MiniMax SC500P US

[Xanthorrhoeas]

This review is for a machine that I purchased in 2014, so there are two-years' comments to follow. I am going to drip-feed this.

There are local agents for the MiniMax brand Italian SCM Centauro made bandsaws. I will not mention their name for obvious reasons – do a web search if you want to. Their web site has a very complimentary review of the 500mm model (SP 500 US) so I contacted them to ask if I could see one in Brisbane. They sent one to their depot at Murarrie for me to look at. When I went to have a look the machine did not have an electrical connection so I was not able to run it but I was able to look over it fairly thoroughly. It had a 25mm Lenox Woodmaster CT blade fitted. However, someone had obviously run the machine without the blade aligned as the plastic zero clearance insert was chewed out. It had also not been set-up, as the zero clearance insert had not been set for the table height, it was about 3 mm lower than the table top so quite dangerous to use if a work piece caught on it. The local assemblers clearly did not know much about bandsaws! However, the essential quality of the machine in terms of manufacturing quality, solidity and rigidity seemed very high.

I had made inquiries about a big Italian made Laguna but they were not being imported at the time. I should have also looked at the big Felder machines, but thought they were out of my league in $ terms. In hindsight that may have been an error on my part, though I am not sure if they have the equivalent re-saw capacity of the MiniMax.

So, what is the S500P US like as a bandsaw. And, what can you expect from the local distributor in terms of support?
The distributor promised me that they had a number of local technicians to support the machine and that they kept a stock of parts ... read on.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

When I went to collect the bandsaw from the Murarrie warehouse the bandsaw was lying down on its back on a timber pallet, strapped down with metal strapping and wrapped in cling wrap. Sounds good, well packed? Well, yes, and no. Yes, it was securely wrapped, but also it could not be checked because of the plastic wrap. The storeman was very helpful and careful in loading the bandsaw on my trailer, though also full of absolutely unbelievable bull about how they had sold a whole container of these bandsaws through Brisbane in the last month – which I found hard to believe since it looked like the same machine I had seen a month before (and later proved to be exactly that).
Well, after an uneventful journey home through Brisbane with the machine on the trailer, two mates helped me get the heavy beast unloaded and upright. Then, one of them said - look at this! The back of the frame was badly scratched right through the paint, and there were other chips off the paint in other places too. Maybe that wonderful metal strapping was not such a great way to hold the saw down after all. Then I noticed that the zero clearance insert was the same one that I had seen earlier on the demonstration machine, it was quite damaged. Not a great introduction to an expensive brand new machine. To cap it off there was no power cord and no plug.
That's right, new toy, damaged paint, damaged zero clearance insert and no way to run it. Bummer.
Well, an electrical cable and 15-amp plug were organised and the two Lenox tungsten tipped blades I had ordered arrived the next day so I was able to begin using it that weekend.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

The seller advised when I was considering purchase that they fully set up the machine before it was delivered. Unfortunately, that was not true. They do fit the motor and drive belt to the machine whereas I was told that the competition do not. Since I have only bought this machine I haven't tested that claim for other suppliers of similar machines so I can’t really comment. What I do know is that the set-up was sloppy and far from complete. The table was not even set correctly at 90 degrees to the blade. That was easy to fix though. Also, the fence was not set perfectly parallel to the blade so that a rip cut varied by a couple of mm over 600 mm. That was a harder problem to fix and is an ongoing issue. The fence is attached to a slider/clamp mechanism on the rigid rectangular bar at the LHS of the machine. There is one bolt and also a second pin to try to hold the fence straight. Unfortunately, it does not do so and when cutting heavy timber the fence can easily be moved out of alignment.
The fence is very solid and well-made, cast iron with an internal honeycomb structure and ground surfaces so it is more solid than the aluminium fences on the Lagunas. However, there is no standard higher fence or fence extension similar in height to the Laguna re-saw fence add-ons available so a shop-made one has to be fabricated. That is not a big issue.
Tensioning the blade is easy with the hand wheel under the arch, and the tension indicator is clear. Likewise, getting the blade to run true on the wheels is easy with the hand wheel adjustment and locking mechanism on the right hand side of the upper wheel housing of the machine.
Table tilt and adjustment for level are quite easy. As is common, the 90 degree set point is adjusted with a bolt and locking nut. Tilt is easy with releasing the locking lever and a bit of physical effort. There is no gas strut to assist as with the Laguna machines, but then it doesn't seem necessary either. My machine did not come with a lower enclosure zero clearance insert fitting to ensure sawdust exits at the lower 100 mm dust extraction port. Without it (and even with it) a lot of sawdust collects in the lower drive wheel enclosure. There is a metal bracket designed to hold a piece of angled ply or plastic for the blade to run through and that directs the sawdust to the port, but there was no ply or plastic supplied. I cut a piece of 12mm ply to fit and slid it into place as I turned the drive wheel by hand to cut the slot for the blade. It seems a bit clunky for this costly a machine; surely MiniMax could supply a fitting? Once in place, sawdust collection is adequate, if not exceptional with the 100 mm port supplied with the machine.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

But enough of the quibbles and set-up details, how does it cut? The machine has plenty of power so that is no issue. The quality of the cut depends on the blades of course and, even with expensive blades like the Lenox I have found the blades vary in quality of cut and amount of drift. With a good blade the machine cuts brilliantly. With the best 25 mm Lenox Woodmaster CT tungsten tipped rip blade it ripped through anything I tried like a hot knife through butter - and about as easily and smoothly. I have cut through Australian cedar about 480 mm thick and sliced off a couple of mm veneer thickness with ease. I have also cut Australian hardwoods such as Bluegum 200 mm thick and ripping 2400 long beams. The cut with the Woodmaster is amazingly smooth so there is little clean up of the surface necessary afterwards. (The Bluegum is a great way to blunt the blade though.)
The 12 mm Lenox Trimaster triple chip ground blade also cuts well, though it has had less use. I have found that I need to tension that blade beyond the 12 mm blade position on the tension indicator to get a good straight cut with it. However, that doesn't seem to cause any problems with the blade weld so I am not too concerned. Slicing Australian cedar with the blade produces as fine and even a cut as my table saw with a 300 mm 72 tooth fine-cut tct blade so a good comparison. There is minimal or no clean up with thicknesser or sander required.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

The MiniMax SP500 is a good machine for anyone who needs or wishes to resaw up to 500 mm. My personal experience is that support is much less impressive. I purchased what for me was a very expensive, brand new machine at the end of June 2014. It arrived damaged. I had to source the European colour series touch-up paint myself and repair the damaged paintwork myself. The supplier paid for the special colour spray paint ($45), though not the primer the paint shop told me I also needed. The damaged zero clearance insert was finally sent to me on 25 September to replace the damaged one. That is three months after I had paid for the machine. I believe that the distributor should have done better than that. Preferably they should have supplied an undamaged machine, or else replaced the damaged one at their cost. At least they should have done the work to repair the damage. And, what does it say about their spare parts operation when it takes three months to replace a plastic zero-clearance insert?
So, I am acceptably happy with my MiniMax SP500 US bandsaw, if not overjoyed. But, I would think hard before buying from that supplier again, and, based on my experience, I would recommend that others make their own inquiries and obtain written guarantees about parts and support before doing so. I had been planning a combination machine purchase and was seriously considering the MiniMax CU 300 or 410 machines, but my experience with the bandsaw has soured me on the brand and their local supplier and made me look elsewhere for that machine.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

After the 12-month warranty period had expired my SP 500 started to develop a wobble/shimmy/shake that seems to originate in the top wheel bearing. (If I run the machine without a blade – so only the lower wheel is spinning, there is no wobble.) I contacted the supplier in the hope they would send a technician out to look at it. Their response was that they needed to talk to SCM in Italy. The Italians decided that they needed to be emailed a video of the wobble before they could comment or suggest a solution. I did try to film a video but that soon became a large over 50 MB file so I did not see how I could easily transmit that to them. Basically, they were not very helpful. Quite disappointing, really.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Two years on I still find the huge resaw capacity of this saw a joy. I would be much happier with the saw if some of the finer details were up to the high price I paid. The fence, although delightfully solid in appearance and feel, really needs to be longer so that it could be fixed at both sides of the table, or else have a better way to keep it fixed in line. The plastic zero clearance insert is very poor quality. At approx. 100 by 110 mm it is quite a large insert. It fits in a 15 mm deep well in the cast iron top. However, the top surface of the insert is only 3 mm thick and is penetrated by 24 circular holes as well as the central slot for the blade. The 3 mm top is supported by only three plastic ribs. Why do I give these details? It is because the insert on my saw failed quite spectacularly while I was cutting a block of ironbark. The blade dragged the sharp leading edge of the ironbark downwards, shattering the insert. That allowed the block to twist and break the blade! Ouch, nearly $200 of blade down the gurgler. I haven’t bothered with the long wait to obtain a poor quality plastic replacement – I have just made a much more solid insert from hardwood marine ply (which is working well with a coat of wax). The solid structure with fewer holes might mean less effective dust collection but I’m prepared to live with that if it prevents a dangerous and expensive jamming of the blade.

Also, unfortunately, when the blade broke it fell off the back of the top wheel and damaged the rear edge of the tyre. I thought that would not be a problem as MiniMax boast how wonderfully easy it is to replace their tyres. I contacted the supplier to price a replacement tyre. Amazingly, I was told they would have to talk to SCM so it seems that the locals don’t keep any spare parts whatsoever. SCM were about to go on holidays for the whole of August so the message I got was:
Price: $294.00 + G.S.T, Freight: $30.00 + G.S.T, Lead time: approx. 2 months, Terms: payment in advance.
Mmmn, I was not impressed with the extraordinary price for a rubber tyre nor the the delay and the idea of giving them payment two months in advance was impudent on their part to say the least.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

The SP500 is a good machine if you need the large re-saw capacity but it is not a great machine to buy new because of a lack of attention to fine details and what i consider to be very poor Australian support. If there is ever a next time I’m buying a big bandsaw I won’t be purchasing anything MiniMax. I also will not again ever purchase anything from that unnamed supplier. In my experience their boasts are not followed through with delivery or support. I expect better than that for $5,000.

Despite their promises of great local tech support I think that i will need to find a good local engineering shop to fix the bearing wobble and anything else that develops over time.

After this experience putting me off MiniMax I have since bought (also about two years ago) an Austrian made combination machine (Hammer C3-31). I cannot comment on , nor vouch for, their support because I haven't needed or called on any. The Hammer machine has performed flawlessly and to specification. No issues, no pain, no stuff arounds. That is why I say at the beginning that I should not have ruled them out for a bandsaw.

BUT, the SP500 does have a larger capacity resaw than many other machines. If you need the capacity and can put up with the issues and lack of what I would like as support don't let me put you off the machine.

[markharrison]

I cannot comment on the machine you have bought and I certainly do not need (nor am I ever likely to) a 500mm resaw capacity.

I bought a MiniMax CU300 combination machine from SCM (SCM now own Gabbetts) in July with delivery occurring in August. I had some teething problems with the machine that were, at the time, a little underwhelming. That said, the post-sale support was first rate. If you search on my user name you can see the whole thread here.

The machine I bought was previously a demonstration machine so though it was not perfect, it was in more than acceptable condition but then I was made an offer I could not refuse. I am a very happy customer so far.

I am just an SCM customer. I do not work for them nor do I have any financial interest in them other than as a paying customer. I respect that you have had a different experience from mine.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

I am glad to hear that someone has had a good experience with them. It would be sad if everyone had my experience.

I did my best to be balanced in my review and look at the good as well as the bad. I wrote the beginning of this review a long time ago and have held off publishing it, and I decided not to name the dealer because this isn't personal for me. However, I believe that honest reviews are important - very helpful for both purchasers and dealers alike. For purchasers it gives them the opportunity to question the seller and get some ironclad guarantees for support instead of the promises I got. For dealers it shows them where they need to improve.

BTW, this is not sour grapes, nor heated temper, I did not get into any fights or disagreements with the dealer and in fact haven't spoken to them for over three months. I made inquiries about support and didn't get the help I needed. I think it might help some other forums members to know my experience, and though I doubt the dealer will appreciate my story being told perhaps they will realise that business is more than just promotion and selling. That can only make them stronger in the long run.

[markharrison]

I thought you wrote a very balanced and fair record of the problems you experienced. You can't ask for fairer than that.

[Chris Parks]

I had to source the European colour series touch-up paint myself and repair the damaged paintwork myself.

Xanthorrhoeas, have you still got the paint code? I want to make a new lower door for my S45N with venting in it and want to paint the door to match. The original door is powder coated but I can't match the powder coat colour in Oz so I have been looking at getting it paint matched and sprayed.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Hi Chris,

Sorry for slow reply, it took me a couple of days to get to my workshop.

The code is RAL 7035 light grey. It was not available as a standard colour in Brisbane so The Paint Place ordered in a spray can of it specially mixed. The can says "to be filled in with 100 ml 1K paint" so it appears to be an empty aerosol spray can that can be filled with paint. The importer of the paint can is GPI Automotive products in Mulgrave (1800 334 898) but I don't know if they also mix and supply the paint or whether you will have to go to a specialist paint shop.

David

[NCArcher]

RAL7035 is a standard colour for electrical cabinets. You can get touch up paint from NHP.
https://portal.nhp.com.au/enclosures-and-climate-control/standard-enclosures/floor-standing-enclosures/
If you can't get it from NHP directly you should be able to get it through any electrical wholesaler.

[Big Shed]

RAL is the German standard colour system, any automotive/industrial paint seller will have a formula on their computer to mix any required quantity in 2 pack, acrylic lacquer or industrial enamel.

[Chris Parks]

It doesn't sound like the colour on my saw then, I thought all MM saws would be the same. I just had a look and they appear to differ across the range, such is life.

[Xanthorrhoeas]

Live and learn! Looks like I went to the wrong paint shop. But, in a way, they were a good choice because they were so easy to get to. Unfortunately, I paid a premium for convenience, but good service is worth paying for.