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| Would you buy a Minimax S14 http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=25751 |
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| Author: | Chris aka Sniggly [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 10:20 am ] |
| Post subject: | Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
?? Apparently there is one for sale here in Jax. Might go look at it today but curious what others may think of this saw. Thanks, Chris |
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| Author: | windsurfer [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 11:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
A very solid saw and definitely a step up from the typical 14" jet or delta, but does not have the height to be effective for resawing. Would be a great saw to have set up with a 3/8" blade for cutting neck blanks and jigs. Hopefully sitting next to a bigger saw that was dedicated to resaw. They occasionally come up for resale, mostly by people upgrading to a larger machine. The used ones are also frequently a bargan, selling for $500-600. At that price in good condition I would definitely jump on one (someone beat me to one locally last year) -jd |
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| Author: | Chris aka Sniggly [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
It's worth mentioning that I am looking for a saw that is going to make my resawing efforts easier...faster...etc. Thanks for the input windsurfer |
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| Author: | Chris aka Sniggly [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
Okay...update. I went and looked at this saw today. Bottom line: It's a near copy of most of the Asian 14 inch saws with steel frames being offered today. That's not to say it's a bad saw. It's definitely built sturdy but a lot of the same parts that you would see on an Rikon 14 inch saw were on this saw. The fence was the exact fence my current 14 inch Grizzly cast iron saw has. It would definitely be a step up in the 14 inch crowd but I think I'm going to have to go bigger to get the beefier. |
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| Author: | windsurfer [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 5:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
[quote="Chris aka Sniggly" I went and looked at this saw today. Bottom line: It's a near copy of most of the Asian 14 inch saws with steel frames being offered today. [/quote] I think you got that backwards, the steel frame Asian saws being offered today are a copy of the Italian Saws... If your main interest is resaw, you should be looking for something bigger. If you look closely, you will likely find that the Minimax is put together much better than the asian copies. -jd |
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| Author: | Chris aka Sniggly [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 6:17 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
I won't pick that bone with you. I didn't mean to infer that Minimax intentionally COPIED other manufacturers (although it can certainly be interpreted that way). I recognize that Minimax is an industry leader in this market, which is exactly the reason I went and looked at this saw to begin with. To see if anything about it's design was radically different than what's available today (when considered next to the Rikon 14" Deluxe and Grizzly GO457). In short - it's not. Minimax doesn't offer this saw anymore (hasn't for several years) and when I spoke with a Minimax rep today about it he flatly stated that Minimax didn't feel this particular saw was of the caliber Minimax was after. He couldn't even find any literature on it and it's not on their website. So anyway - yes a bigger saw for me. |
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| Author: | truckjohn [ Fri Jan 29, 2010 7:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Would you buy a Minimax S14 |
We have a Minimax S16 at the Woodworker's guild shop... (Which is a bigger saw than the S14..) It has massive cast wheels and a giant 5hp motor on it.... Apparently, the fellow who donated it used it for resawing thin veneers... It is a great compliment to the shop, and a logical step up from the 14" saws we have, yet much smaller and more well behaved than the giant 36" saw. The problem we have with it is User related... not Saw related -- as they put a narrow 3/8" blade on it... people do dumb things, so the blade will be kinked within 2 hours of putting on a new blade... Based on what I have seen, I would buy one if I could get ahold of it for a decent price... Thanks John |
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