Bandsaw.
My old Rockwell 14" just isn't cutting the mustard for the heavy resawing I've been doing lately, and will be doing in the future, so it's time to say goodbye, and move on to something bigger and better.
I've been pondering this decision for several years, and the time seems right to go ahead with it. I was leaning forever to either a big Grizzly machine or a MiniMax MM16, but have switched camps and am now going to purchase one of these:
A Laguna LT16HD
It's a smaller saw than I wanted in physical size, but more than makes up for it in power and blade speed, two critical things for resawing. It's powered by a Baldor 4.5 hp motor, and the blade speed is 5300 feet per minute. And, it will resaw up to 16" in height. Not that I'll ever need that...
Looks like I'll even be able to tackle my BRW that I've sat on for a couple years. (No Brock...not sellin' it. Sorry)
I was leaning heavily toward the new Grizzly 21" saw with a 5 hp motor, but for a few hundred more, the Laguna has the Baldor motor, a faster blade speed, and a great new guide system. The only thing I think I would have liked better about the Grizzly 21" would have been the larger table size, and the rack & pinion control for adjusting the table angle. The weight difference isn't all that much considering the size difference, so the Laguna is certainly a hefty saw. I won't be moving it by myself. I'll have to con my friends Yukon and Steve Spodaryk into coming down for some Lobster and Filet Mignon to get it down into the shop though. Wait...can't afford the Lobsters now...I'll stick to the Filets. Petite Filets. Very petite....
A BIG "Thanks" to the Zootman for all his advice on buying this thing...I figure if this saw is good enough for Bob, it's probably more than good enough for me.
I'll have lots of resawing to do from now on....
More to follow on that.....
