Hello folks,
Does anyone here have any experience with the Laguna "Italian Resaw Master Bandsaw"? This 18 model is unusual for being (by far) the smallest saw I am aware of to accommodate 2 blades, which seems theoretically appealing. Unfortunately, there has not yet been much commentary about this model.
As a hand-tool focused woodworker with limited space and even more limited sound isolation (jointer or planer out of the question), I do my milling and rough squaring on the bandsaw before refining the faces with hand planes. Typically I laminate quarter-sawn blocks of eastern maple or white oak, and then resew strips or panels of the desired thickness to make furniture and boxes.
Currently, I perform this task on a US-made Delta 14 bandsaw running a 3 TPI 1/2 bi-metal blade. Although the saw has performed admirably for the size, there is certainly room for improvement. When compared with my results from a Hammer N4400 running a 1 Resaw King, for example, I find it takes me twice as long to clean up my cuts made on the Delta. As a result, I would like to streamline my workflow by adding a much sturdier bandsaw for ripping and re-sawing.
But what bandsaw to choose, for straight cutting only with a ~$5,000 budget (and a 96 ceiling)? Again: my goal is to achieve the cleanest, squarest results off the saw so I can reduce the drudgery of all that hand planing. Ideally the saw would also accommodate 16 of resawing, but the real priority is squareness. My research suggests that using the widest properly tensioned blade possible will help me achieve this goal, although I have no experience with blades wider than 1". The 2 Resaw King blade certainly seems to fit that bill, but the only saw I am aware of that accommodates it within my limitations is the $4,700 Laguna Italian Resaw Master.
If you were me: would you go for the Laguna Italian Resaw Master model, or give up on the 2 blade and buy a more typical saw (like a used Minimax or Hammer)?
Thanks for your time.
Best regards,
Ryan Lloyd