I've been reading everyone's opinions on bandsaws greater than 14" and it seems that Agazanni, Minimax and Laguna are everyone's favorites.
So I went to the Woodworking Show today hoping to choose between the 3.
First stop Laguna - they had an LT14 on display and an LT16HD - and also a 20" or 24" - but more than I need and way out of my price range. Kinda disapointed that they didn't have more considering they are only a few miles away. The LT16HD was a very impressive machine - but the show special package was $300 off so the package was still around $2800, but at least I looked at this one and seemed to see a better quality than the rest of the imports. So I asked about the LT16 - he showed me the LT14 they had on display - said it was made by a different company and went on to show me the many reasons why the Lt16Hd was a better machine. I agreed with everyone of his points but came to the conclusion that unless I was willing to fork out the $2800 for the LT16HD that the regular LT16 at a show package price of $1800 wasn't any better than the $999 Pioneer I saw. Scratch Laguna off the list.
Second stop Minimax - They had an MM16 and an E16. The E16 was no better than Laguna's LT16 - for all I could tell they came off the same line. Scratch the E16 off the list. Then the guy did a poor job of selling me on the MM16 - just said it's better and it's the last bandsaw I'll have to buy. Offers it for $2100. I came back and looked at it later, the bottom door wouldn't even close tight - not what I want to see for over $2000 - scratch Minimax off the list.
Third stop - Agazanni - Looked at their 18" - seemed pretty decent - but seemed to be almost like the other two in the sense I don't see it being built any better than a Jet or Pioneer etc.. And for $2000 they just didn't sell me.
I took a good hard look at the Jet 18 WBSX - no foot brake - but overall quality seemd as good if not better than the the other 3 premiums ones at half the price.
I'm going back again Saturday and Sunday - but I need you owners to tell me what I'm missing. I just don't see the top 3 being $1000 better. The tables all felt cheap - I know the Minimax has 16" resaw and a 4.8 HP - but that's not needed for me.