Phillip Mitchell
02-25-2018, 1:12 PM
This followed me home yesterday. I found it via a wanted ad I posted on the NC Woodworker forum that turned out to be a pretty good lead. I've been looking for a gently used saw of this size and quality off and on for the last year and feel fortunate that this opportunity came up when it did. I had been strongly considering a new Laguna 18BX, but really didn't have the funds to support that decision and felt I could find something older, heavier, and Italian if I looked long enough....
The previous owner imported the saw from Italy in '86 when it was new and hasn't used it much over the years. Thought he needed a monster bandsaw and just ended up using a 15" saw for most of his work over the years. It seemed like a situation where he was happy to see it leave his shop and free up some space and I was happy to get it for the price he suggested :D
The Euro style guides on the saw don't allow smaller than a 1/2" blade, which I think limited his use in the type of work he used a bandsaw for. I will be using this for light duty curved work here and there, but mostly re-sawing and ripping rough stock.
Steton SN 500 - 20" wheels, 2 hp single phase motor, 12 3/4" re-saw height, blade brake, 163" blade length. The manual says it weighs 550 lbs, but it certainly seemed like it was heavier when we were struggling to get it in the back of my truck...
I need to put it through its paces for a bit before I decide, but I'm considering replacing the fence (table and fence are not installed in pics bc I took them off to move the saw) with a Laguna Driftmaster fence system. Also considering contacting Carter to see if they can make some replacement guide bearings for it. The Euro 5 kit on their site looks very similar to what's on the saw now, but I'm not totally sure it's a match.
Anyone have experience getting custom replacement guide bearings from Carter for a lesser known saw? The Euro 5 kit is $320; I can only imagine a custom made set will be a bit more than that?
Thoughts? Comments?
The previous owner imported the saw from Italy in '86 when it was new and hasn't used it much over the years. Thought he needed a monster bandsaw and just ended up using a 15" saw for most of his work over the years. It seemed like a situation where he was happy to see it leave his shop and free up some space and I was happy to get it for the price he suggested :D
The Euro style guides on the saw don't allow smaller than a 1/2" blade, which I think limited his use in the type of work he used a bandsaw for. I will be using this for light duty curved work here and there, but mostly re-sawing and ripping rough stock.
Steton SN 500 - 20" wheels, 2 hp single phase motor, 12 3/4" re-saw height, blade brake, 163" blade length. The manual says it weighs 550 lbs, but it certainly seemed like it was heavier when we were struggling to get it in the back of my truck...
I need to put it through its paces for a bit before I decide, but I'm considering replacing the fence (table and fence are not installed in pics bc I took them off to move the saw) with a Laguna Driftmaster fence system. Also considering contacting Carter to see if they can make some replacement guide bearings for it. The Euro 5 kit on their site looks very similar to what's on the saw now, but I'm not totally sure it's a match.
Anyone have experience getting custom replacement guide bearings from Carter for a lesser known saw? The Euro 5 kit is $320; I can only imagine a custom made set will be a bit more than that?
Thoughts? Comments?