10″ wide and was quite pleased. (I think I could have used a sharper blade but the results were acceptable.) My only gripe is setting the guides. They require no tools but can be tricky to reach the lower guides. I’m not one for tilting the table to reach them. If you have extra fat fingers, it may be a problem. But it tracks perfectly. I also do not believe in blade drift. A saw should be set so there is no drift and this saw delivers that. The fence is always kept square tot he table and as long as the blade tracks in the middle of the wheels, it’s perfect.

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