Replies

1. 
   Bear | Feb 16, 2005 05:09am | #1

   The sparking from the ceramic guides is normal. As long as the guides have some clearance without cutting, things are fine. The sparking will lessen as the edge of the blade smoothes down.

2. 
   rickles13 | Feb 16, 2005 04:01pm | #2

   Do you have the 3HP LT16 or the 4.5HP 16HD?

   I put some money down on an 3HP LT16, and can't wait to get it in my shop.

   From what I've heard the sparking is normal, but you can get rid of it by rounding the back of the blade. (I think I saw that info somewhere in their manual.)

   Also I thought I read somewhere that you can almost have the saw blade riding against the ceramic guides for better support because the ceramic does not conduct heat.

   I would really like to know if you like your bandsaw, how long have you had it, was it worth the extra $$$.

   Looking forward to getting mine!

   Thanks in Advance

   R13

1. 
   tad | Mar 06, 2005 03:11pm | #4

   sorry for the delay in response...i bought the 16HD saw...compared to the delta three wheeler that i was using...which was the biggest pain in the neck..the blades were hard to find..they kept breaking...a nightmare...

   the Laguna is a dream...it cuts everything like butter...the resaw capability is what I bought it for , and it hasn't diappointed...the company is great to deal with...I wish I bought this years agoTad

2. 
   jptenberg | Mar 06, 2005 07:06pm | #6

   Hey, R13--

   When you get your saw, I would like to know what the plate on the Baldor motor says--

   When I got my saw a few months ago, the 3hp motor had a 2hp plate on it, and of course the Laguna guys said that the motor just had the "wrong plate on it"  sounded kind of fishy to me, but the saw seems to cut great...

   Peter

1. 
   rickles13 | Mar 06, 2005 09:08pm | #7

   I have been keeping up with this on-going "Motor HP controversy" on the Laguna web site.

   I am concerned about the motor HP, one reason I chose to pay more money and buy the laguna was because of the 3 HP Baldor.

   With that said the Mini-max still costs more for their 16" ($1,695 W/ a 2-1/2 HP Motor).

   From all the homework I've done on this purchase, the Laguna is still a very quality machine and  a quality company.

   I take it you bought the 3 HP(??) 16LT? You say the saw cuts great, no problem with resawing thick pieces?

   paper thin cuts?

   Easy blade changes?

   Your input is very appreciated!

1. 
   jptenberg | Mar 07, 2005 07:00pm | #11

   I can easily cut 1/16" veneers, although I do so rarely...as I have about 4000 sf of venners in my shop (thanks to ebay)

   I have resawed 8" thich maple with no problems--the motor seems to handle it pretty well, but I doubt that I will ever be resawing 12" thick boards, but you never know what might come along.

   As far as the blade changes, they are pretty srtiaght forward, although it does take a little bit of fussing with the ceramic guides to get them adjusted right, but no more than with other saws that I have had in the past.

   All in all, I am happy with the saw, but considering that I upgraded from a Jet 18", it would have to be a really crappy machine to be dissappointed...

   Peter

2. 
   Peter36 | Mar 06, 2005 09:16pm | #8

   Hi Peter. I am considering purchasing a Laguna and I have heard several stories about the wrong motor plate. I was wondering if the plate on the motor would be placed on the motor by Baldor or would it have been put there by Laguna. I also wondered if you have checked the serial number [model number] of the motor to see what hp it actually is.  Thanks.                 Peter

1. 
   jptenberg | Mar 07, 2005 07:04pm | #12

   The motor plate was in fact a Baldor plate, put on by the Baldor company.  The Laguna guy said that they got a batch of motors with the incorrect plate on them, and that they would send out a new correct plate--which I have never received 6 mos. later.

   I have not checked the motor # with Baldor--that is a good idea.  I'll look into that later today, when I get out to the shop.

   I have been very pleased with the way that the saw performs though, and I have no regrets about my purchase.

1. 
   TKanzler | Mar 08, 2005 12:02am | #14

   The motor plate was in fact a Baldor plate, put on by the Baldor company.  The Laguna guy said that they got a batch of motors with the incorrect plate on them, and that they would send out a new correct plate--which I have never received 6 mos. later.

   I have not checked the motor # with Baldor--that is a good idea.  I'll look into that later today, when I get out to the shop.

   I recall reading about something like this on another forum a while back.  The manufacturer claimed that the 3 hp Brazilian or Asian motor was equivalent to the 2 hp Baldor (the poster thought he was getting a 3 hp Baldor).  Of course, if the 3 hp import was truly equivalent to the 2 hp continuous duty Baldor, then it is really a 2 hp motor also. 

   You can easily confirm the motor hp from info given on the Baldor website, and a DC resistance reading taken at the plug.  All you need is a multimeter and the model number (from the nameplate).  If the nameplate is wrong (extremely unlikely), then the resistance reading will not match.  There is generally a big difference in resistance readings between a 2 hp and a 3 hp of the same series.

   I've checked a couple of TEFC Baldor motors I have laying around, and sure 'nuff, they match the date available online.  And they are quite different from each other, with one being 1/2 hp 1200 rpm, and the other being 3/4 hp 1800 rpm.

   Come to think of it, I think the same musical motor nameplates was going on with the new 14" Minimax, as discussed on that same thread.Be seeing you...

2. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 07, 2005 08:55pm | #13

   If you're interested in feedback, I am certainly happy with the saw after one day of use. It's a very basic, solid machine and does what a bandsaw is supposed to do. I had heard a lot about how fussy the ceramic blade guides were to set up but I didn't find it very difficult even the first time. There's nothing sexy about the saw - rack and pinion this or that - but it's the kind of machine I expect to be handing down to my sons (hopefully) many years from now.

   If I had a "complaint" it would ironically be that the motor runs louder than I expected. There's nothing wrong with it; the noise is due solely to the fact that it's more powerful than any bandsaw motor I've ever used. Three horsepower is darned powerful.

3. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 07, 2005 02:55am | #10

   My LT16 says "3 Saw Duty" on the horsepower rating on the motor.

3. 
   MarkRoderick | Mar 07, 2005 02:49am | #9

   My LT16 was delivered Friday and I just finished setting it up today. Seems to run great and resaw with no problem. A very, very solid machine.

3. 
   Thew | Feb 16, 2005 09:14pm | #3

   I'll second what Bear said. I have the ceramic guides on a 16HD, and the first little bit with each new blade I will get sparks. It is a little disconcerting seeing the sparks so near the fine dust, but the sparks have such a brief "flash" that I don't think anything will ignite.

1. 
   tad | Mar 06, 2005 03:12pm | #5

   thanks Thew...I'll just relax and get the blades worn down a littleTad

4. 
   OPOP33 | Dec 07, 2015 08:34am | #15

   Sparking Laguna

   Yes! They spark and will ignite embers. I have 4: 3 14/12s in the wood shop where I teach, and 1 in 14S in my own shop. ALL have ignited. One sent an ember into our dust collection system causing $5000 damage and shutting the shop, cancelling classes, for a month. Laguna refuses to address the problem and fumbles around blaming "new blades" etc. I have been running an active shop with 6 other band saws for over 20 years, this is not a normal condition, nor acceptable. Beyond the sparking issue the saws seem quite nice although they seem to break blades more often than any other saw I've worked with.

   I am completely dissatisfied with Laguna's customer service dealing with this problem and am looking for either replacements for the ceramics or completly new guides. I am willing to absorb the expense but am not happy.

   Do not trust the guides and do not trust Laguna to address the issue.