I’ve a serious need for a means to re-saw up to 24″ wide boards (mahogany). Theoretically, it’s easier and cheaper to just buy the thicknesses I need, but with mahogany, getting matched sets is difficult and expensive, so being able to re-saw large 12/4 boards would be a tremendous help when it comes to grain and color matching.
I’d thought Laguna was the answer and had been saving my pennies for one of their big boys, but after reading the Laguna thread in the Business section of Knots, I’ve re-thought that idea.
So what do fellow Knotters with such needs recommend? I’d considered getting a RipSaw designed to work with a chainsaw motor and usually used to saw up green lumber from logs, but it looks as if the largest throat size I can get is 20″. That might work, but they’re pricey when the cost of a large chainsaw engine is included, and I’m wondering if my money might be better spent elsewhere.
I do have an Alaskan chain saw mill by Granberg that I use occasionally to saw up to 36″ diameter logs, but since it’s a chainsaw, it takes a huge kerf out of the wood. No problems with white oak and poplar found around here, because the logs are usually free in exchange for cleaning up the mess after a hurricane, but I really don’t want to do this with $15/b.f. mahogany.
Any ideas?
Replies
Find somebody with a bandsaw mill--woodmizer or similar.
First, I always support buying a new tool if you can afford and justify the purchase... just so there is no confusion.
If your local wood supplier doesn't offer a resaw service, I would see how the woodmizer, or similar, solution works out. Try contacting the woodmizer customer service department and see if they can get you in contact with someone in your area that would be willing to do it for you. Many companies have a free referral service. After all, they advertise these machines as "money-making machines".
Another option would be to contact some of the local cabinet shops and see if you can rent time on one of their machines - if anyone has one big enough.
A third option is to see if you can order the wood, to your specs, from a different supplier. Internet suppliers such as Collectors Specialty Woods could do it.
Are sheet goods or purchasing veneer an option?
Good luck!
I used to saw my own veneers on an older 36" Tannewitz. Mine had a 21" resaw capacity, and, with a 7 1/2 hp 3 phase motor, it cut with little effort. Tannewitz made several models, including a monster 42" version, with resaw capacities that will meet your needs.
A phase converter can be easily had for around $1000.00, or less, so don't let that chase you away.
Just an option, and there are others.
Jeff
I finally found a horizontal bandsaw mill here in Phoenix. Bring the material to him and he will resaw for 90 an hour. If you bring him dirty logs, he will charge you for a blade. If you find one, bring your own blade to minimize the waste. Take it home and use it again for your next project. Nice work, and a whole lot easier than any vertical saw.
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While there's little question that vertically re-sawing 24" planks isn't easy, I've done it before at a local cabinet shop and it's manageable, particularly if I'm not too picky about the finished thicknesses of the re-sawn planks (+/- 1/8" after re-sawing).
This cabinet shop's owner is easy to deal with, but I often don't know what I need re-sawn until I'm picking through the boards for a specific project, and throwing it into the back of the truck and taking it down to his shop is a real drag on productivity.
If I could find a horizontal band saw with a 24" width of cut that isn't as expensive nor as difficult to store as a Woodmizer, that'd be a great solution. I'm pretty surprised a company like Oliver or one of the smaller firms doesn't make a reasonably compact horizontal bandsaw that's electrically powered. I suppose there's not much market for it since commercial cabinet shops use sheet goods as a substitute for wide boards nowadays.
The Timbermaster looks like it would take some of the pain out of doing big slabs on a vertical bandsaw. Price seemed pretty reasonable for Laguna.Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke
"If I could find a horizontal band saw with a 24" width of cut that isn't as expensive nor as difficult to store as a Woodmizer, that'd be a great solution."http://vieltools.com/prodcat.php?c=MjY=If you have the space and inclination you could put together a kit like the one above. There are other makers advertising on the web selling similar.
I use a local mill that has a large bandsaw. I just pay them to resaw large stock.
I guess it comes down to how much you are willing to invest to accomplish this. Laguna Tools has a few models that may cover 24 " resaw capacity or will come very close. But I know it will require a substantial budget.
If this is not going to be an ongoing requirement, or even if it is, I'd suggest finding the machine that will do it, and calling the mfgr and asking for a list of people with this machine who may be interested in providing that service to you. Partner with someone who has the capacity.
Greg
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Edited 6/14/2008 8:13 am by Cincinnati
I have both a 36" BS in the shop, and a Woodmizer out back. For what you stated, I would use the Woodmizer. Although, for my own work, when I want book-match material, I prefer to order veneer, and glue it onto the solid wood substrate. There can be latent problems of cupping due to uneven MC with the re-sawing thick stock. Although the mahogany is not too bad, you can find more exciting veneers than you will likely ever find in solid lumber.
You can look for ####local sawmill at this site. They are listed by state, so it should be easy to find one near you. http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/directories/sdd.cgi
Here is a site worth giving a look for a used mill, if you still are interested in going that route.
http://www.sawmillexchange.com/
Thanks, All, for the advice. I currently have an arrangement with a local cabinet shop to re-saw wood up to 24" wide, but it's an expensive and inconvenient solution (it particularly interrupts the flow of work when I'm roughing things out for a cabinet), so something more permanent will be required in the long term.
It's a shame that it appears Laguna is run so poorly (the thread in the "Business" section of Knots was a real eye-opener). My best bet may be to watch the used equipment market and pick up a Laguna that's already been vetted by the first owner and go from there.
I currently have an arrangement with a local cabinet shop to re-saw wood up to 24" wide, but it's an expensive and inconvenient solution
If I may ask - what is the cost involved? Just curious.
Lee
$2 per foot, no set-up charge and no minimum. Typically it means about $40 per trip.
$2 per foot, no set-up charge and no minimum.
GREAT DEAL! I wonder if this pays for the Electricity to do it!
No complaints about the cost - it's nice of him to stop what he's doing and have an employee help wrestle a huge board onto the band saw. It's the interruption in workflow and the frequent need to do this that motivates me into looking into a do-it-yourself solution. After all, my table saw's only running 3% of the time I'm in the shop, but I don't think I'd want to work without it.
I read the posts... I was wondering why a Horisantal saw was better than a vertical.. I tink the Horzontal would pinch the blade?
Because it'd be a heck of a lot easier to feed the wood, as it doesn't have to be held vertically against a fence - it can just lie on the saw table. This is the way a Woodmizer works, though I'm not sure why the log/wood doesn't pinch the blade. Perhaps it's a power thing - the woodmizers I've seen typically have a 30 hp gas or diesel engine powering the blade, and the weight of the wood on top of the cut isn't nearly enough to overcome the torque and power of the blade.
though I'm not sure why the log/wood doesn't pinch the blade
There's nothing to pinch the blade.
Even if the top piece of wood settled back into the kerf the blade will be long gone from where the pieces would meet. The only real weight on the blade would be the weight behind it.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Yeah, Bob, but that would be true of most saws. On a big bandsaw blade, if the kerf closes on the back side of the blade, it'll definitely pinch. At the very least this makes the blade very hot - I've had this happen on my vertical bandsaw to the point where the blade singed the tires. Putting a wedge in the kerf fixed the issue.
I've had this happen on my vertical bandsaw to the point where the blade singed the tires
WOW, not too much reaction/stress there, eh.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Don’t they use horizontal re-saws for cutting guitar sets? <!----><!----><!---->
Thanks.. Just wondering.
With respect to the Laguna Thread, I remember reading a lot of negative press about them. But it was old. I think they may have solved their customer service problems. I have had a good experience with them.Their saws are always rated favorably in independent evaluations.
Greg
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look at the bandsaws on exfactory.com they sell lots of industrial sized machines. some are big $$$$, but others are reasonable--certainly within the range of a new Laguna.
BTW, I have had my lt-16 for many years, and it has worked without flaw.
Peter
www.jpswoodworking.com
You do realize exfactory is a brokerage firm so prices can vary widely. They don't ever see the machines in person. The seller puts a price on the tool and exfactory gets a percentage.
Edited 6/17/2008 11:01 am ET by RickL
Hello,
I also have a lagune LT16. I attempted to get a plastic table insert from them. They said that the saw was made by Meber and the part is no longer available. My saw is about 6 years old. I expected that Laguna would have parts for a long time. I can make the insert myself with my lathe, but I didn't want the hassle of doing it myslef.
10fingers
Minimax makes a bandsaw with a 24" resaw.
I have their 20" saw and it will resaw 17".
Good machine, made in Italy by Centauro.
F.
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