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3K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  pixlpush 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I recently purchased a Laguna 18bx bandsaw and wanted to share my horrible experience to warn anyone who is in the market.

Laguna has a horrible customer service reputation and unfortunately lived up to that reputation.

1) bandsaw table is not flat. It had a horrible cup in the middle, and well and the back right corner. Largest feeler guage at 0.025 easily slides under a straight edge at multiple locations in the table.

2) fence knuckle is very poorly machined, making fence adjustments impossible. When the nuts are tightened the fence pulls in toward the blade due to the poor machining.

3) vibration. The saw has a horrible vibration that I believed is coming from the top wheel. Laguna refuses to acknowledge it is a problem with their machine. I bought a 1 inch Resaw king blade and they keep saying the vibration is due to the blade. They proceeded to send me 3 blades and each one has not fixed the problem.

Now they refuse to offer customer support. They do not offer phone technical support and send snarky emails that "nothing is wrong with your machine" but refusing to help troubleshoot over the phone.

I had heard laguna had fixed their customer service woes, but my experience has been the absolute worst tool buying experience of my life.

I waited and researched for 3 years before making the purchase and I would 100% not go with laguna again, or any other tool purchases in the future.
 
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#2 ·
This might help, might not.. I dont' know all your details.
I had a bandsaw (different brand) that vibrated quite a bit.
Turns out that my concrete floor was not level enough
I put the BS on a mobile base, the vibration went away.
Just something to check. I don't know the details of your situation.
 
#3 ·
I also had a laguna bandsaw that had some vibrations problems. I accidentally stumbled on the same fix as lumber jocks mentioned. Uneven floor caused to base to twist. My solution was to shim the base. I also did some ship fix balancing of the upper wheel.
It was a good running saw after I chased all the demons out.
We all get a machine that needs extra attention. You can get it running right and with 3rk blades good change having the last laugh
Good Luck
 
#4 ·
I appreciate suggestions. I did check it was level on the floor. It actually is on a mobile base that I have used wedges on to make perfectly flat. I was hoping it was something easy like that.

Without the blade on it runs very smooth. And it doesn't matter which blade, but under tension it starts to shake. This lead me to believe a problem with the upper wheel
 
#5 ·
I appreciate suggestions. I did check it was level on the floor. It actually is on a mobile base that I have used wedges on to make perfectly flat. I was hoping it was something easy like that.

Without the blade on it runs very smooth. And it doesn't matter which blade, but under tension it starts to shake. This lead me to believe a problem with the upper wheel

- DavidTMD
Sent you a private message. Check your inbox :)
 
#6 ·
When all else fails, contact Lou Iturra. He's probably forgotten more than most experts ever knew about bandsaws. I had similar vibration problem on an 18" Jet. Numerous blades (Timberwolf - the worst!), new urethane tires and saw adjustments were in vain. Phil Thien suggested getting a blade from Lou and all problems were resolved. Lou doesn't have a website but this number comes up on google searches: 904-642-2802.

Sorry to hear another story about poor Laguna customer service. Hope you get it resolved.

If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge. When Laguna receives their chargeback notice, that usually gets someone's attention.
 
#8 ·
When all else fails, contact Lou Iturra. He s probably forgotten more than most experts ever knew about bandsaws. I had similar vibration problem on an 18" Jet. Numerous blades (Timberwolf - the worst!), new urethane tires and saw adjustments were in vain. Phil Thien suggested getting a blade from Lou and all problems were resolved. Lou doesn t have a website but this number comes up on google searches: 904-642-2802.

Sorry to hear another story about poor Laguna customer service. Hope you get it resolved.

If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge. When Laguna receives their chargeback notice, that usually gets someone s attention.

- toolie
Thanks for suggestion. I actually disputed the charge a few days ago because I was so sick of spending countless hours troubleshooting the machine myself without any support from Laguna.

Within 12 hours of the disputed charge with videos and documented notes of trying to get ahold of Laguna, ACME tools (where I bought it) offered a free return and refund. Laguna also reached out and apologized for delayed response and it does seem my machine is not able to be fixed after reviewing the videos I had sent them, so offered to send me another one that is assembled and tested by their team. I just have to package and secure the original bandsaw to a pallet. I can't decide whether to just take the refund and be done with Laguna, or take my chances with another machine.

Thoughts?
 
#9 ·
If your in California consider Eagle tools in Los Angeles. They sell laguna bandsaws and others too. They also set up a saw and check it out before it's shipped.
Although it's possible the company has changed and it's not happening anymore.
That saw your returning is it a Italian made ACM?
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
When all else fails, contact Lou Iturra. He s probably forgotten more than most experts ever knew about bandsaws. I had similar vibration problem on an 18" Jet. Numerous blades (Timberwolf - the worst!), new urethane tires and saw adjustments were in vain. Phil Thien suggested getting a blade from Lou and all problems were resolved. Lou doesn t have a website but this number comes up on google searches: 904-642-2802.

Sorry to hear another story about poor Laguna customer service. Hope you get it resolved.

If you paid by credit card, dispute the charge. When Laguna receives their chargeback notice, that usually gets someone s attention.

- toolie

Thanks for suggestion. I actually disputed the charge a few days ago because I was so sick of spending countless hours troubleshooting the machine myself without any support from Laguna.

Within 12 hours of the disputed charge with videos and documented notes of trying to get ahold of Laguna, ACME tools (where I bought it) offered a free return and refund. Laguna also reached out and apologized for delayed response and it does seem my machine is not able to be fixed after reviewing the videos I had sent them, so offered to send me another one that is assembled and tested by their team. I just have to package and secure the original bandsaw to a pallet. I can't decide whether to just take the refund and be done with Laguna, or take my chances with another machine.

Thoughts?

- DavidTMD
Take the refund and look at Rikon. Very good products and a company that stands behind them. I sold an 18" Jet that I got for $40, sold for $750 and purchased a used Rikon $700. When I had an issue, Rikon didn't ignore me like Jet did when I owned the Jet. My 10-340 is a 2 hp beast and everything I could want in a BS.

Best of luck with your choice.
 
#12 ·
Based on the many Laguna-has-horrible-customer-service stories I've seen on many forums, I was hesitant to buy my 18BX. But most of those examples were old enough to assume they had gotten better, as other posts have said. I took a chance and luckily don't have the problems you do. Sorry to hear you're not one of the lucky ones. I think if it was me I would consider a few things in making my decision: 1- Assuming you decide to exchange for a tested model, how soon could they deliver? If you need it now, but they're back-ordered that could be a problem. I ordered mine in early June to beat the price increase and it only arrived a few weeks ago. 2- If you exchange it and have another issue, how confident are you that Laguna's customer service will be any better? Or that Acme Tools will bail you out a 2nd time? 3- If you decide to go with another brand (and Rikon is a good option IMO), how soon can you get one and at what price. If, like me, you ordered your Laguna many months ago, a new one might cost more than you want to spend. My 18BX jumped $500 in mid to late June.
 
#13 ·
Just an update. 3 weeks ago Laguna admitted there was something wrong with the saw and they would replace it. They sent a subsequent email saying the new saw would ship 1/24. Well surprise, surprise it did not ship, and now Laguna has stopped responding to all email, voicemail and phone calls.

If anyone is in the market for a Laguna product I would think very hard and would recommend a competitor. Their customer service has not been improved.
 
#15 ·
Unfortunately Jet isn't any better…

I ordered a Laguna 14BX 220V back on December 3rd expecting shipment at the end of January. Order pushed to October so I canceled it and bought a Jet JWBS 15-3 that was in stock.

Well the miter slot is curved on the Jet. There customer service is nearly impossible to contact but I did manage to get a case number filed and am waiting for a new table.

Check out this video of how far off the table is.



Good luck getting the Laguna sorted out.
 
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