Bandsaw, now or later?

[Runhard]

Hey guys,

Eventually I hope to have a stand alone shop, but until then I use half of my basement (12'x20') My shop consist of Festool and a Kreg router table. In my future shop I plan on having all the machines needed for a full functioning wood shop, although I am a hobbyist. I've been thinking about getting a bandsaw soon, if I can get it into my basement. The Italian Laguna LT18 looks nice.

I have a few questions:
Has anyone put a 18" bandsaw in their basement? (I have a standard staircase to the basement)
Is a bandsaw the first large machine to buy? I have a TS75, but not a table saw.
Is the Laguna Italian LT18 a great machine or should I consider others e.g. Agazzani, Powermatic, Hammer...
I know this is not the most practical thing to do, but it would be nice to equip my shop with the same brand of machines. Surely I'm not the only one who has contemplated this.  
Should I just resist the urge and wait?

Thanks for any help or suggestions,

Daniel

 

[PSullivan]

I have a LT20 Laguna bandsaw.  A great saw.  They are having a sale till end of month on all bandsaws. 

 

[Runhard]

I have a LT20 Laguna bandsaw.  A great saw.  They are having a sale till end of month on all bandsaws. 

I did notice the sale. I have not purchased anything like this before, is it possible to negotiate? I believe that I have read it is possible to get a better than advertised price and/or free accessories, shipping... How was your experience with them?

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[John Stevens]

You're not alone   I guess you've checked that the Laguna's not too tall for your basement ceiling.  Good luck!

Regards,

John

 

[PSullivan]

I bought my bandsaw back in 1998, cannot remember, getting old, but it still works like a gem.  Did just pick up some router bits and new fence system from them the other day, waiting for arrival.

 

[Runhard]

You're not alone  I guess you've checked that the Laguna's not too tall for your basement ceiling.  Good luck!

Regards,

John

I've got 92" to work with, so I should be good there. I should be more worried about getting it up the stairs later when I move, instead of down them  [eek]

 

[Kev]

I plan (at the moment) to go for Hammer combo planner and a Hammer bandsaw. My situation is similar (hobby with 24x12 - storage), though I'm not in a basement.

Given enough manpower, you could get a bandsaw into a tall enough basement providing your access is sufficient for man handling.

Biggest concern is probably DC - you're stepping out of Festool country with a bandsaw and into the world of serious extraction.

Throw a couple of pictures of your basement access up so we can have a better idea  [smile]

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I have seen people that have 30 to 36" bandsaw's in their basement. Those are 1500 to 2500 pound machines.

Where other is a will, there is a way.

I think those new fangled one's can be completely taken a part ( the frame on my 36" oliver weighs about 2k).

 

[Kev]

I have seen people that have 30 to 36" bandsaw's in their basement. Those are 1500 to 2500 pound machines.

Where other is a will, there is a way.

I think those new fangled one's can be completely taken a part ( the frame on my 36" oliver weighs about 2k).

On the topic of lifting big stuff - here's an ideal next reconditioning project for you [wink]

http://www.interplantsales.com/images/105/Abell_Howe_10ton_Bridge_Crane/Abell-Howe_10ton_Bridge_Crane_1.JPG

 

[Runhard]

I plan (at the moment) to go for Hammer combo planner and a Hammer bandsaw. My situation is similar (hobby with 24x12 - storage), though I'm not in a basement.

Given enough manpower, you could get a bandsaw into a tall enough basement providing your access is sufficient for man handling.

Biggest concern is probably DC - you're stepping out of Festool country with a bandsaw and into the world of serious extraction.

Throw a couple of pictures of your basement access up so we can have a better idea  [smile]

Good point on DC. I should probably wait until I have a proper shop, I just get excited and want to get some machinery sooner than later. I do like the hammer/felder equipment, especially the green felder FB610, AD741, and KF700S.

 

[TomGadwa1]

Wow! You really like some nice equipment. I am a satisfied owner of a LAGUNA 14SUV bandsaw. It is well built and quite accurate. I also splurged for the drift master fence. What the guy in the video clips about the LAGUNA bandsaws is correct. He says a decent bandsaw is as accurate as a tablesaw but without the kickback danger. I agree. I think that you would be very pleased with the Italian made LAGUNA 18 bandsaw. If I could afford it I would also being contemplating getting a FELDOR jointer/planer combo machine but it is just too much money for me to justify. Therfore I am seriously considering the HAMMER A3 31 combo unit as it is roughly half the cost. Still pricey but not $10,000.00 pricey!

 

[Kev]

I plan (at the moment) to go for Hammer combo planner and a Hammer bandsaw. My situation is similar (hobby with 24x12 - storage), though I'm not in a basement.

Given enough manpower, you could get a bandsaw into a tall enough basement providing your access is sufficient for man handling.

Biggest concern is probably DC - you're stepping out of Festool country with a bandsaw and into the world of serious extraction.

Throw a couple of pictures of your basement access up so we can have a better idea  [smile]

Good point on DC. I should probably wait until I have a proper shop, I just get excited and want to get some machinery sooner than later. I do like the hammer/felder equipment, especially the green felder FB610, AD741, and KF700S.

I have a client in the outer western Sydney area that I'm avoiding. They're a short drive from the Sydney Felder/Hammer showroom and I know stepping foot inside will lead to a "near divorce experience".

Don't think I haven't thought of sending the better half off for a weeklong spa ... Systainers can sneak in under cover of darkness - but serious machines requires different thinking.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

I would highly recommend a bandsaw as your first major tool purchase and the Laguna LT18 is a great machine.  The Laguna Guides are awesome and I found that they worked better than the Euro-style guides found on other machines.  The Italian machines, made by ACM, are all equipped with Baldor motors, which are pretty much bullet-proof.  On the other series I believe they have Leeson motors.  I think that the DriftMaster Fence is also another must have -- being able to set the fence dead-on for drift easily is great.  I have always had luck with Laguna and I have bought lots of stuff over the years.  I live locally and just go to their offices when I need something.  I think that the bandsaw should be the cornerstone machine of a furniture shop and combined with the TS75 there is not much that you will not be able to do.  I have had my LT18 since 2001 and I have made upgrades to the motor, guides and fence system.  I did have an issue with some cast iron that supports the upper wheel cracking (which was a flukey thing) and Laguna stood by their product and gave me a free replacement part no questions asked and this was on a saw that was 8-9 years old at the time -- awesome service in my book.  I think that the Felder/Hammer saws are good and the Aggazzani is also very  reputable.  I really do not think you could go wrong with any of the higher quality brands.  There are FOG members who own all of these makes.  Don't forget to look at Minimax too.  When I upgrade my saw (or actually buy my second BS) I will probably opt for another Laguna, but this one will be one of the bigger machines -- really would like a 28 inch or 32 inch machine some day...

Good luck!

Scot

 

[Kev]

Something that I saw was a rave video on a sexy new Powermatic bandsaw - the cost in Oz puts it beyond practical for me (as does it's mass) ... but it did look amazing. I'd be interested if anyone has played with it or considered it.

 

[Elill]

The 14" Laguna is going to be my first "big" purchase. I too have a TS75 and no desire for a table saw.....I do however want a good thicknesser (I used the ts75 to joint).

I have a wall of a 2 car garage, everything sits/will sit along it

 

[Runhard]

Wow! You really like some nice equipment. I am a satisfied owner of a LAGUNA 14SUV bandsaw. It is well built and quite accurate. I also splurged for the drift master fence. What the guy in the video clips about the LAGUNA bandsaws is correct. He says a decent bandsaw is as accurate as a tablesaw but without the kickback danger. I agree. I think that you would be very pleased with the Italian made LAGUNA 18 bandsaw. If I could afford it I would also being contemplating getting a FELDOR jointer/planer combo machine but it is just too much money for me to justify. Therfore I am seriously considering the HAMMER A3 31 combo unit as it is roughly half the cost. Still pricey but not $10,000.00 pricey!

I doubt that I would actually purchase equipment that nice, the FB 610 and A3 41 maybe.

 

[Kev]

Wow! You really like some nice equipment. I am a satisfied owner of a LAGUNA 14SUV bandsaw. It is well built and quite accurate. I also splurged for the drift master fence. What the guy in the video clips about the LAGUNA bandsaws is correct. He says a decent bandsaw is as accurate as a tablesaw but without the kickback danger. I agree. I think that you would be very pleased with the Italian made LAGUNA 18 bandsaw. If I could afford it I would also being contemplating getting a FELDOR jointer/planer combo machine but it is just too much money for me to justify. Therfore I am seriously considering the HAMMER A3 31 combo unit as it is roughly half the cost. Still pricey but not $10,000.00 pricey!

I doubt that I would actually puchase equipment that nice, the FB 610 and A3 41 maybe.

In Oz the Felder bandsaws are more than twice the price of comparable Hammer and the a741 is similar to the price of a small car, being triple the price of a A3 31 and 41.

If there's a hobbyist in Oz with Felder he probably has gold plated spanners too  [eek]

 

[leakyroof]

I have a few questions:
Has anyone put a 18" bandsaw in their basement? (I have a standard staircase to the basement)

Thanks for any help or suggestions,

Daniel

  If I'd had the ceiling height, I would have gone with an 18" model. I chose a 14" Rikon instead of other 18" models offered out there. Go with the largest you can sneak into the basement. You'll love having that extra rip capacity over a 14" model at times. [cool]

 

[Runhard]

I have also considered Powermatic. At the beginning of 2012, when I decided that I wanted to get into woodworking, I purchased the Powermatic air filtration unit ( http://www.powermatic.com/Products.aspx?Part=1791330 ) because at the time I imagined an all Powermatic/Festool shop. Now, after over a year of studying and researching all the brands, I'm still not sure what company to go with. I would like to support a company(s) that has high ethical/quality standards like Festool. It is hard to find that these days and I'm afraid it will not get any better. Are there any companies that you guys can recommend to buy from or ones not to buy from? I'm wanting to make a smart/lifetime investment with my tool purchases, if possible. I'm not against purchasing less expensive machinery, just as long as it is of high quality that will last my lifetime, hopefully 40 more years.

Thanks,

Daniel

 

[jacko9]

Daniel,

If you always purchase dimensioned lumber, then a bandsaw would be a great purchase and I would recommend that you buy the best one that you can afford since this will most likely be a one time purchase for a tool that you'll have a long time.  Do look to make sure that the bandsaw has good dust collection ports since this machine can produce a lot of fine dust.

If however you buy rough lumber,  I would purchase a 8" or wider Jointer first.

Jack