Login
Start Free Trial Are you a business?? Click Here

18|bx 3HP 18" Bandsaw Reviews

4.2 Rating 5 Reviews
Read Woodcraft Reviews

About Woodcraft:

Woodcraft Supply, LLC is one of the nation's oldest and largest suppliers of quality woodworking tools and supplies. You'll find Woodcraft stores in more than 70 major metropolitan areas across the U.S.; and Woodcraft annually distributes 1.5 million catalogs featuring more than 10,000 items to all 50 states and 117 foreign countries. The Woodcraft catalog is a standard among woodworkers as the most complete offering of first rate products for woodworking available anywhere. Woodcraft also publishes six issues of Woodcraft Magazine annually.

Visit Product Page

Phone:

800-535-4486

Location:

1177 Rosemar Rd,
Parkersburg
West Virginia
26105

William Merza
Unverified Reviewer
I have been very pleased with this saw.. I spent a great deal of time researching out other saws, comparing features and price. While not cheap, it is worth the money. I use this saw only for cutting large bowl blanks, prepping them for eventual bowl turning. I have a dedicated 1 1/4 blade continually mounted on it. I have another smaller bandsaw in my shop for everything else. This saw replaced using a chain saw to rip logs, which was noisy, difficult and dangerous. You will enjoy the power and ease of use. I love the saw brake. Don’t consider a saw without one. The size and mass of the saw coupled to the 220 volt 3 hp motor makes processing large pieces of wood very easy. I like the saw guides, BUT they loosen up and require monitoring. The lower guides require a surgeon with small hands to really get at. This is my one complaint. You can get at them, but it takes some time and effort.. I used my small pickup at purchase to transport the very large shipping box. The Woodcraft staff were great in loading it with a fork lift. There was no forklift at home, only myself and my wife. I had hoped to back into the shop and tip it up, then unpack it. I quickly abandoned that idea. A neighbor with a Bobcat with a set of forks got it into my shop, then four strong neighbors were able to uncrate and get the saw into position. Do not underestimate the size and weight. If you have a basement shop add in the cost of professional movers. Overall, very happy.
2 Helpful Report
Posted 8 months ago
Cant seem to find any help for getting a breaker problem taken care of!
3 Helpful Report
Posted 4 years ago
I've finally set up and started using my new bandsaw. It replaced a Delta/Rockwell 14" with 1 HP motor. I'm very pleased with the Laguna. The ceramic guides remind me of the "cool blocks" that came with the Delta. I can change blades in 10 minutes (I timed it). The ceramic guides under the table are easy to adjust even with my fat fingers. You can see what you're doing through the throat plate hole. The 3 HP motor plowed through some 10" thick walnut without hesitation. I wouldn't be without the foot brake. I was leaning toward the 14BX for that reason and decided this will be my last bandsaw so spent the extra for the 18. The extra large table is great for 50# log halves. I've used the 1" blade to saw some green walnut planks, the 1/4" to cut some round templates and the 1/2" for cutting some 8" thick walnut bowl blanks from 6" to 17" in diameter. The only issue I had with set up was the table tilt was rough. I removed the table and found the trunnion base had some rough debris in the milled areas. I cleaned it with 400 emery cloth, gave it a light grease and it now tilts very smoothly. It's only been in use a week but so far I'm very impressed. I've milled about 40 BF of walnut and maple. All the adjustments are simple and stay true. Haven't needed Laguna support since the machine arrived basically flawless.
5 Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
MF From Tucker
Verified Reviewer
This is my first full size bandsaw. I was considering just about everything from entry level 14 inch units all the way to this unit at the high end of my price range, and I am glad I went with the 18 bx. I did save some money by having woodcraft order it to the store, and then picking it up in my truck, but I did need help getting it in and out since the crate was well over 400 pounds. Now, I am not an expert use by any means, but I'll give my overall impressions and experience with the saw after having used it for a few months. My main use for this saw is to break down larger timber into usable lumber for turning as well as other projects. I have logs that I want to cut down, and I also milled my own flitch slabs using a chainsaw that I use the bandsaw to process. I did built jigs for crosscutting logs as well as ripping logs, and then I use the fence for resawing those ripped logs or to square off the live edges. I also use the fence in the low position to then further process the material into smaller pieces to turn on the lathe. I have tested it with timberwolf blades from 1/4 to 1 inch, but I primarily keep the 1.25 resaw king for most of the work that I use it with, and I will say that this blade is a fantastic match for this bandsaw for any straight cut for any depth, the tallest resaw I've done is about 14.5" in red oak, and the bandsaw did great with it. As just about anyone that uses a laguna bandsaw will tell you, the ceramic guides are awesome, and I really prefer these over bearing guides, but that is definitely a personal preference. Customer service was also great. I had scraped off part of my table rule, and they sent me one quickly. I also mentioned that my table insert was slightly twisted, and they also sent me a replacement one. I will say the table rule isn't that sturdy though, as I have already scraped the second one - it is a bit annoying, but I haven't found it to be burdensome yet, and I have been able to make measured cuts with it still. The brake also works great, as the cast iron wheels have a lot of momentum, and will keep going for a while after the machine is turned off. I'm not sure of the manufacturer or origin of the motor, but mine has been working great. I did run a new 220v circuit for this bandsaw, which was easy enough. I haven't needed to use the cut stop on the fence yet, so I can't comment on that, but it definitely looks functional and well built. When I need to cut tenons, I'll definitely be seeing how well the fence stop works on the bandsaw. I don't have dust collection in my shop yet, so I can't comment on how well the two ports work yet. I did need to adjust the lower wheel brush so that it would make contact and clear the tire, but that was easy enough. I do like the quick tension release, and it works as expected. It does appear that the saw can tension a full 1.25" resaw king blade (my cuts have been great so far), though I'm not sure if it would be able to fully tension a 1.25" bimetal blade, I just haven't tried, and I know that due to the beam strength, bimetal blades require around double the psi compared to carbon steel blades. I don't have a tension meter, so I can't report on what the maximum psi that the bandsaw is capable of. I hope I hit on the important aspects of the saw. I have been very pleased with mine so far!
5 Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago
MF From Tucker
Verified Reviewer
This is my first full size bandsaw. I was considering just about everything from entry level 14 inch units all the way to this unit at the high end of my price range, and I am glad I went with the 18 bx. I did save some money by having woodcraft order it to the store, and then picking it up in my truck, but I did need help getting it in and out since the crate was well over 400 pounds. Now, I am not an expert use by any means, but I'll give my overall impressions and experience with the saw after having used it for a few months. My main use for this saw is to break down larger timber into usable lumber for turning as well as other projects. I have logs that I want to cut down, and I also milled my own flitch slabs using a chainsaw that I use the bandsaw to process. I did built jigs for crosscutting logs as well as ripping logs, and then I use the fence for resawing those ripped logs or to square off the live edges. I also use the fence in the low position to then further process the material into smaller pieces to turn on the lathe. I have tested it with timberwolf blades from 1/4 to 1 inch, but I primarily keep the 1.25 resaw king for most of the work that I use it with, and I will say that this blade is a fantastic match for this bandsaw for any straight cut for any depth, the tallest resaw I've done is about 14.5" in red oak, and the bandsaw did great with it. As just about anyone that uses a laguna bandsaw will tell you, the ceramic guides are awesome, and I really prefer these over bearing guides, but that is definitely a personal preference. Customer service was also great. I had scraped off part of my table rule, and they sent me one quickly. I also mentioned that my table insert was slightly twisted, and they also sent me a replacement one. I will say the table rule isn't that sturdy though, as I have already scraped the second one - it is a bit annoying, but I haven't found it to be burdensome yet, and I have been able to make measured cuts with it still. The brake also works great, as the cast iron wheels have a lot of momentum, and will keep going for a while after the machine is turned off. I'm not sure of the manufacturer or origin of the motor, but mine has been working great. I did run a new 220v circuit for this bandsaw, which was easy enough. I haven't needed to use the cut stop on the fence yet, so I can't comment on that, but it definitely looks functional and well built. When I need to cut tenons, I'll definitely be seeing how well the fence stop works on the bandsaw. I don't have dust collection in my shop yet, so I can't comment on how well the two ports work yet. I did need to adjust the lower wheel brush so that it would make contact and clear the tire, but that was easy enough. I do like the quick tension release, and it works as expected. It does appear that the saw can tension a full 1.25" resaw king blade (my cuts have been great so far), though I'm not sure if it would be able to fully tension a 1.25" bimetal blade, I just haven't tried, and I know that due to the beam strength, bimetal blades require around double the psi compared to carbon steel blades. I don't have a tension meter, so I can't report on what the maximum psi that the bandsaw is capable of. I hope I hit on the important aspects of the saw. I have been very pleased with mine so far!
Helpful Report
Posted 5 years ago