Laguna Carbide Band saw blades

[mredburn]

I picked up a Rikon Band saw off Craigs list yesterday and while searching through the site for Blade recomendations I came across the post that mentioned Laguna carbide tipped blades on another web site. I made contact with their rep Tito and the Carbide 3/4 saw blades are available at A $1.00 an inch. IT took less than 5 mins for an Email response From Tito to my email. I have ordered two but while I had him on the phone I asked permission to post His contact infromation and to have the offer on the blades passed on to our members as well. So now if you wanted a carbide blade and missed the group buy you can order one for yourself. Please Mention the IAP and tell him Mike sent you.:biggrin:

Tito Alegria
17101 Murphy Ave
Irvine, CA 92614
Phone: (800) 234-1976 Ext.9622
Fax949) 474-0150
Tito@lagunatools.com

As a note the person who makes the blades to length will not be back until Monday of next week so there will be a slight delay in getting out the orders until then.

Hope it helps someone out. MIke

 

[Gary Max]

You ever seen what a rock or nail does to a $145.00 worth of carbide?????????
Wish you the best of luck-----me I am sticking with a good Bi-metal balde.

 

[Fred]

$1.00 an inch ... not me either. I will stay in line with Gary and use something that I can afford to damage since my band saw has a 12" riser on it and that puts the lengeth over 100" easily.

Thanks for the information though. I am sure one of our members that does a good bit of veneer work will find the carbide to be useful.

 

[mredburn]

Gary has a very valid point and I realize this offer wont fit into a lot of members budgets. But if your in the market for this kind of blades it may save you some money.

 

[Gary Max]

It's not a matter of Buget---ask them about the resharpened blades they sent me back---they where rusted. I was so happy----I gave them away just so I didn't have to deal with them any more. That was 2 baldes that where a waste of my time, but I do enjoy sharing the story.

 

[jttheclockman]

It's not a matter of Buget---ask them about the resharpened blades they sent me back---they where rusted. I was so happy----I gave them away just so I didn't have to deal with them any more. That was 2 baldes that where a waste of my time, but I do enjoy sharing the story.

This is one mans story and for every negative one there is a positive. So take it for what it is worth.

A good carbide blade is worth the price if you do alot of resawing especially exotics as I do. I have in the past always used Lennox carbide blades and have great success with them. I have tried these laguna resaw blades and they are holding up well. At a $1 an inch is not bad of a price at all. And yes they resharpen them and if not satisfied you contact Tito. Now if you are sawing burls or woods that come from who knows where then it probably is not a good idea to use a carbide when cutting dirt and possibly stones or nails. But those blades are just as shot. That is where a good metal detector comes in handy also.

If you are cutting kiln dried woods or woods you know are metal free you will not beat a carbide blade. I have tried my share of blades so I will stake my reputation on them.

If I am not mistaken someone here was running a group buy on them not long ago

 

[Gary Max]

"I will stake my reputation on them."
Wow
You must of not heard the story about thier salesman calling me up and cussing me out. And I also found out that I wasn't the first person he did this to. The owner was not one bit surprized when I told him about it either. His responce was something like---But he's a great salesman.
In all fairness---this did happen a couple years ago----not yesterday.

 

[mredburn]

I hadn't heard of your experiences Gary. The group buy was held earlier this year by Woftat, according to the thread it ended on 3-5-2010, It looks like this is a slightly better price if you have shorter blades. Most of my resawing what little there is is on processed lumber. Its already been cut and kiln dried into boards. im simply slicing it up a little thinner.

 

[jttheclockman]

"I will stake my reputation on them."
Wow
You must of not heard the story about thier salesman calling me up and cussing me out. And I also found out that I wasn't the first person he did this to. The owner was not one bit surprized when I told him about it either. His responce was something like---But he's a great salesman.
In all fairness---this did happen a couple years ago----not yesterday.

Gary, like I said you are one man and one story. I am sorry for your problem but you can get that with anything in the world you buy. I am glad you found a blade that works for you. Carbide may not be what everyone should be using. If you are cutting up small pen blanks on a bandsaw then any blade will do. I do alot of veneer cutting and a carbide blade is a must for me and maybe for others. The price will work itself out. Anything with carbide on it will cost more but also last longer than HSS.

My reputation means diddly and I am not endorsing a product but the use of carbide on a blade. Like I said I have used Lennox for the longest time and have been very satisfied. I have just started using these laguna blades because over at Sawmill Creek they had a similar introductory price going on and Lennox prices are climbing.

Happy cutting and keep those saws humming.

 

[wolftat]

The staff at Laguna has changed over the years and the salesman that was cursing at people is working elsewhere now, probably at the IRS 800 line.

When you buy a carbide blade, you must be aware that cutting stones or nails is probably going to trash the blade, but if a tip is broken off it can be replaced relatively cheaply. I just had 2 blades resharpened by Laguna and they came back sharp, well oiled, and in great shape. I'm sorry Gary had such a rough time with them a few years ago, but I have to think that they have taken care of the issues by now and have moved on to better times.

I own 4 Laguna carbide blades and they are used in my shop as well as in a high school shop and they have saved me a lot of money over the past 2 years. I was able to buy a good quality steel blade from a well known company at a great price because of the quantity I was buying and I was picking them up at their manufacturing shop., now I have found that it was running me about $200 more a year using those blades per shop. I have also found that the carbide blades give a much better quality cut than any other blade I have tried and I have tried a lot of different blades. They are not for everyone and if you have had a bad experience with something you probably won't try it again and I don't blame you. I personally will never own another Toyota and it has nothing to do with recent issues.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Not just one story. Laguna reputation for service is less than favorable.
BTW, it is my understanding carbide BS blades require more power than ordinary blades. If your machine does not have plenty of power the experience could be dissapointing.
I have had enough 'Uh-Ohs' with my bandsaw to know I don't want to risk $1.00 an inch.

 

[jttheclockman]

Not just one story. Laguna reputation for service is less than favorable.
BTW, it is my understanding carbide BS blades require more power than ordinary blades. If your machine does not have plenty of power the experience could be dissapointing.
I have had enough 'Uh-Ohs' with my bandsaw to know I don't want to risk $1.00 an inch.

Not at all. A sharp blade is a sharp blade. We all use carbide tablesaw blades. The laguna design is a thinner kerf. It has also a different tooth pattern design so makes slicing even more easier. Laguna bandsaws are one of the best resaw bandsaws on the market when you talk about getting up to the big boys. You have to remember a carbide bandsaw blade is designed for one thing in mind and that is resawing. It is not a scroll blade such as a 3/16" blade. You are cutting thicker pieces of wood so to begin with your saw has to be able to handle resawing. Like I said I am not endorsing any product but this perception about carbide is mindboggling. Yes it is not for everyone because not everyone uses a bandsaw every day for resawing. A carbide blade can be repaired if broken, if a tooth comes off, or if it needs sharpening. You have the same thing with bi-metal and tri-metal blades as well. The initial cost is the telling part but they will outlast any HSS blade. There are different grades of carbide and different companies do things differently. Of course if you are cutting woods prone to dirt, stones and metal then any blade will take a beating.

As far as customer service goes that is something each and everyone must deal with at sometime with many products and things can be different from one person to another. I can not address that.

Happy resawing and keep those saws humming.

 

[Bree]

Excellent. I was going to use Al Navas' name and get one that way which would have cost me more. This is perfect since I was in the market for exactly this product. If you want to see what this blade can do check this video out...

http://sandal-woodsblog.com/2010/03/23/first-look-at-the-resaw-king-band-saw-blade/

As for cutting nails and similar metal... two words... METAL DETECTOR. As for cutting rocks... INSPECT CAREFULLY. I do these things now so there is no difference. Nails and rocks will trash my Timberwolf blades just as they will trash the carbide blade.

I WANT what the carbide blade will give me and I am willing to take my chances and pay the price. Email sent to Tito.