Replies

1. 
   mapleman | Mar 28, 2009 06:06pm | #1

   Chris,

   I can't help with your problem - I have a MM20 saw but I have not tried tilting the table. I will probbly never need to.

   However, the best place to post your question would be at the Mini Max forum/Yahoo users group. Go over to the MiniMax site and on one of the drop down menus at the top of the home page is a link. You will have to register to be able to post a question but in my opinion that would be the best place to post a question because it's all guys with MM machines. I'm sure one of the guys there can help you figure it out.

    

   Good luck, and let us know what you find out.

    

   Lee

1. 
   Chrismitchell | Mar 28, 2009 06:55pm | #3

   Lee I joined that group about a week and a half ago and posted the question three times but nobody has responded yet so thats why I came here hoping to find someone with the same problem can you tell me how you set your saw up as far as the blades on the wheels and the guides ect thanks chris

1. 
   JerryPacMan | Mar 28, 2009 10:28pm | #4

   The Yahoo MiniMax Group is not very active.  I would do a search on the forum  as I remember a discussion or two there.  I did a quick search and someone suggested adjusting the table. 

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.

   When your ship comes in... make sure you are not at the airport.

2. 
   mapleman | Mar 28, 2009 11:05pm | #5

   Chris,

   I'll be happy to help any way I can, but I have not used the saw extensively yet. And I have kept a 1" blade on it since I got the saw in a few months back. I keep the teeth just barely off of the tire to preserve the rubber - as per the recomendation from the salesman.

   I keep the guide bearings just a hair away from the blade - they more or less do not spin until you start to feed wood into the blade.

   Let me know if there is anything else I can help you out with - I know it's frustrating when you get a new machine and have to work on it to get it right. If I had to do it over again I would have probably went with the Laguna but it was a great deal more money than the MM20 I bought. I'm more than satisfied with the saw but  I keep hearing about these little issues that should be taken care of by MiniMax.

   By the way - did you get the "mobility kit" (johnson bar) to move the saw around? I put Zambus casters on mine so no longer need the johnson bar apparatus.

    

   Good luck,

   Lee

1. 
   Chrismitchell | Mar 28, 2009 11:48pm | #6

   I did get the mobility Kit It's not so bad cause my saw stays in the same place all the time. I'll tell you what I did we took an extra guide mounting block and cut about a 1/4 " off the back using a horizontial band saw, I then changed out the thumb screw to a 6 mm allen head screw, Then I drilled a 3/8 hole in the front of the saw so that I could get to the allen head screw in order to adjust the lower guide angle paralell with the blade. Jist like you would normally if you were setting the guides in the raised up position. This works but I still dont understand why you need to do all of this . It should work in the first place. When you recieved your saw was there paint chipping off under the table where it mounts to the frame?. I'm also having a problem now with the blades jumping around like nervous pudding Ive tried everything this morning but cant seem to get them to stop. Mainly 1/2" and down size blades. Iv'e already emailed Mini Max and asked them to swap saws. They said they would. Was Brad your salesman. He's been real helpful through all this. I also wish that I had purchased another saw. I looked at laguna but was told that service was almost zero to none so I backed off. I bought nine other machines the same time I bought this bandsaw. Mostly Powermatic. I had a few problems but they were jhonny on the spot and replaced any machine I wanted. I did talk to the CEO first the customer service lady was rude one day"Badly Rude" So I went straight to the top. Never had any problems after that. Back on the Bandsaw, they do cut nice and straight when there working right. What I have wondered though have you tried to tilt the table and does your machine also do the same as mine did. The reason I ask is because Mini Max said that this was the first time that they have heard of this problem. Huh Makes me curious. Thanks Chris

1. 
   mapleman | Mar 29, 2009 03:58am | #7

   Hi Chris,

   No paint chipping on my saw - the fit and finish was fantastic. I bought my saw mainly to re-saw - so like I said I have not tried a blade narowwer than 1/2".

   I do know with a larger blade you have to notch the metal blade guard shroud to allow the thrust bearings to come up to right behind the teeth. Seems like they would have addressed that issue also.

   My salesman was not Brad - it was Erik Loza. Very helpful guy. If they will swap the saw then I say go for it - you might have gotten a lemon. Happens even with the best quality machines from time to time.  Not sure why your blade is jumping around - is it side to side or front to back? What size blade do you have on the saw now?

   I see you are in Pensacola - I am just west of you on the Gulf coast in Mississippi. Too bad you're not a little closer - I would take a ride over and have a look.

   Also, did your salesman email you a PDF file of a saw manual that one of the customers wrote? It's a little better than the one supplied with the saw and you may glean some answers to your problems from it. I'm having trouble attaching the PDF here, if you want a copy send me your email address and I will forward it to you.

    

   Lee

2. 
   Chrismitchell | Mar 29, 2009 04:49am | #8

   Cool yeah I'm on the west side of Pensacola about 2 miles from the Alabama state line. The largest Blade Iv'e used so far is 3/4" I have a wood slicer and a lennox ct tri master. I have a 1/2 " blade on right now because of what I'm cutting 4/4 cedar. Jst cutting out some small Doors actually to hold Golf Clubs in a enclosed trailor. Long story. It's a project for my Brother over in Kingsbay, Ga. He has a Limo Service and has Booked one of his cars for the summer to twelve golf Pro's for a tour. I sold him a 6x10 trailor that I no longer need and so I'm setting it up for him. Other than that I build Furniture so thats why I wanted to use the tilting part of the saw. For me the Bandsaw is much safer to use than the table saw Plus Im learning so much that the bandsaw is the tool that I need to master. Yeh Mike at Mini Max said he would replace the saw,.. there wont be one in until 4/16/08 so I'll have to keep plugging with the one I have until then. What part of Ms or you in?  Thanks for everything Chris

3. 
   mapleman | Mar 29, 2009 06:42am | #9

   Hey Chris,

   I'm in Picayune, a little north of Gulfport and Biloxi. Glad to hear they will replace the saw - hope you get it all figured out.

    

   Lee

2. 
   Tom7 | Mar 28, 2009 06:26pm | #2

   Go to Saw Mill Creek website and do a search.  This is a known issue with MM16.  A unique fix is noted in one of the threads.  It involves making a phenolic or hardwood shim with a kerf.  The shim is held between the guides and the blade runs in the kerf.  The shim moves the blade forward so everything works.

   It's a shame that MM does not fix this issue and/or warn new purchasers.  A local guy was kind enough to let me use his MM16 and pointed out this usability issue plus several others.  MM16 is a fine saw for its resaw height.  But the usability issues pushed me to buy the Aggazani B-20 which does not have the usability issues.  I didn't need the extra resaw height (about 3" more) so the Aggazani was the best choice for me.

3. 
   Tom7 | Mar 30, 2009 05:04am | #10

   Here is a new thread on Saw Mill Creek that shows the fix for small blades on MM bandsaws.

   http://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=108511

   Sam Blanco used to work for MM and is regarded an a "go to" person for MM bandsaw information.