Ceramic band saw guides; do they really work better than conventional bearing type? #1: I will be installing ceramic guides and a 1" re-saw blade let’s see if it makes a difference.

I’m really interested. I’m not very happy with the bearing guides on my new grizzly. If the ceramics work as advertised I might bite.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

I’ve got the 1 1/4” resaw blade from laguna, but I’m using some carter blade guides. I’ve never seen resawing like this blade. On some mahogany you could hardly tell the resawed side to the planed side. They are great.

Good luck.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I could not resist! LOL I did try it out… It does look good! Is the 1 1/4 really 1”? I think that is what they said. Are the carter guides the same as the Laguna?

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NO it’s almost too wide for my saw. I’ve got an 18” Taiwan saw. The blade guides have bearings on each side of the blade.

Here’s some pictures that I took when I was modifying the table surface.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

When I was unable to install my ceramic guide block on the top guide I sent them some pictures and they had a guide made up at no charge. Here is a photo of what I have now. the round post is to small to hold the guide. Maybe you could talk to them, I talked to Jeff in tech support, I hope to have the part this week
Upper guide

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Well I have installed the guides on the saw and put the 1” blade back on to cut a scrap piece of walnut 8” X 8” X 3/4” to make veneer for inlay and was very impressed by the results I shaved off a piece about 3/16” and after a light sanding on the belt sander I had an 1/8” piece which I added to my veneer stash. I can’t believe how true it cut with all most no set up time. I would recommend the King blade and the ceramic blocks to anyone that does re-sawing even though it’s a bit expensive, I paid about $400.00 for the new guides, 1” King blade, ¼” & ½” blade.

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I read this comment over on the Laguna site.
I don’t know what the facts are but it is something to consider you are going ahead with the install.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Thanks Bob. Something to consider if I buy a Laguna.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Bob, The guys at Laguna told me that the new guides would make sparks but it was not a problem (yea for them) but any way I did take the time to set it up the way I thought it should be along with the directions. They said to use a dollar bill to set the clearances which I did but I also took about 10 min to ensure the blade was parallel to the guide and the back of the guide was the same distance as the guides top and bottom. The results were NO SPARKS so I don’t know what the deal is with sparks. Maybe I’m setting it up wrong I may call Laguna, although it cuts real well and the blade stays clean. As a side note I think that blade tension is the key to a good set up.

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Waynet, you can use them on any larger saw or get a set from the people that make the saw you have or they will recommend a third party. The blade is really the bet I have seen. I will post a photo when I find the camera, my wife to it up to get photos of the grand kids in Atlanta

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I thought I would post a few pictures of the King 1” blade and ceramic guides

I can’t belive the smoth cut it gives.

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Serious blade…. : ^ )

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Yes an it has only 2 teeth per inch: = o

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