collinb Posted March 11, 2022 Report Share Posted March 11, 2022 Sold the old Porter Cable yesterday. Took a little hit but not too much after using it (lightly) for 4 years. Have my eyes on the Laguna 1412. I'm staying with 14" because, well, expense. With this I'll get (1) larger table, (2) standard 3/4 slot, (3) more resaw height, and (4) quick-release blade. I'll add an outfeed table to it. What holds my attention is having the blade quick-release. (The older I get the more convenience I need to make projects go more quickly. Why spend half my time adjusting tools instead of using them?) Read one review, a few years old, that says it comes without a "shelf" but I can't find anything else with that criticism, let alone what the supposed "shelf" is. And fortunately the dealer has 115" Resaw King and other Laguna blades in stock. I'll get everything in one place. ** Would have considered the Jet but for the lack of quick release. It also has a nice big table and I like that it has two miter slots (not for any reason, just do) and a heftier fence. But I tire of cranking and cranking and cranking to change blades. ** Anything else I should consider? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 I would look closely at the Harvey Ambassador C14 before taking the plunge. It is a little more money at the moment,but in certain aspects, a lot more saw. Rumor has it that Harvey runs sales that may drop it below the Laguna price, but I haven't watched that closely. The Laguna may be better suited to your needs in the end, but since you asked ... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 Collinb, I have the Jet 14SFX and it does have a "quick release" (de-tensioner). It is also 120 V, if that matters. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 On 3/11/2022 at 7:42 PM, wtnhighlander said: I would look closely at the Harvey Ambassador C14 before taking the plunge. It is a little more money at the moment,but in certain aspects, a lot more saw. Rumor has it that Harvey runs sales that may drop it below the Laguna price, but I haven't watched that closely. The Laguna may be better suited to your needs in the end, but since you asked ... I saw it at $1650-$1700 at the end of 2021 (holiday sale). Haven’t seen it below that but I was watching the Alpha more closely. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 I have had a 1412 for about 5 years. It use it regularly but not a lot. Really like it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Askland09 Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 The 14/12 has been an awesome addition to our shop. I haven’t had any issues with changing the blade from the RK to a more delicate blade so I’m not 100% sure what they’re talking about with all the cranking. Basically set up the machine in a few hours, tuned for about another 2 hours and haven’t had to touch anything since. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 On 3/12/2022 at 1:59 PM, Askland09 said: I’m not 100% sure what they’re talking about with all the cranking. They’re talking about bandsaws that don’t have a quick release lever for the blade tension. Without the quick release you have to crank the tensioner knob to release tension, swap blades, then crank it to tension the blade. With the quick release lever you really only have to slightly adjust the tension for the thinner/wider blade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 On 3/12/2022 at 1:31 PM, JohnG said: They’re talking about bandsaws that don’t have a quick release lever for the blade tension. Without the quick release you have to crank the tensioner knob to release tension, swap blades, then crank it to tension the blade. With the quick release lever you really only have to slightly adjust the tension for the thinner/wider blade. I know you are supposed to do this but I have to confess in 30 years and 3 bandsaws I have never done this 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted March 12, 2022 Report Share Posted March 12, 2022 Probably not really necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 13, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2022 On 3/11/2022 at 7:42 PM, wtnhighlander said: I would look closely at the Harvey Ambassador C14 before taking the plunge. It is a little more money at the moment,but in certain aspects, a lot more saw. Rumor has it that Harvey runs sales that may drop it below the Laguna price, but I haven't watched that closely. The Laguna may be better suited to your needs in the end, but since you asked ... I took a look at it online. IIRC yesterday it was $1,899 but today it's $2,199. Significantly out of my range. But impressive. And the features it has are well worth the price. Like the brake. But for the low-volume user I think it's too much. But I also looked again at the Jet. It shares many features with the Harvey like the guide bearing adjustments. +Jet The fence is better than the Laguna. But the fence "rail" I think might collect more dust and become more of a pain than the simple chrome bar on both the Laguna and the Harvey. So the fence is a wash. +- I work with an old machinist who was impressed by the ceramic guides. But he does metal work. I wonder how critical those are for woodworking, though. Still, a feature in Laguna's favor. +Laguna All of them have great dust collection. Nothing there to worry about. += Or one might say that there is no bad choice here. Two excellent pieces of hardware. The question is which one will serve me better. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted March 13, 2022 Report Share Posted March 13, 2022 If you like the Harvey keep an eye on it. Not sure why but Harvey changes pricing like I change socks it’s almost like it’s tied to commodity availability or something. re ceramic guides I think they are really subjective a personal taste I love them but have them on both my Laguna saws so definitely biased Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted March 13, 2022 Report Share Posted March 13, 2022 Harvey appears to adjust it's price the way airlines adjust theirs. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 14, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 One brand I had neglected to consider is the Grizzly. It's like the Jet but with an actual blade storage area. But still a few hundred dollars extra. Has the foot brake. https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-14-super-hd-2-hp-resaw-bandsaw-with-foot-brake/g0817 I think I'll probably stick with the Jet. Again, no bad choices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammer5573 Posted March 14, 2022 Report Share Posted March 14, 2022 I just purchased a Grizzly GO 817. I really wanted to buy the Laguna 1412, but the soonest that it would be shipped was April 30 and i need to get moving on some projects. I wanted to buy an American made product but that was almost impossible. I settled for one made in Taiwan (a least it's not mainland China). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 15, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2022 On 3/11/2022 at 7:42 PM, wtnhighlander said: I would look closely at the Harvey Ambassador C14 before taking the plunge. It is a little more money at the moment,but in certain aspects, a lot more saw. Rumor has it that Harvey runs sales that may drop it below the Laguna price, but I haven't watched that closely. The Laguna may be better suited to your needs in the end, but since you asked ... From what is shown online this is awesome equipment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 16, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2022 The C14 went on sale today. With shipping just a little bit than the Grizzly. But still a bundle. It's like if the Jet and the Laguna had a child. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 The biggest attraction of the C14, for me, is the resaw depth and hp. I would have one if my shop had 240v power. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 12 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: The biggest attraction of the C14, for me, is the resaw depth and hp Your probably the exception here but how many times have you needed 14" of resaw when 13" wasn't enough? Re saws over 10" start to get really difficult and I often just make the material narrower. There is also the jointing and planing needed to resaw 14". The 2.75hp motor on my Laguna is really nice. Carbide takes a bit more power than traditional band saw blades. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnG Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 I put my guide up to max height and 14” exposed 3/4” blade is kinda scary! Can’t see myself using the full 14” on solid hardwood, but maybe to cut the top off a box or something similar where the clearance is needed but you aren’t engaging the whole height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 On the other hand one probably wouldn't design a project that required 14" of resaw if the saw only does 13", etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post collinb Posted March 17, 2022 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 I went ahead and picked it up at lunch. They threw in a 3/8" (Laguna branded/OEM) blade and I purchased the Resaw King to go with it. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
collinb Posted March 17, 2022 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 I like that the tension knob is on the bottom side. Quite convenient. But I think I'll throw together a little lever to make turning it easier. Other than that, it should be ready to go Sunday sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted March 17, 2022 Report Share Posted March 17, 2022 On 3/17/2022 at 12:17 PM, collinb said: But I think I'll throw together a little lever to make turning it easier Don't over think this. Its not really necessary, after you tighten the first blade you put on your saw, you will only be using the knob to fine tune the tension from blade to blade. The main tension will come from the lever on the back side. Release the lever on the back to change a blade, push the lever back up to tension the new blade and adjust as needed with the knob. Easy Pesy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post wtnhighlander Posted March 18, 2022 Popular Post Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 11 hours ago, Chestnut said: Your probably the exception here but how many times have you needed 14" of resaw when 13" wasn't enough? Since when does lack of need overcome the desire for excess? 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted March 18, 2022 Report Share Posted March 18, 2022 On 3/17/2022 at 7:41 PM, wtnhighlander said: Since when does lack of need overcome the desire for excess? Words of wisdom! Wish I had thought of that. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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