02-09-2020, 05:35 PM
I made it 25 years without a bandsaw, but figured it was probably time. I researched a lot on the topic of 14" bandsaws, ignored all that research and fell into a torrid infatuation with the Hammer N4400, and then common sense slapped me in the face and suggested I start with something more moderately priced and see if I actually liked band-sawing first. After reading many threads and posts on Woodnet from satisfied Laguna BX owners, I decided to go with it. And now I've decided to add my own experience to that collective wisdom, in the hopes it will help the next guy contemplating a similar decision. So with that, my Laguna set-up story:
This was a fairly large box, and while not very heavy compared to other tools I own, it very much reminded me of my age and limitations. At about 300 pounds, it was at the limit of what I could manhandle myself. I pushed it from the truck bed to my adjustable table with a lot of swearing and limited grace. Then I leveraged it off the table and onto the floor. If you're the next guy researching this on Woodnet, I'd recommend having a friend to help.
Once on the floor, there wasn't a lot to it. The bandsaw came mostly assembled and very well protected in bulky but fitted styrofoam.
The written instructions were typical Laguna quality, by which I mean written by somebody for whom English is their 8th language. But fortunately, they have several excellent videos on YouTube which make much more sense. I had watched the video about the mobility kit in advance, which is the wise way to go, because it will tell you what parts of the mobility kit are meant to be left-over, which in the case of the 14BX, included a fairly stout bracket meant for other versions of the saw.
Also useful is the idea of installing the mobility kit while the saw is still laying down. When you do, the back leveling feet are not used. Also helps to have a fairly long-reach Allen key.
With the back wheels installed, I stood it up and mounted the front wheel. Left-over pieces should be the two front leveling feet and the bracket for the other saw:
Next up, seat the table on the mounts and mount the steel rule and the fence bar to the table. I did the fence bar wrong, twice, which is why it is very helpful to watch the assembly video. First up, one side of the bar is longer than the other, and goes to the back. Secondly, even though the bushings fit perfectly into the larger holes in the bar, they are meant to go on the smaller holes on the opposite side. This becomes real apparent when you try to mount the fence knuckle to the bar.
This was a fairly large box, and while not very heavy compared to other tools I own, it very much reminded me of my age and limitations. At about 300 pounds, it was at the limit of what I could manhandle myself. I pushed it from the truck bed to my adjustable table with a lot of swearing and limited grace. Then I leveraged it off the table and onto the floor. If you're the next guy researching this on Woodnet, I'd recommend having a friend to help.
Once on the floor, there wasn't a lot to it. The bandsaw came mostly assembled and very well protected in bulky but fitted styrofoam.
The written instructions were typical Laguna quality, by which I mean written by somebody for whom English is their 8th language. But fortunately, they have several excellent videos on YouTube which make much more sense. I had watched the video about the mobility kit in advance, which is the wise way to go, because it will tell you what parts of the mobility kit are meant to be left-over, which in the case of the 14BX, included a fairly stout bracket meant for other versions of the saw.
Also useful is the idea of installing the mobility kit while the saw is still laying down. When you do, the back leveling feet are not used. Also helps to have a fairly long-reach Allen key.
With the back wheels installed, I stood it up and mounted the front wheel. Left-over pieces should be the two front leveling feet and the bracket for the other saw:
Next up, seat the table on the mounts and mount the steel rule and the fence bar to the table. I did the fence bar wrong, twice, which is why it is very helpful to watch the assembly video. First up, one side of the bar is longer than the other, and goes to the back. Secondly, even though the bushings fit perfectly into the larger holes in the bar, they are meant to go on the smaller holes on the opposite side. This becomes real apparent when you try to mount the fence knuckle to the bar.
Math is tough. Let's go shopping!