Laguna 14 Twelve Bandsaw Review

[@RFFearLess]

*Perfect band saw for the hobby enthusiast **MyBest.Tools** Easy to set up and square. Had it running in 10 to 15 minutes. Quality of cuts will depend on the quality of the blades.*

[@Broncort1]

I bought this about a month ago and found a multi part video package here on KZbin. You don't even need the manual the way this guy explains everything while he assembles it. Laguna did the same thing with their REVO 18 36 Lathe.....great job!

[@t-shirtguy7845]

I agree with your comments on the rubber tires. I just put my machine together and found the same thing. I put a 3/4" x 4 tooth resaw blade on and sliced a piece of 1" x 5" pine in half. There is a bit more chatter in the blade then I would like and it shows in the cut. Easy work for a piece of sandpaper on pine, but probably a lot more work on maple or oak.

[@stormbytes]

Outstanding review. Probably the most informative I've seen to date on this band saw. Extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@choochoo3985]

The problem with the cast iron table not being flat as it transitions across the blade cutout is easily fixed by taking the nut, grinding half of the contact surface on one side of the hole and reinstalling the nut where the un ground side is common to the low side of the table and tighten the bolt. Do not over tighten, but tight. If the correction is not enough you may grind a little more off the nut. If it gets close and you fear making it to tight just leave it for a few days as the cast iron will stress relieve and you may find to need to loosen the bolt a little. Mine came out perfect after about a week of relief. My miter slides smooth as silk. DO change out the tires. I really like my 14/12 and the few problems are over come by the quality cuts I get especially with the 3/4' King.

[@simplyservice8543]

I love your ideas, Randy! I'm about to get a bandsaw upgrade-Your review helps a ton!

[@AWoodworkersLife]

Thank you for doing an honest review and not just another one of those "I bought the best bandsaw in the world" reviews that seem to be everywhere.

[@gnomacide07]

Your video helped a ton! Fixed the pitch issue on my fence with a small shim under the leading edge!

[@renes747]

I was looking at this model at Blackforest last weekend. Funny after 6 years its still almost the same unit. But they are not $1200 anymore.

[@fishfreak911]

Great review, and liked seeing your fixes for the issues. Very Through and helped me understand what I am getting myself into with this saw.

[@danray104]

great review. as for the tire issues, use a mixture of soap and water on the wheel and tire before putting it on. and use 2 quarter inch round bars to seat it until the run is true. takes time but worth it. you'll have a very quiet and smooth saw

[@craigwesson1788]

Good review Randy. I just purchased the Bx model last week. The issues you talked about for the most part haven’t been resolved. It is however a very nice saw.

[@randyg5884]

I did a follow up review where I address some of the issues. Give that a look. It might help.

[@craigwesson1788]

@@randyg5884 thanks !

[@fgriffintx]

Great video, Randy! Very thorough review of the pros and cons of this Laguna saw.

[@bondfrenchbond]

So Randy, do you still love your bandsaw? This video is 5 years old. If you could buy a bandsaw today, what would it be? Thanks

[@randyg5884]

Still in love. If I were buying today I would get the Laguna 14BX. Same saw bigger motor. Not that I have needed the power but you know, can’t have too much.

[@WigWagWorkshop]

I am buying this bandsaw the first of Feb 2016, thank you for the in depth review.

[@joshsayers1844]

+WigWagWorkshop Rockler has it 10% off through the end of the month if you can swing it.

[@JamesTorrey]

+Josh Sayers Still?

[@joshsayers1844]

+James Torrey - ended January 31.

[@WigWagWorkshop]

Woodcraft has it on sale until March 3rd

[@robdean54]

sale's still goin on at woodcraft. it's $987

[@kenstewart687]

Very good review. I am about to order and cannot decide between the 3hp or the 1 3/4hp. I take this review was of the 1 3/4? Laguna has $300 off on the 3hp but still makes it $1500 USA. I just cannot decide which I really need. Thank you for the review, I have subscribed.

[@WoodworkingDaddy]

Great review with lots of detail. It sounds like Laguna is serious about improving their customer service. BTW, I have a Grizzly 17" bandsaw that I really like and it has the same tiny misalignment of the table slot and I had to shim the head of the fence too. Maybe these are common issues at the $1000 price point.

[@dannyrodgers5500]

Hello Randy. Did you look into a Jet or Rikon before buying your Laguna? I'm getting ready to order a new saw and after watching your review will most likely buy the Laguna. I've been using an old Sears Craftsman I've had since the late 70's and it's been great for small things. I need one with a larger capacity and the 12" capacity would fit my needs. I will be cutting large blocks of white pine, the largest being about 10" high, 12" wide and 24" long. I'll be sculpting these blocks into wildlife, primarily waterfowl. Have you cut anything that was in the range of 8 to 10 inches high/thick and if so, did your Laguna have any trouble with it?

[@randyg5884]

I looked at Rikon but Jet is not sold in Canada.

[@randyg5884]

oh and the Laguna is actually 13" resaw.

[@dannyrodgers5500]

+Randy Gillard Thank you Randy.

[@randyg5884]

+James Torrey It is. I just calibarated my tape measure and it is indeed 13". :>) Odd that they don't market it as such.

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

I think I would measure that table lip and shim the underside of the bolt head on the high side using a matching blade from a feeler guage set. Or just trial and error until it aligned better. Just my thoughts on how I would go about it based on what I'm able to see from the video. -- I am in the market for this saw and the table issue seems to be a common one. I went to Rockler to look at the saw and took my machinists straight edge with me and the table on the display machine was very flat across the gap.

[@thatguythatdoesstuff7448]

Theball Player Ah hell, just watched your other video. Grinding the nut is a far more elegant solution. Good job. Also love your lamp solution. I have several of those spring clamp lamps in the garage.

[@SabotPottery]

Really good review, how do you think this compares to a Powermatic 14"? Cheers, Paul from Adelaide, South Australia.

[@randyg5884]

No idea.

[@dulcimer1971]

Thanx! Nice review:) How do you change the tires? How do you get them off and on? Just got it assembled but no blade yet. what tool's? Please let me know. Thanx again! ~ Ben

[@Broncort1]

Benjamin Reisdorf figure it all out yet?

[@christschool]

I bought this bandsaw and putting it together. The spacer and bolts for the fence rail are too short and you can't put the fence on. Called Laguna and they have only one person that works customer service. Had to leave a voicemail message. When I look at yours at 4/47, your spacers are much longer than mine are. I'd say mine are half the length of yours. Not happy!

[@christschool]

christschool Follow-up. Got a call back in about 1 hour and problem solved. Back to happy again.

[@parksmitchell]

I have a very small space to store a bandsaw in my garage. Amazon says it is 18"x25"x70.2". These seem small for the base WxD. Could you measure the maximum width and depth of yours and post them here? Thanks! PS Greatly enjoyed you video.

[@randyg5884]

The base is 25 deep x 18 wide From the back edge of the fence to the font is 28. From the front of the fence to the back of the motor is about 25.

[@parksmitchell]

Randy Woodworker Thanks Randy, I think this will work in my limited space. I do think I'm going to order one while they are on sale this month. Your two videos on this bandsaw have been so very helpful. Thanks again!

[@bondfrenchbond]

It's not the table, it's the rear trunnions aren't ground even. You can shim the rear one a bit and flatten the table.

[@handyallaround5776]

wow.....very best review on a bandsaw on youtube hands down.....after watching this,,,,,,,im thinking i need to look even harder at rikon? i bet after this video they correct these problems and wouldnt be surprised if they didnt send you a new one

[@mnbluesboy]

Totally agree with this POV...Thanks Randy. I'm thinking on getting this saw...

[@dannyrodgers2407]

If you don't mind Randy, I have one more question. What is the clearance between the blade tension knob/handle and the table?

[@randyg5884]

+Danny Rodgers 13 3/4"

[@brandtl1486]

Great review. Thanks for your time to do this review Randy. I am going to to buy one soon.

[@artcarrillo5981]

can you do a video on installation of the blade and changing blades

[@eldaneo]

Did you have any issues in blade tracking outside of the rubber wheels? Did you have to make adjustments to the tracking of the lower wheel or did you just use the upper wheel tracking system?

[@randyg5884]

Never had any tracking issues at all. I set the tracking with the upper wheel adjustment for the blade to run in the middle and it was the same on both tires.

[@crumblenaut9776]

Nice band saw for the price. Tires and table are major bugs though. Too bad Laguna couldn't get it right from the get go. Excellent dust collection though.

[@breaddrinker]

Any known sales right now? Seems I just missed the boat. It's back up to nearly 1200 on Amazon again.

[@breaddrinker]

+Rob Lawrence I found one :) Thought I might spread the word. woodturnerscatalog.com currently has a 10 percent off laguna sale. Absolutely no idea how the company is though.

[@nomansland4811]

Good review. I really like this saw. Where is it made?

[@livingwoodcreations-woodtu6540]

Italy I Think

[@breaddrinker]

The higher end one is Italian. I read this one is Chinese.

[@leningram6637]

@@livingwoodcreations-woodtu6540 Its made in Taiwan !

[@scottjamable]

I see your blocks are wearing to the metal substrate underneath. Does this cause any issues with wear on the blade or heat? I know from another review that was a downside with how thin the ceramic coating is on them and how expensive they are to replace....

[@randyg5884]

The blocks are not coated. They are solid ceramic. The metal is residue from the blade. It causes no issues. The guides are great.

[@scottjamable]

Oh good then. The other review is miss leading for sure. But he did wear his out in 20 months at a cost of $100 or more. maybe user error. I really like this saw and the idea of this many contact points, so thanks for clearing that up for me. Nice video too btw.

[@jackcasto770]

I seen in other video it was the trunnions that were uneven that twist the table.

[@DynamicalJon]

Hey randy I need to transport this bandsaw today in my truck, do you think it would be fine to lay it on its spine or should I do my best to keep it upright?

[@randyg5884]

I don't see a problem with it on its back.

[@JamesTorrey]

The model on the floor of my woodcraft had a wobbly raise / lower wheel, like it was on a bent shaft. Have you noticed any fit an finish issues like this?

[@randyg5884]

+James Torrey Not that particular one. I covered pretty much all of the issues I noticed in my two videos.

[@JamesTorrey]

Oh and I just noticed your zero clearance insert. Does it not have a brush?

[@randyg5884]

+James Torrey It has a brush but the ZC insert is there to limit tearout and prevent small offcuts from getting trapped between the insert opening and the blade.

[@briand2507]

by far the best in its class. the table is not flat, the wheels/tires are not round. ...?

[@randyg5884]

Brian DeSutter Don't assume that the others won't have some warts. I felt that this saw was the best of the circa $1000 machines. Years ago I had a Minimax 16" Italian made saw. No warts there, but $2500.

[@TylerjLloyd]

I found your review really helpful, but all that movement with a fish eyed lense is almost unwatchable.

[@tripwire0000]

Rikon deluxe is much better.

[@randyg5884]

Tripwire Slingshots I don’t think the Rikon Deluxe was around when this video was made. Do you own one? What do you like about it compared to the Laguna?

[@tripwire0000]

Randy G Laguna has a few small things I don't like, but the worse are the ceramic guides, if you use your bandsaw a lot like I do you have to replace about every 6 months at a cost of 100.00. I have the rikon and the tool less guides are the best I've used. The resaw fence with the pivot bar eliminates drift . Also the rikon is about 200.00 less. Truly an awesome bandsaw.

[@randyg5884]

Tripwire Slingshots Your comment of the ceramic guides seems odd. I have had my saw several years now and the guides are as good as new. I use my bandsaw more than my tablesaw. I have read of other users who confuse the metallic deposits from the blade that eventually coat the ceramic as evidence that the ceramic has somehow worn away and exposed a metallic underlay. This is not the case. Having a shiny metallic looking surface on the ceramic is normal AFAIK. How were you guides failing?

[@aripekka7158]

Omg, terrible sound..