• July 2025 Turning Challenge: Turn a Multi-axis Weed Pot! (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Kent Reisdorph for "Sugarberry Bowl" being selected as Turning of the Week for July 14, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Laguna 14BX with Carter Guides?

Tom Albrecht

Tom Albrecht

Joined
Feb 8, 2014
Messages
1,232
Likes
669
Location
Evanston, IL USA
Have you switched to the Carter guides and found it worthwhile and worth the $$?
Is the blade replacement process a hassle?
Do the bearings gum up and need frequent cleaning?

Thanks for your experienced thoughts.
 
I don't use a Laguna 14BX but I switched from Euro guides to ceramic guides a few years ago after replacing too many expensive Euro guides because of failed bearings. The ceramic guides have been more durable, easier to set and at least as accurate. Carter guides might be better for cutting precise curves with bands under 1/2".
 
I have an old Delta with Carter guides. After a while I switched back to the original Delta guides. I found the Carter guides did gum up, and were harder to adjust when changing blades than the original Delta. They were also noisy. Newer bearings might have made it quieter.

Recently upgraded to a Laguna 1412 with ceramic guides. So far I like the Laguna guides better than either the Delta or Carter. Easier to adjust. Time will tell if I still feel this way after I have had it longer. I still wonder if the ceramic will cause blade wear. I rarely wear out a blade. Normally hit a nail, or do something stupid like not tensioning and ruin it that way.

Most of what I cut is lathe blanks from wet or partially dry wood. The Carter guides might be better for other uses?
 
I have a 14bx with Carter guides, and have been thrilled with them. My problem with the Laguna guides was that I could not get them to stay in place no matter how much I tightened them. The Carters have been rock solid, no problem with them gumming up cutting a lot of green wood. I have burned one bearing in 3 years. Blade change is easier, as all my adjustments hold until I need to change blade width.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top