Felder 540 bandsaw vs new laguna 14bx

[Ryan Pappas]

I'm looking to get a new bandsaw. I have the opportunity to get a used Felder 540. I think it was made in 2007. Im also looking into a new laguna 14bx. The felder looks to be in great shape and the price is just about the same as a new laguna bandsaw. I have two questions, which should I buy and also is $1750 a good price on the felder if I choose to go that route. I'm just a hobbiest but want good quality tools. I just bought a new minimax SC4 elite and am liking the European machines. Any thoughts?

[Andrew Hughes]

Buy the saw with the biggest wheel.

[Ryan Pappas]

Looks like the felder has a 21" cast iron wheel. Just wondering if it being ten years old is still better than a new laguna.

[Patrick Kane]

I can't believe that felder is still for sale. I don't think the Lagunna and that felder are worth comparing. The felder is much bigger. More HP and better motor. Comes with a resaw king and he has a new one to sell at a discount. I'd go snatch it immediately.

[David J Blackburn]

Yes. I live in DC and feel like driving down there to get it would be a reasonable thing to do. Go grab it

[Frank Drew]

Ryan,

Unless it's been abused, 10 years is nothing to a quality machine; I bought a 1950s Oliver band saw in the late 1980s and it was just as good when I sold it 25 years later. All things being equal, always go for a better, more capable machine.

[Ryan Pappas]

I kinda felt the same way. Just didn't really know. Can you still work with small stuff just as easily considering it's a bigger machine? Also, is the price ok? Don't really know how much they are new.

[Tom Trees]

Oh man are you still wondering about this one ????
If its the small laguna, or that belter of a Felder saw that's you options ....
No contest whatsoever.
Yes, You can use this saw for small stuff no bother.
I was looking for a 540 but got a 600 ACM star which I believe is a lesser saw.
The ones with the extra "40" have better frames .
Buy that saw !
Have a nice day, and good luck
Tom

Another bandsaw fanatic :)

PS Don't forget to take some piccys !!!
Its the rules, you know :D
Did I say that that's a great saw allready?

[Joe Jensen]

The Felder 540 is an excellent saw, much heavier than the 14" Laguna, not really comparable. The Felder is much larger and more heavily built. Bandsaws are simple, little to go wrong. I got a screaming deal in the recession and paid $1100 for an ugly Felder FB 540 from a machine shop.

[Ryan Pappas]

So guys I appreciate all the responses. Helped me greatly. I am a lineman for Alabama power and have been working the hurricane and haven't been home for 12 days. Well we got released yesterday and finally made it home today so I saw that the bandsaw was still available and I contacted him after I got you guys opinion. Unfortunately for me he said that it was just sold. Needless to say I was bummed. Maybe I just need to buy me a new one.

[David Kumm]

Felder 540 is a heavy ACM rebadged. It will be more saw than any 14". Dave

[Rick Potter]

Sorry you missed it Ryan. That was a great deal.

[Peter Kelly]

Felder 540 is a heavy ACM rebadged. It will be more saw than any 14". Dave640-940 from Felder are re-badged ACM "BS" series saws. I believe the Felder 510-710 are Chinese ones sourced from Woodfast.

Either way, the 510 would still be a better choice than the Laguna.

[Mike King]

Felder 540 is a heavy ACM rebadged. It will be more saw than any 14". Dave

It used to be, but is now a product manufactured by Felder.

[Ryan Pappas]

So what about a felder 610 vs a minimax mm20? I have a minimax SC4 elite and really like it.

[David Kumm]

The 540,640,740, are still rebadged ACM. The FB series are as Peter said, partially Euro, partially not. The MM 20 and 24 will tension higher than the FB 510 or 610. That may not be important to all so each must decide if the type of sawing and blades used demand higher tension. Dave

[Tom Trees]

Hi Ryan
Sorry you didn't get the saw.
There was a discussion not 2 or 3 months ago about those two saws.
If I remember correctly, some folks were a bit worried about the possible deflection on the new Minimax's, due to extra resaw height.
My feeling is this could have came from that recent thread.
I think the older ones could be more stout (never seen one in the flesh)

If you like Italian saws there is also other brands, and if I'm not mistaken these factory's in Italy are in close proximity to each other.
There is also a Centauro (makers of Minimax) CO600 that is a stout saw..also goes by brand name SCMI
That can probably tension a 1" Woodmaster CT to 25,000 PSI without deflection, but the motors are fixed star 440 high voltage 3 phase.
Not suitable for a VFD in my case, for phase conversion.
Likewise I'm not sure my ACM Griggio Star/sna600 saw can tension one either.

I think Laguna still uses the ACM star line frames, like Felder used to do if I'm not mistaken.
It doesn't seem they have changed that frame since at least 1997 when my machine was made ... guessing by the weight.
I also think its been made before that, by the green paint on John Sanford's, say hello to papa Griggio post :cool:
There is also Agazzani and Meber saws to choose from.
Heres another post with the old SCMI saws ...
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?109385-Bandsaw-tracking-question/page2

Since you have the big panel saw, I think that the 1" Woodmaster CT is the blade to aspire to be able to tension correctly.
Those last two saws look more than capable to me.
I just have not heard anyone doing tests with this blade tensoning to 25000PSI on any 20+" saws
That is the proof of the pudding.
You only really need this blade if your cutting exotics or lots of timber though, and a cheaper blade would cost less to wreck.
Like probably about 20 times less.


Hopefully this might help you source a machine for a bargain...
or at least squeeze some more facts on these saws from you guys :)

Tomas

[Peter Kelly]

So what about a felder 610 vs a minimax mm20? I have a minimax SC4 elite and really like it.
I'd stick with MiniMax then ;)

[Brian Holcombe]

MM20 resawing 15" Goncalo Alves :D

https://brianholcombewoodworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/img_8260.jpg

https://brianholcombewoodworker.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/img_8261.jpg

[Tom Trees]

Class shots Brian :cool:
Is that the current model ?, if so it doesn't look unproportional to me.
There is some nice wee bits on the Minimax, the gib for the rack and pinion looks good if it works...
The Centauro telescopic blade guard looks like it might be less effort to go from resawing that plank to ripping 1" stock.
Heavier wheels than competition with easy swap tires are another reason.

I like all Italian saws :)

[David Kumm]

Felder ( and Bridgewood ) sold the heavier series ACM, not the Star. In the old days, so did Laguna for their larger saws although they may have changed that now. ACM makes Griggio saws just as Centauro makes saws for SCMI as well as minimax. Companies can tweak the specs if they order enough volume. Aggizanni used to another Italian saws but their designs are now made by Panhans. Panhans makes some fine machines but I've not seen their bandsaw. A used Bridgewood is a good find. Any Euro saw can be had in various voltages as they are sold worldwide, 240,380,480,600. Dave

[Brian Holcombe]

Class shots Brian :cool:
Is that the current model ?, if so it doesn't look unproportional to me.
There is some nice wee bits on the Minimax, the gib for the rack and pinion looks good if it works...
The Centauro telescopic blade guard looks like it might be less effort to go from resawing that plank to ripping 1" stock.
Heavier wheels than competition with easy swap tires are another reason.

I like all Italian saws :)

Thank you! Absolutely, this is in my home so I close the blade guard totally after each time I finish using the machine and leave the shop. Works very easily.

[richard poitras]

Ryan there is a MiniMax for sale on the forum as we speak in the for sale section....

[Tom Trees]

Thanks for setting me straight on that David, much appreciated, why? I don't know, its some sort of bandsaw disease :)
I forgot about bridgewood!!! and Panhans if they sell the latter over there.
If I'm not mistaken (again) did I hear about another Canadian firm importing Italian saws too?
I hope I'm wrong on this, but In the UK and Ireland the Centauro CO600 seems to be fixed star here(no delta configuration)
I have seen some sweet deals go by with these type motors.
Tomas

[Chris Hachet]

Ryan there is a MiniMax for sale on the forum as we speak in the for sale section....


Awesome, I love seeing bandsaws find a good home.

[Joe Jensen]

640-940 from Felder are re-badged ACM "BS" series saws. I believe the Felder 510-710 are Chinese ones sourced from Woodfast.

Either way, the 510 would still be a better choice than the Laguna.


Clarification for anyone who finds this thread in the future. The Felder FB series were built by ACM of Italy. The ACM BS540 is a Felder FB540, etc. Felder started making their own. First I believe was the FB600. Now a range from FB510 and up. The X10 series have nice features, nicer than the X40 series by ACM but people who've owned both report the X10 series are not as stiff. They do weight less but they may have been able to use CAD design tools to make better use of the steel for the spine.