18|CX Bandsaw

The bandsaws do not come with a blade. You will need to choose blades based on the type of cutting that you will be doing and order the correct length and width. This saw takes a 145” blade.

Bandsaw Blade Shop

Yes, we offer an optional mobility kit for this saw. This same kit also fits the 18|BX Bandsaw.

View Wheel System

Installation is the same as the 14BX mobility kit video shown below:

The work lights are an optional accessory that are available separately. There are pre-drilled mounting locations for the light and an outlet located on the rear of the saw to plug the light in.

View Machine Lamps

The blade should be centered on the tire and tracked to remain in the center when the wheels are spun by hand. You can verify the position of the blade by looking through the tracking window on the side of the upper cabinet.

We recommend releasing the blade tension when you are finished using the saw for the day. The 18|CX has a quick tension release lever on the back of the saw. You will want to develop a habit of checking to make sure that the blade is tensioned before using the saw. You can view the tension indicator through the window on the upper door.

You will want to use the widest blade that your saw will accept for resawing. This keeps more blade in the guides and provides more “beam strength” in the blade which makes for more accurate cuts. We recommend the Resaw King blade which is carbide-tipped and resharpenable. The 1 ¼” x 145” is the correct fit for this saw.

View Resaw King Blade

You will want to use the widest blade you can for the radius of curves that you will be cutting without binding. The tighter the curves, the narrower the blade that you will need. Two popular choices for starting off are a ¼” x 6 TPI ProForce blade for tight curves and a ½” x 3 TPI ProForce blade for gentle curves and general-purpose work.

The 18|CX bandsaw will accept ¼” up to 1¼” blades on the stock ceramic guides that come with the saw. You can use blades smaller than ¼” when using the optional Mini Guides. Blades narrower than ¼” run out of sufficient beam area behind the teeth and gullets to properly support the blade. The Mini Guides use wearable phenolic insert rods that surround the blade (including the blade teeth). The rods are not harmful to the blade teeth and will gradually wear down during use. The rods can be turned and pushed in as they wear. Replacement rods are available for purchase.

• The ceramic guides handle heat better than bearing guides, allowing for closer placement to the blade, often touching it. Metal bearings, however, are spaced away and only spin when the blade deflects, affecting cut quality. 
• The ceramic guide systems offer 10 contact points around the workpiece—5 above and 5 below. Side ceramics above and below the rear thrust ceramic dampen blade oscillations for a superior cut. 
• Replacement ceramic inserts are affordable & last long time

Yes, the ceramic inserts can be replaced. To replace, remove the guide block or thrust support. Clean the mounting surfaces. A light sanding with 220 grit paper in the groove or on the face of the thrust shaft will provide some “tooth” for the adhesive. Clean the surface with alcohol and let it dry. Use gel super glue to adhere the ceramic to the guide block making sure that the ceramic is flush with the front surface.

You can see a video of the ceramic replacement below:

Yes, the “Insert Block” is made of plastic so that it does not damage the blade should it touch the blade or teeth. This block is positioned in a slot on the right-hand side of the lower cabinet just under the table. This block seals off the area surrounding the blade to improve dust collection. Your saw will work perfectly with the block removed although dust collection will be better with it in place. Replacement insert blocks are available for purchase.

Yes, the 18|CX Bandsaw is a Variable Speed bandsaw so that you can cut a wide range of materials including wood, plastics, ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The lower blade speeds required for steel cutting are achieved using the variable speed control shown on our YouTube channel.

You can view the setup videos for the BX bandsaws on our YouTube channel. The setup is shown on the 14|12 bandsaw since it has the added step of assembling the stand. The overall assembly and adjustments are the same for the 18|BX. This is a playlist of 14 videos which break the assembly and adjustments down into sections. You can use the YouTube navigation to select the portion you need help with, or you can watch all the way through to get the most out of your saw.

View Setup Video Playlist

Once your saw is set up, you will want to adjust the following items to get the best quality cuts possible. Start with the guides backed off away from the blade and make sure that you adjust in this order. The title of each step is a link to its corresponding setup video.

1. Tension – Install the blade centering it on the wheels and set the tension using the tension indicator reading for the blade width you are using.
2. Tracking – With your saw unplugged, spin the upper wheel by hand to see if the blade stays centered. If it moves forward or backward on the wheel, use the tracking knob on the rear of the upper cabinet making small adjustments while spinning the wheel to move the blade forward or backward to have it ride in the center of the wheel.
3. Guides – Start with the upper guides and slide the rear thrust post forward to where the round rear ceramic is just lightly touching the back edge of the blade and tighten the thrust rod. Next, slide the side guides forward to where the front edge of the guides are positioned just behind the gullet of the blade teeth. Now move the side guides inward to where they just barely touch the blade’s sides without deflecting it. Tighten the side guides. Repeat for the bottom set of guides.
4. Fence – Adjusting the fence for drift will ensure that you get the best quality cuts from your saw. We adjust the fence to the dynamic way that your blade is cutting. Use a piece of flat stock like plywood with a straight edge of the material against the fence. Cut a few inches into the material by sliding along the fence. Stop the saw with the blade still in the cut and observe the rear edge of the blade. The rear edge of the blade should be centered in the kerf with the same gap on both sides. It if is off-center, loosen the fence pivot slightly and adjust the fence to the left or right as needed. Repeat the cut to verify that the rear of the blade is centered in the kerf. Repeat if necessary to fine-tune.

It is normal to see some sparks at the guides when cutting. This is particularly noticeable after installing a new blade and generally diminishes as the blade is polished by the ceramic guides. Rounding the rear edge of the blade with a fine stone is helpful. The orange spark seen from ceramics against the blade is seen easier than the blue sparks from a metal-bearing touching the blade.

New woodworking machines sold by Laguna Tools carry a two-year warranty. Machines sold through dealers must be registered with Laguna Tools within 30 days of purchase to be covered by this warranty. Laguna Tools guarantees all new machines sold to be free of manufacturers’ defective workmanship, parts and materials.

Warranty Registration

To register your machine, follow the link below and complete the online form. You will need to upload a copy of your receipt. This can be the receipt file from a dealer, a scan, or photo of your receipt.

Warranty Registration

You can contact our service department by several methods. You can reach customer service by phone at (800) 332-4094. You can email us at [email protected]. You may be asked to leave your name and contact information for one of our techs to reach you at. You can also open a service ticket by completing our online Customer Service Request Form. Service requests are handled in the order that they are received. You can find useful tips and tricks in our How-To videos and Tech-Tips videos on our YouTube channel.

Laguna Tools YouTube

Yes, the 18|CX Bandsaw has a disc brake operated by a foot pedal that shuts off the motor and stops the blade.

The 18|CX bandsaw and all of our Classic Series machines are sold exclusively through authorized Laguna Tools dealers. You can find the closest dealer or online dealers using our dealer locator.

Dealer Locator

Laguna Classic Series machines are designed in California at our Huntington Beach facility and are manufactured and shipped globally. The 18|CX Bandsaw is manufactured at an ISO-9001 certified facility in Taiwan.

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Yes, the 18|CX Bandsaw is CSA inspected and certified. The CSA certification means it has been tested against applicable North American standards requirements and is widely accepted by many government and code officials, regulatory and regulation bodies, leading retailers, and Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). The CSA mark demonstrates that a product has been rigorously tested to applicable standards. These include standards written or administered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Underwriters Laboratories (UL), CSA Group (CSA), NSF International (NSF), and other North American and global organizations.

The Insert Block is used to improve dust collection by reducing the gap at the bottom of the dust collection area of the saw.  Your saw can be operated without the insert block in place while you are waiting for a replacement.  The tighter the opening where the blade exits the dust collection chamber, the better the dust collection.  Since the insert block is used in very close proximity to the blade, it is designed of plastic so that it does not damage the blade should the two items come into contact.  The insert block, like the blade, are considered wear items.  The insert block, like a Zero Clearance throat plate on a tablesaw, will get worn over time and is designed to be replaced occasionally.  This part is inexpensive and is available on our website.

Users can also make their own replacement insert block from a piece of plywood or MDF.  Should you create your own insert block, cut the block to size and then with the saw unplugged slide the block into the groove while rotating the wheels by hand so that the blade can cut the slot while the block is pushed into its groove.  Use pliers to hold the block while cutting the groove to keep your hands and fingers away from the blade.