Popular Post LazarusDB Posted October 29, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Bit of a long story...a couple months ago I decided it was time to add a bandsaw to the shop. When I was doing research it came down to three choices...the Grizzly G0513ANV (at the time was $100 off), the Laguna 14|12 and the Rikon 10-326. The Laguna came on sale at Woodcraft so I decided to take a ride and check out the Laguna and Rikon side by side. I quickly found I couldn't go wrong with either one and decided on the Laguna strictly for aesthetic reasons. The store didn't have either in stock other than floor models and they weren't discounting those so I ordered the Laguna. It was to arrive within two weeks. Three weeks later I call the store and they say it hasn't been shipped by Laguna yet and that they're waiting for a lot of items for other customers too. They thanked me for my patience and promised an email with a tracking number as soon as they had it. Finally at five weeks still no tracking number but the Rikon comes on sale. I call up asking for an update...still not there. I ask if they have the Rikon in stock and they do. I then ask if I can swap the Laguna (already paid for) for the Rikon and they say sure can, no problem...but the mobile base part of the sale package is on backorder. I head to the store on Saturday and it doing the paperwork for the swap I ask if could get a store credit or other merchandise in place of the mobile base since I don't really want it anyway. Again, no problem and I get a gift card for the value of the base. With the Rikon being $90 less then the Laguna and the gift card for the base I picked up some Timber Wolf blades, a Veritas flush cut saw, a Woodpeckers square and a Grr-ripper push block. A 45 minute drive home and now the hard part. This sucker is heavy so I open the box and take out what I can to lighten the load. I drag the box off the truck and stand it on end and strap it to a 2-wheeler and into the shop. I assemble the base. I then lay the box on it's back on a moving dolly and cut off the bottom so I can attach the base to the main body. Once attached I simply lift it up with my wife making sure the base doesn't kick out from under it. Have you seen those white plastic pucks you can put under furniture to move it easily? That's what I used to slide the bandsaw into place. While I held the table in place my wife started the mounting screws. I follow the rest of the setup instructions (not bad, but could be better). I then take the blade off that came with the saw and install a Timber Wolf 1/2" 3TPI PC blade for resawing. Before I turn on the saw I watch the Snodgrass bandsaw tune-up video Marc posted a few months ago and follow every step mentioned in the video. This is the result of my first cut... This is a 1/4" resaw of 5 1/2" tall oak...nearly perfect! I'll continue to put this Rikon through its paces and report back but so far I am absolutely thrilled the Laguna didn't show up. Cheers, Aaron 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Congrats! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Nice slice......Yeah, I know it rhymes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 I'll be interested to see what you think of the guides. I have a 10-325 & have been considering upgrading to the new guide. The old style can be quite fiddly to adjust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazarusDB Posted October 29, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 13 minutes ago, drzaius said: I'll be interested to see what you think of the guides. I have a 10-325 & have been considering upgrading to the new guide. The old style can be quite fiddly to adjust. This is my first bandsaw so nothing to compare to but I'm really liking the easy adjustment of the guides. I wouldn't call them one-handed but super easy to adjust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 That puts my old delta right to shame. Congrats. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeset202 Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Aaron, I have had the Rikon 18" for several years (before they went to blue, mines green) and it has been a great saw, still running the old guides, will probably upgrade to Carter guides when/if the stock guides wear out. I resawed 9" wide bubinga on the first project with the saw, no problems. Congrats on your new toy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jfitz Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Congrats on the new saw! I have one of the green 10-325's, and I like it. 14 hours ago, drzaius said: I'll be interested to see what you think of the guides. I have a 10-325 & have been considering upgrading to the new guide. The old style can be quite fiddly to adjust. I just upgraded to the new Rikon guides. I was going back and forth between the Carter guides and the Rikon upgrade....decided on the Rikon upgrade since it was on sale, and also because of some positive comments over on the Guild FB page. It seems pretty good - very easy to install, and setting them was a piece of cake. Much easier than the stock guides. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim DaddyO Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Nice looking saw and cut too. I am not at the point where a band saw is on the radar, but always nice to hear of others good experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 New toy. How sweet it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Nice looking fence too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted October 30, 2017 Report Share Posted October 30, 2017 Very cool new tool. And just like Richard it all rhymes. The fence looks very similar to the my Laguna 1412 and it looks like you can also use the fence in a low profile by remounting it 90 degrees to the way it is, correct? Thats the way the Laguna works. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazarusDB Posted October 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 34 minutes ago, Chet said: Very cool new tool. And just like Richard it all rhymes. The fence looks very similar to the my Laguna 1412 and it looks like you can also use the fence in a low profile by remounting it 90 degrees to the way it is, correct? Thats the way the Laguna works. Yes Chet, the fence can mount to a low profile position and also has a knob for quick alignment to the blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazarusDB Posted October 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2017 For those interested, here's a pic of the fence adjustment knob and mechanism. And the "pivot" tool added to the fence... And the fence in the horizontal position... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted November 12, 2017 Report Share Posted November 12, 2017 Interesting review. I may be in the market soon and this may make me reconsider the 1412. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted December 1, 2017 Report Share Posted December 1, 2017 You still loving it? I just noticed that the Rikon has a 5 year warranty vs the Laguna's 1 year warranty. I'm inching closer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post LazarusDB Posted December 1, 2017 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted December 1, 2017 16 minutes ago, bleedinblue said: You still loving it? I just noticed that the Rikon has a 5 year warranty vs the Laguna's 1 year warranty. I'm inching closer. Absolutely! Here's some walnut resawn last weekend. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 I still need to calibrate the fence, but I got my saw last week and did a 5 minute blade change and tune up. We just got a new puppy so I haven't had any shop time, but after a couple of REALLY quick test cuts, I think I'm going to dig this thing. Smooth and straight. It should be a huge upgrade for me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pwk5017 Posted January 15, 2018 Report Share Posted January 15, 2018 Lazarus, after thisexperience and the other thread, it is safe to say you have the absolute worst new tool experiences of anyone i know. Dig that tall fence. I wish i had a big aluminum extrusion for a fence, instead i have the standard cast iron euro chode. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazarusDB Posted January 16, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 4 hours ago, Pwk5017 said: Lazarus, after thisexperience and the other thread, it is safe to say you have the absolute worst new tool experiences of anyone i know. Haha. It all works out in the end. Picked up a new Powermatic 54HH jointer today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted January 16, 2018 Report Share Posted January 16, 2018 That regular looking pattern in that resawn Walnut board looks like you have a tooth that hit something, or maybe an imperfect weld. You might be able to find the proud spot on the blade, and deal with it some sort of way. I'm most impressed with this bandsaw, and would have a hard time spending more money on any other 14", if I was in the market for a 14". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LazarusDB Posted January 17, 2018 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 On 1/15/2018 at 9:07 PM, Tom King said: That regular looking pattern in that resawn Walnut board looks like you have a tooth that hit something, or maybe an imperfect weld. You might be able to find the proud spot on the blade, and deal with it some sort of way. Thanks for the tip. I'll be sure to examine the blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted January 17, 2018 Report Share Posted January 17, 2018 Just imagining what that thing could do to a side of beef. ** Congrats. Apparently the 10-326 is the most popular around these parts, and for good reason. Should serve you well. (Now where's that envy emoji ....) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bleedinblue Posted January 31, 2018 Report Share Posted January 31, 2018 I'll add in to the review to say the extra long fence rail feels great when it digs into your hip 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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