What saw??????????????

[FRITZ STOOP]

My eyes are bleeding from all the reading I've done on this decision.
A Mini Max E16, a Laguna LT16 or What...............????
a simple vote please, by those that use them, would be a huge help.
Thanks in front!

[Jim Becker]

Well...no objectivity, obviously, but I'm a fan of Mini Max and have three of their machines in my shop. In addition to the E16, also consider the S45 which is more machine for a little more money. There are owners of both of the machines you reference here at SMC...and there have been previous threads, too.

[scott spencer]

Cool! My vote could help decide the outcome of a $2k BS acquisition!

MM16.... :D

[Doug Shepard]

Perhaps some tool porn will help
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=26027
and welcome to the Creek

[FRITZ STOOP]

Thanks for input (jury still out on Doug S)!
Purchased a MM16 this morning.
Even if the laguna machine were free, I will not continue to deal with those knuckleheads or even consider buying anything from them.
Some time ago, I got their best (sic) workbench......for, all told, $2500. I complained then about the poor workmanship, lousy hardware and weak design (too low). What I heard back was the sound of silence ( If a complaint falls in the lap of laguna tools, does it make a sound worthy of a reply?) I guess they didn't care.
Over time I fixed it. For the amount of effort (and more$ for proper drawer slides and vises) I put into it, I could have built a very nice one from scratch and got a nice band saw with the savings.

So iI get a nice new (to me) shop space and decide to upgrade my band saw. Benny at LT, via email, first acknowledged the funky bench. Then he went on to offer me free shipping and no tax, as long as I bought $600 worth of options and moved up a couple grades on my model choice!!

ARe those people completely nuts? They admit they ripped me off on the bench and now they try to gouge me on the saw! I have never experience such arrogance in my life. I have read about the legendary bad customer service provided by LT. I can only imagine.

A buddy tells me their band saw blades are lousy too. Their saws are really no better than MM or Argazzini. How do they stay in business?

FES

[Steven Wilson]

And now on to Lennox for a trimaster, Timberwolf for a few other blades, and you will be all set.

[Doug Shepard]

Thanks for input (jury still out on Doug S)!
...

I'm afraid when that jury comes in, I'll be going away for a very long time:(

Congrats on the new saw.

[Joe Mioux]

I have a mm16 and i really like it. It really hurts to write the check, but a year or so later you forget about that check, when you are writing the check for the next big ticket item.

when i bot, it was a toss up between the mm s45 and mm16. I would have been happy with either. there are some really nice unique features to both of these saws. i,e. the 45 has a versatile fence, better mobility... while the mm 16 has the foot brake. I really like that feature.

there are other differences and if you do a search you will find one of my old threads comparing the two.

hth
joe

[FRITZ STOOP]

When I was looking thru Joe's posts to read his comparison, I came across the, What is "BORG" question.
The Japan Woodworker store in Alameda CA used to sell their own line of larger power tools. I have a BORG 10" table saw. They got out of that market but still have the Borg branding on some other small stuff, all very good quality.
For what it's worth.........
My shop is about a mile from that store and that is one reason why I am always broke!

[Jim Becker]

Fritz, congratulations on your new MM16...be sure to post pictures of it arriving so that the excitable SMC boys and girls believe you actually bought it! LOL....

[Chris Padilla]

I've been to the JWW store in Alameda...I always liked that place! Cool to see another BAer slopping through the waters here at SMC!

[Bill Reed]

You may not be as happy as you think you will be with your MM16. I was very disappointed in mine. It came with a casting defect in the table, including a hole that went clear through. Although the table tilts, it doesn't have a trunnion and simply pivots on a couple of bolts. This means the blade hits the insert when you try to tilt the table. The guide system really sucks. It isn't designed to run blades narrower than about 3/4". You will find it necessary to cut off the lower part of the metal guard to accommodate narrow blades. There is also a problem with the lower guide assembly. It can't be adjusted rearward enough to allow you to run blades in the center of the wheels. If you use the mobility kit, the lower door will hit the caster and will not open fully, making it difficult to change blades. The blade tension gauge is worthless.

The good news is that the Minimax service is truly outstanding, and the machine is very sturdy and runs smooth. By working with Minimax I have gotten my machine into a usable state and I am OK with it. If they would fix the defects mentioned above they could sell a truly wonderful machine instead of an OK one.

Bill

[FRITZ STOOP]

Fritz, congratulations on your new MM16...be sure to post pictures of it arriving so that the excitable SMC boys and girls believe you actually bought it! LOL....

ARRIVED YESTERDAY, THE BLADES SHOULD BE ON MY PORCH WHEN I GET HOME!

[Bruce Page]

Fritz, excellent decision. I love my MM16.

Doug, you are a sick puppy…
I missed your 11/05 post – what a riot! I’m glad you were only exhausted with no long term side effects!

[Glen Paveglio]

For the life of me I can't understand why there is constant referral to the wheel being in the way when changing the blade on the MM16. The little plastic wheel is kept in place by a hair pin clip so that wheel can easily be removed when replacing a blade allowing the door to swing open all the way. Removing and installing the wheel may take 5 seconds. Is my saw different than other MM16s?

[Bruce Page]

For the life of me I can't understand why there is constant referral to the wheel being in the way when changing the blade on the MM16. The little plastic wheel is kept in place by a hair pin clip so that wheel can easily be removed when replacing a blade allowing the door to swing open all the way. Removing and installing the wheel may take 5 seconds. Is my saw different than other MM16s?
I have pointed that out several times myself. :confused:

[Doug Shepard]

My understanding is that machines from maybe 3 years back and earlier didnt have the wheels attached with a clevis pin but a nut onto a threaded post. Still removable but nowhere near as convenient as the clevis pin. Neither are as convenient as my Zambus casters though.:D

One sick puppy.:cool:

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

The MM 16" MM class (the expensive one) is, I think, prolly the gold standard.


It's the one I have my eyes on.

[Michael Hammers]

For those of you who may have viewed my myriad of questions on this very subject...I called Sam Blasco at MM and grabbed the end of the year sale on the MM16 last Friday, sale ends today I think. 2476.00 delivered including the mobile base and mitre fence.
Let the cognitive dissonance between the wallet and mind begin....:D