Typically, a 14-in. bandsaw is a light- to medium-weight machine. So I was pleasantly surprised to find that Laguna’s entry into the 14-in. market, model LT-14, is an industrial-weight product. And although this saw didn’t stand out when it came to surface finish—some castings on the tool I looked at were rough, and paint flaked off—it did have some very good features. Like many European bandsaws, this one has a sheet-steel frame, but it’s much stiffer than other 14-in. European saws I’ve seen.

A 230-volt, 1-1/2-hp motor provides the giddyup. The wheels and pulleys are cast iron. And the axles and bearings are easily twice the size of those typically seen on 14-in. bandsaws. Both wheels were perfectly aligned, and runout was well within acceptable tolerances.

The tensioning and tracking assembly is considerably more substantial than what’s found on a typical 14-in. bandsaw. Measuring with a commercial gauge, I achieved 15,000 psi of tension on a 1/2-in.-wide, 0.025-in.-thick carbon-steel blade.
The upper blade-guide support can be adjusted to run parallel with the blade, a feature you won’t find on other 14-in. saws. The ceramic blade guides are the first of this type I’ve seen, and they worked well, but they were a chore to set up.

Overall, the machine was well made, with one notable exception. Apparently the saw we received wasn’t standing square when it was welded to the baseplate, so the entire machine tilts a bit. Fortunately, this didn’t affect performance.

The machine resawed stock up to 8-1/4 in. wide with ease, although some vibration was noted. A better tensioning spring would likely smooth out things. For light cuts and scroll work, the saw worked just fine. The fence locked easily and offered plenty of adjustment for blade drift. All things considered, including the price tag, Laguna’s LT-14 is a sturdy and powerful saw. With attention to a few more details, it would be a great bandsaw.

Summary: The Laguna performed well during the test cuts, showing no tendency to bog down. It had the highest resaw capacity but doesn’t have a riser-block. It had the lowest wheel or tire runout and one of the flattest tables. Cast-iron wheels aligned perfectly. It has cast-iron trunnions and trunnion support.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Starrett 12-in. combination square

This accurate, robust, well-machined, easy-to-read combo square is as great as ever.

Buy at Amazon

Veritas Precision Square

This precision square is incredibly versatile, from checking squareness to dialing in machine setups.

Buy at Lee Valley

Shop Fox W1826

The thick, felted bag on this Shop Fox is a plus and a minus. On one hand, it makes the unit much less expensive than collectors with canister filters, and also lighter and easier to hang on the wall. Without a separate plastic bag to catch chips, however, they stay in the felt bag, and the shortish zipper on the bottom makes it tough to shake them out. Otherwise, the W1826 is an excellent value.

Buy at Amazon