F1 owner here. Shop equipped with small dust collection system. The interior hose on the saw and the port restriction were removed. Still mediocre dust control. I finally removed the shroud from around the blade and collection is much improved. The shroud was redirecting dust out the top due to airflow not reaching the blade.
I really appreciate how thorough and honest you are in all your videos, but especially your reviews. You don't ramble, but I feel like you hit all the important aspects. As a DIYer, I appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. Well done.
I just received my F2 a week ago and I'm pretty pleased with it. I agree the dust collection is not as good as I had hoped, but compared to what I've been using (a craftsman from 1960) I'm ecstatic! I'm still tuning it in and getting setup the way I want it. But, right now I have absolutely no regrets with this purchase.
I purchased a saw stop about 2 1/2 years ago, the dust collection is excellent with minimal accumulation in the cabinet after months of use. Regarding the deflection of the fence, I think the main concern would be that there is no deflection up to the point where the material is actually cut by the blade. After that poin there shouldn't be lateral force applied to the fence.
Even the very best Biesmeyer style fences will deflect at the end which is just inherent in the design because it is only clamping at one end and the leverage is applied to the opposite end. Thank you for the review. I have been considering this saw for awhile. Where I am at in Southern Ontario Canada the Sawstop PCS is over $4000 which is too much for a hobby.
I see a couple comments on the fence deflection. A year or so ago i watched a video by Felder. The fence is suppose to flex as a safety function to help avoid kick back if the wood has any tension in it. So long as the fence does not deflect where the saw cuts the wood you are good. You should never be putting laterial forces on the wood after the saw anyways. Hope this helps ppl running away from european style fences. They do the same on jointers and any machine with these style fences.
I have to disagree here. No matter where the fence deflects it is going to impact where the saw blade is. If the fence flexes out, due to you applying to much lateral pressure, what happens when you ease up on that pressure 1/2 way through the cut? The fence is going to push the work piece into the blade. This is not good. Flex like this on saw fence is bad. The Jet version of this saw is a better option. It has the same internals as it is basically the same saw with a better fence system. There are versions with and without cast iron table extensions, but it does not come with the overhead DC (gimmick). Cast iron extensions are overkill on these types of saws IMO. They are important on big old heavy saws that had a lot of vibration. The weight helped dampen the vibration. These new saws have no vibration, so it is overkill. Though, some stamped extensions are garbage, so just make your own out of melamine, or plywood. I do agree that you should not be putting that much lateral force into the fence. A lot of woodworkers are guilty of this. However, when doing large sheet goods it is difficult not to. My Shop Fox W1837 came with a similar fence. I bought a set of 2x3" steel rails on amazon (open box) and got the Super Cool Tools fence. What a great upgrade.
I, too , pulled the trigger on the Laguna Fusion F2 tablesaw in August 2021 thanks to your "Why I chose Laguna over SawStop Video". I concluded (almost) identical findings within days of startup. As a newbie woodworker the Laguna Fusion F2 is a quality build but the dust collection is disappointing...so much so that I upgraded to the Shark Guard and am researching an overarm solution that will fit my beginner skill set. Thanks to Travis and Shop Nation I see a path forward. Keep up the inspirational guidance.
I’ve been watching an reading reviews (for weeks now)…pretty sure there is no one perfect saw! But, you make some strong points and comparisons to the SawStop. The only other saw that seems to get consistent great reviews are the Dewalts! I’m just a DIY’r setting up a shop in my garage that wants a good reliable (hopefully accurate tablesaw!). I had almost ordered the Shop Fox Hybred, but I think now I might just go with the Laguna F2. Little more money but seems an overall better machine! Thanks!
I enjoyed the video breakdown of pros and cons. Great job and honest reflection in your presentation, I didn’t feel there was a conflict of interest with your full disclosure. Im a professional woodworker. I’ll be in the market for a new cabinet table saw this fall as will be selling my Delta cabinet saw and moving to a different state. That said, the Delta has practically same fence and I love it. It’s safer than the Biesemeyer type fences when the blade guard is properly in place. It’s one of the reasons I’m interested in the Laguna. I never had deflection issues with the Delta fence. I will reuse my Extractor overhead 4” rigid port over the saw blade, so better airflow over the blade and guard has larger footprint to capture more dust then the Laguna’s paltry ‘free’ dust port. Saw dust collection is my number 2 priority. That said, I’ll be looking at the Fusion 3 model, now $3K. Taiwan made is usually much better than China made, so not a problem for me.
I recently bought the Fusion F3. I had the same issue with the fence deflection until I squared the top to the blade, and then squared the fence. Now that everything is dead nuts square, the slight potential for deflection doesn’t impact accuracy of the saw. That said, if the saw isn’t properly tuned, the deflection of the fence will contribute to further inaccuracy of your cuts. For anyone that buys this saw, buy a gauge and tune your saw. It is well worth the small investment in time and additional money to get the best performance out of your saw.
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice czcams.com/users/postUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
I can't speak to the F2 as I have an F3 recently purchased and if it's the same, they must have updated the miter bar as mine was fully adjustable and can be tuned very nicely. The gauge itself is fine. The fence on it is tiny as hell and just silly.
That deflection looks pretty large. I just tried the same experiment on my Lowes Delta tablesaw, and it doesn’t seem to deflect that much. Three places that it could be moving… the front rail is flexing, the rail to fence joint has some play, or the fence is flexing. Any flexure in those beams (the rail or the fence) would indicate, to me, a serious error in design. I would tend to be more forgiving of the joint, but still… I’d be inclined to replace that fence with the Delta system, which is available with both rails online, assuming it fits. Overall, that still looks like a good option if the comparable Sawstop is out of someone’s range. Thanks for the review! Love the channel!
I agree with your assessment. I have the previous version of the F2 (no DRO). I converted mine to 220 to free up space on my 120 circuits. To increase suction inside the cabinet I took off the dust collector connection from the cabinet and drilled out next to where the hose on the inside connects. This, in addition to taping over any other holes in the cabinet, has vastly improved my dust collection, even without using the over blade setup. I need to find a small blast gate so I can isolate the over blade hose if I'm not using it to make it quicker to isolate. If you happen to be able to 3D print one, I would buy it from you!
Very much appreciate the review, Travis. I got my F2 over the summer and unfortunately due to work I have had very little time to run it through its paces. I actually discovered your initial video of the F2 vs. Sawstop after I had already ordered my F2, and I came to the same conclusion then that you did, that although the Sawstops are very nice, pricing it out put it at about double the cost of the F2. Now with this review I’m glad to see that I can look forward to getting more time in the shop with my F2 and getting it running properly (and hopefully mitigating some of the dust collection and fence issues). Also very much looking forward to building a fence caddy for it that a certain CZcamsr made a great video on…
The deflection could be caused by too many parts that make up the fence "frame". By that I mean that the "head" that slides and locks on the rail is attached to the " fence holder" that the sliding fence attaches to. That's two different parts with a mechanical connection. (bolts, pins, rivets?). I would assume that the head locks tight and doesn't move. But there is an attaching point from the head to the long square frame that could be a point of movement. In the Delta Unifence the locking part on the rail and the frame that the sliding fence attaches too is cast as one piece. Mine is 25 plus years old and is rock solid. Also another advantage of the Unifence is that the sliding fence can be used on both sides of the blade. It's my understanding that the Laguna fence can only be used on the right side of the blade. Am I wrong about that? Other than that, the saw looks like an excellent machine for the price. I don't think I would let the fence keep me from buying one if I were in the market. Have you found the 1 3/4 horse motor to be enough?
Great review Travis. Maybe Laguna will work on some of the "not so good" things you talked about. Unless the saw is encased in a vacuum, I haven't seen any table saw that is great at dust collection. Just part of our hobby. Thanks for all your honesty.
Thank you for the video, my 30+ year old craftsman finally pooped out on me and I bought the fusion 2, after watching your vid, and love it, its so quiet my wife says she doesnt her it from her office while Im making dust. Keep those great vids coming.
Thank you for providing your content. I have a Laguna PX12 planer and love it. I am a hobbyist woodworker and have a limited budget and the Laguna PX12 works well for me. Mine has a prototype cutter head and it works well with hard maple, mahogany and walnut, the wood species I usually work with.
In regards to that 220v upgrade, it's a joke. I bought it shortly after getting the saw. It didn't have any instructions with it at the time and support couldn't point me to anything. The strain reliefs they used are impossible to remove. Support suggested I just take the old switch off and put the new one on. You still have to remove several unremovable strain reliefs and you still have to replace the power cord. At that point, you the only old part left is the cable from the switch to the motor. I was able to get my money back for it. I also asked support about adjusting the blade to the fence. You have to loosen some screws, but the images were not clear on where the screws were and I couldn't match it to anything on my saw. Support basically said to open it up and figure it out myself; that it would be obvious.
Good review. Today I went to Rockler. Viewed the F1, F2, side by side. I am sold on the F2. It’s exactly the size and quality I want. Thank you for getting it to my attention via your review. Please maintain the no nonsense forum you have with your videos.
The deflection on the fence is not really an issue. As stated below, in a very good comment, it's an aid to avoid kickback. I have never thought of that, but that is very well thought of. But also, don't forget, the second half of the fence is absolutely useless. As a rule of thumb you should set you fence length to be 45 degrees back from your saw blade beginning. But you could genuijust have the fence end at the exact point the blade begins and still have a good cut. On my 4HP SIP saw the fence locks front and back so I always without fail, make sure that the back of the fence is .5-1.0 mm further away from the blade than the front. Never had kick back and hopefully I never will. Doesn't seem to affect the dimensional accuracy either so I'll continue. Sorry for the long comment. Do you find the motor on that Laguna to be a bit underpowered?
Thanks for giving the overall dimensions. Something that is very difficult to find for nay saw on the internet. 1.5 car garage, even dedicated as a shop, can't do that width, and still allow me to be a mechanic too. Thank you. Thanks for all the videos, and the high quality content.
I looked at the fusions today. Measured them. The f1 is 31 1/2 in front to back. 59 in left to right with the rails being a big part of that length. The F2 is same front to back and left to right it’s 67 in. Once again the rails are a big part of that size.
I just got my F2 in. Love it, except a few things. One I noticed is the blade tilt. I can only get it to 44.8 degrees. (checked against my little square digital gauge as well). I'm guessing that's something I will have to adjust inside... I just don't have the time right now to tweak things. I prefer they worked "out of the box". That over the arm thing is cumbersome and the "teeth" dig into the wood. I doubt I'll use it... so now i have to plug the smaller port down at the bottom by the 4" or I lose a bunch of suction. The tool caddy on the side of the saw is the same as from a few years ago, but they changed its placement and the mitre gauge slot is now blocked by the handwheel. You have to stick the mitre gauge in from behind now and it sticks out of the back, making it harder to have an outfeed table butt up to the saw unless you make a space for it. Still a way better saw than what I had.
So catching up here as it is 2023 almost 2024. I recently acquired a Fusion 1 that was being sold due to moving. I purchased it for $400. While this was an amazing deal as it was rarely used I got it home and found that the dust collection on it was clogged from thin pieces was lodged to the bottom of the dust collection. On clean the inside cabinet to find that the hose from the 4” was reduced to a 2 1/2”. When the blade is at the lowest in the cabinet it kinks or bends and the hose is flimsy. The length is necessary to raise up with the blade height. The bracket that holds the wrench and miter tool comes off and is a hole into the the cabinet that i sealed off with a small thin tin diamond plate piece cut to size and the screws will not accommodate much more that that to put the bracket back on. The panel the covers the motor also holds tons of dust and builds up. I covered the hole for the overhead hose to add more suction to the saw itself. Still a good saw! And had I not found this deal I would have bought one anyway. Great review! Keep it real and don’t forget to keep some mix and builds in your videos.
Instead of comparing to a Sawstop, I would be interested in your thoughts on this compared to your old delta. I`ve got a delta 36-5100 with the cast wings and I am very happy with the performance of that saw for the money.
Great Job! I have been waiting on the review. Have dewalt contractor saw currently and will definitely be in the market for the laguna F2 in 6-9 months. As always great production! Thank You!
I've had mine for about 3 months agree 100%. One thing I'll add is that my fence was dented upon arrival and they sent me a new one no questions asked. Only it was a different fence, no high/low detachable thing, it's all one piece and now my measuring line doesn't line up with the ruler on the table. It's off by a perfect 1.5" so it's not that bad. Idk if that's good or bad but thought I'd add it.
I got the sawstop for the insurance. But it really is well made with a beast of a fence (I upgraded it from stock version). I think Laguna would need wider wings to withstand the moment arm that's being created. And bracing for the fence itself. But as you said, at half the price (or more), some compromises had to be made.
It appears that the fence could benefit from more rigidity. I know they have a fusion F3, however it does not appear the fence is any more ridged. When I decide which cabinet saw to upgrade to I am hesitant to pick Laguna for this reason.
Thanks for the review. I have an older shop Smith and an older craftsman saw. I have been looking to replace the craftsman for a newer saw. The craftsman I am going to turn in to a dedicated dado stack saw. That is due to the craftsman not have some of the current safety features. Thanks once more for your review.
As a woodworker of over forty years, I bought the version of the F2 before this version. I needed a saw with a small footprint. That said, you are correct that the Laguna has some of the features that much more expensive saws have. My fence version has no deflection and I have consistently used my fence for many months and it and the measurement scale are still right on. Dust collection, I put a 4x6 oval hole in the cabinet and plugged a 4 inch hose to it. That solved the problem , and it one of the few Laguna does have trouble with.
I have just ordered a fusion 2 from Charnwood at a fantastic price. I was after a fusion 1, which is out of stock Uk wide, but have now bought the fusion 2. It seems Charnwood are offering the f2 at a brilliant price to those who are after the f1. There are lots of distributor issues with Laguna at the moment. Charnwood were the UK distributors but are no longer it seems. The baton has passed to Axminster who will only be selling direct so an immediate loss of competition and no date for resumption of sales. Not many f2 left on this deal so if you were interested in the f1 give them a call
Great review Travis. I bought the F3 and have been really happy with everything EXCEPT the dust collection. In short, it's horrible, however, I've never found a table saw that has really good collection. All in all, they're great saws and would definitely recommend to anyone looking into a table saw purchase that they look hard at this series of saws.
My Sawstop professional 3hp 220v doesn't collect dust from the overhead very well either. It is better than nothing but far from perfect and it depends on what you are cutting. It is however very sturdy and easily adjustable and swings out of the way if necessary. The lower dust collection does work very well. Your tip on closing up the angle adjustment hole is a good one so thanks.
Very nice review. I'd love to see you check out the Harvey Alpha series, too. Stumpy Nubbs recently got one and their 2hp 36" rip capacity model is frequently on sale for $1,800 right now. Again, it's one that comes with all the features included. I built out a SS contractor saw on their website with the capacity, dust collection, cast iron wings and mobility and it was about a $1,600 difference. That's not even looking at their cabinet saw models.
Fabulous as usual Travis. Thank You- I've been eager to see what you thought of it. I ended up going with Harvey due to ol' Mr. Nubs over there. Thank You and keep up the fine work.
Agree with everything here. I have the exact same saw only an older version I picked up off of Craigslist for 700 bucks, which was a steal since the guy never used it and look brand new. The dust collection does suck, and it does accumulate in the cabinet, like you I have not made those modifications to it yet, simply cause I work so much, but it is in the plans. Me personally any large sheet goods gets cut up by the Makita track saw, for me in my small space it’s safer & the accuracy of the track saw is amazing. So that’s not too much of an issue with the fence, a lot of what I do is small work on the table saw. Being about 12 years old or so it will seriously not only pass a nickel test, it will pass a dime test, and both tests were conducted cutting a 2” piece of Indian rose wood. I was actually amazed by this. It has actually been an extremely wonderful Saw to use & have in my garage & I would recommend it too!
I understand that the back of the fence does not influence the accuracy of the cut. By the time the board reaches the ricing knife it is already cut. If the cut board pushes on the back of the fence you have other problems. It is almost impossible to flex the back of the fence if your bland and fence are in alignment. Does the fence flex at the blade? If so that can cause issues for you.
Watched your initial review and this one again. I bought the 14-12 bandsaw primarily to resaw lumber. I like everything except the 4" dust collection port is over-sized - that is, my 4" dust hose did not / will not connect to the saw. Solved the issue with a 4" dust hose connector and also a 4" rubber connector. Now my dust hose from the cyclone connects as it should [ plug and play. Not convinced that the $600 difference between the F1 and F2 is worth the money. The main difference is the additional 1/4 hp. Is the juice worth the squeeze? Love your honest reviews.
Fix your fence problems by getting a 2x3" rail kit (or making one) and getting a Super Cool Tools fence. They are very nice. Also, I still disagree that this is equal to a Saw Stop. They just are not the same class of saw. Maybe close to the Saw Stop Contractor saw, but not really the same either. The Fusion is more of a lightweight cabinet saw, where the Saw Stop is more of a medium weight cabinet saw. The Fusion F2 is a rebranded / different version of the Jet Proshop. You can not say the Jet Proshop is in the same class as a Jet Xacta, which is what you try to do by saying the Fusion is equal to a Saw Stop. The Jet Proshop is in the same class as the Fusion and the Jet Xacta is in the same class as the Saw Stop. That is not to say it is a bad saw for the $. I just do not want people to get the wrong idea here.
Thank you for the Review. I bought one because of your introduction to it after you bought yours. I love it. I bought mine after you bought yours and didgeridoo the Digital Readout. Huh.
I see a lot of comments about fence deflection. All fences of this style, where the only lock is on the rail at the front of the table, is going to have some deflection. There is not much of a way around it for this type of fence. The fence that came on my old Delta locked at both ends of the fence. But it was replaced when I made the table wider to accommodate plywood sheets. I went with a Vega fence and system. Minimal deflection and the only time it's an issue is when someone is horsing around a sheet of plywood on it. But used properly it's straight as an arrow.
Thank you for all your great content. You organize the information and present it in a way that makes it very easy to get all of the information. Sorry, you might want to check your sponsor link in the description, you added an extra "e".
Harvey makes the Laguna saws but they have a few significant upgrades on their own Apollo saws. They are still building their resales locations so they are not always available to inspect in tool showrooms. They are really well designed.
Ok, looks like a good professional cabinet table saw. You probably should have gown with a Harvey. That's what I have and Am VERY Happy with this device. 3 things you dislike about your Laguna, Harvey kills. Worthy of a Change Home Improvements
Appreciate the review both good and bad. Currently editing my initial review of my Delta and nodded along when you were talking dust collection on table saws.
Great review man!! 👏 BUT... after everything you have stated about this machine, it's safe to say that it's not really in the same class as SAWSTOP and doesn't really compare, it does some things well, but that fence deflection is definitely a deal breaker for me. SAWSTOP is expensive as hell, but here's the solution, use a lesser table saw for a few years and start saving money, the lesser table saw will get you by in the mean time and then by the time you have the money saved you'll be very enthusiastic and ready to make the switch, it doesn't have to be a SAWSTOP either, but it doesn't have to have a perfectly flat surface and a perfectly square and accurate fence with ZERO deflection!
Great video, Travis! I actually bought an F2 several months ago after watching your Saw Stop vs. Laguna video. Like you, I think it's a fantastic saw for the price, and I also have the exact same grips that you have (mainly the dust collection). After all is said and done, I'd buy the same saw again, so thanks for making that comparison video - it really helped me make my table saw purchase decision. Love your channel, man!
The front of the auxiliary guide should be a maximum of 10 mm beyond the point where the saw blade cuts the wood to its full height. If the auxiliary guide extends further, the risk of the workpiece getting stuck between the saw blade and the auxiliary guide increases. And futher more you will have less deflection
You should buy a vega fence they will fit almost all table saws they are a little bit pricey but after all my years in biz they are without any doubt the best
I have used the laguna table saw, and I think they cheaped out on the front rail of the fence, as it’s made out of aluminum, not steel. Even the $650 delta saw has a steel front rail! Their saws are pretty damn good, but aluminum is a very soft metal, and having the fence clamp down on that is, well, poorly designed… I now use a sawstop, and that fence has no deflection at all, as the front bar is steel. I haven’t seen any other cabinet saw besides the laguna use an aluminum fence bar. Usually jobsite saws have aluminum bars… I am disappointed about this, and would not classify this to be on par with a sawstop, grizzly, or jet, as this was a major part they really skimped out on the quality. I upgraded my old one a while ago with a delta fence, and it’s so much better! But you gave honest opinions, and actually gave useful information about the saw. This was a really good video!
I feel like the fence is kind of a game changing problem, and I see multiple people below discussing deflection. That just shouldn't be happening, and if the design allows for it, that is just a bad design, or worse, a cost cutting, measure. I am heavily considering this, but the main reason I even want to upgrade me saw is for a top of the line fence, and SawStop has that... even their contractor saw can have the T-glide fence. Seeing that deflection really concerns me. The fence just looks so light overall, which is not good imo. Thanks for the review.
Have the F1 and I would say there are similar positives and negatives. Honestly, the over-blade dust collection is a joke, but otherwise I’m super happy with my saw.
Thanks a lot for the 1yr review and your no-nonsense approach is very refreshing. The same F2 was on my final-two list when I was looking at upgrading from my almost 5 yrs old Ridgid R4512. Your comparison with the SawStop was IMHO spot on. I went with my other option, the Harvey HWL110LC-36P. I won't go through a detailed comparison, that would be hijacking this thread. Just to say the Harvey addresses a good deal of your like-not-so-much points. Stay safe and think about all the hot-dogs you're saving by not having gone to the SawStop side of the Force ;-) If interested we could do that comparison remotely? NB my garage is WAAAYY messier than yours.
@@kp2four Between those 2, definitely the Harvey. Between the F3 and the same Harvey, that would be a much more nuanced decision. Again, I don't want to highjack here, so I'll leave it at that.
You can put a 3mm strip of something at the end of the cast iron table and wheel at the end of the fence will bump into it making it solid and wont move a bit. I also noticed the same problem with the fence and this is so simple that Laguna should actually do this instead of me.
I have an old Delta Unisaw with the Unifence. My issue with it is the fence loses its square to the blade , check it once a months. easy to adjust The other issue with the old saw, NO Riving knife. I made Zero clearance inserts with a spitter. Works ok but rather have the real deal. Oh yah one thing. Horrible dust collection. I wear a mask anyway. Saw dust in the lungs is not good. Good review BTW. Gonna stay with the Delta. with a sharp blade it cuts just as well as any other table saw.
RE: Dust Collection - dust connection isn't a feat of vacuum; it's a feat of air movement; vacuum just creates air movement. What I don't see in that cabinet is where a 4" pipe's amount of air is going to flow through the cabinet. Without an inlet into the cabinet somewhere (at full 4" rather than with constrictions), the efficiency of that much air trying to move is probably reduced by cavitation inside the cabinet (edit: now I know it's restriction not cavitation), and not creating enough moving air higher in the cabinet. I feel like a lot of companies adding dust collection to their tools is always an afterthought, without enough attention paid to the dynamics of air movement. $.02
Looks like a good bang for the buck, and that built-in DRO angle gauge is pretty sweet. Have you checked it for accuracy (maybe cross-referencing the Wixley type)? I'd love to have that feature on my saw. Also like the simple, built in wheels that allow you to dolly it around. That said, I think saying it's in the same class as the Sawstop is a bit of a stretch (even ignoring the safety aspect). The Sawstop PCS (assume that's what you're comparing), is a much beefier machine - your F2 weighs about the same as Sawstop's contractor saw. I imagine that's largely due to cast iron components in the PCS vs lighter weight material in the F2 (trunion, fence rail, etc). You'd need to spring for the F3 to get closer in making more of a direct comparison. Please know I'm not knocking your saw in any way ... I'm sure it will continue to serve you well for many years to come. I'm just saying that to suggest it's about the same as the SS or that it's half the price, well like I said ... it's a bit of a stretch. :)
Great review. Have been using my F2 for about 2 years now. Love it, but agree on the dust collection problems. Would love to see a video on how you designed your outfield table to work with your F2!
Hey Ben, April Wilkinson has a great video for a fold down out feed table that works great on the F2. I have had mine for about 2 years also. It was the last model before the overhead dust collection but I was to able buy the add on through Laguna for about $70. My big problem is the dust collection. Looking at possibly putting another port in the cabinet that will remove the dust from the cabinet a little better. I have been looking for someone else that may have done to see if it helps. It’s a great saw. Just wish the dust collection was better. Also added a All-Terrain mobile base from Rockler. That was huge upgrade for mobility.
Purchased my f2 because of your original video. Would love to know if you’re going to sell a product that helps with the suction of the dust collector (cover for the open space by the front wheel)
Here in the UK we can't get Sawstop table saws at all. Nor Grizzlys or most of the other stuff you guys can take for granted. At least Laguna have a UK dealer network for their whole range including the Fusion range, dust collection, band saws and lathes too. Trouble is the shipping costs bump the price up considerably. For example, the Fusion 2 in the UK retails at £2599.00 inc. vat/tax, which = $3,382.75! We can get sawstop technology here but it's attached to some Festool contract/jobsite type saws. As you can guess, they're NOT cheap.
I ordered a F3 and Laguna could not get it delivered 3 times so I cancelled it and now I am considering buying a 4 hp Harvey Woodworking Industries work station model.
Fair and honest review. My only nitpick is that this is not in the same league as a sawstop (even totally ignoring the safety system). This is in the same league as harvey, king canada, grizzly etc.
@@ShopNation 1- sawstop is 400lbs, that significantly more metal 2- fence has no deflection 3- look through the sawstop manual online in the adjustments section, sawstop has many more adjustments and much easier to adjust tricky things like tilt axis alignment. Sawstop does it with threaded adjusters. F2 has no provisions for it, you would have to shim the table until it’s right and accept factory tolerances on what can’t be adjusted. 4- dust collection works 5- cast iron trunions vs alu 6- one piece steel fence rails vs 2piece alu Edit: more simply: they are both in the same league of saws, ie they are both true cabinet saws. But within the cabinet saw league, they are not directly comparable, in quality or price.
@homer009x I'd put the Harvey above the F2 (I own a Harvey). Weight is 411lbs. Everything to switch to 220V is provided. Fence stays true in any situation with massive front and rear steel rails. Cast iron trunions. Dust collection is great, not perfect but pretty close. Single wrench blade change with push button to block the arbor, said wrench is long and quite thick (not a cheap piece of stamped steel). Single knob to secure the riving knife. 2 riving knifes included, one is on the blade guard. Top class miter gauge included. Throat plates are thick aluminum pieces with no deflection whatsoever and that open notch in the back. Just sayin'...
@@wildpat03 I agree with much of what you’re saying. But harvey and laguna are in the same ‘league’. The king canada is very similar to the harvey and like you, I preferred it over the laguna. Although the king has a stamped steel throat plate which is not great. The laguna does have one wrench blade change too, not even sawstop has that.
Great review bud, thanks. I went with the Harvey table saw at the same time you got the F2. Loving it, and the dust collection line is a bit more robust. Same issue with a very similar fence though.
I've only had mine a short time but I like the fence. I does deflect if you force it but there isn't normally pressure past the blade. The fence does not misalign or move during use. It moves and adjusts easily. My main issue is with the dust collection. I would appreciate any ideas from someone that has used the saw. My old Craftsman contractor saw with a DIY system collected dust better. The onboard tool holders are nice but are nothing special.
Bout the fence. All rip fences should be Eurostyle like that one. We Americans were never forced to address the drawbacks of our current ideal of highly rigid long bar, so we don't understand the features and utility of Laguna's, but it's function is much better. You are showing how there is some flex at the tip, but that will not actually cause an inaccurately sized part. The vice of under-performing conventional rip fences is that they lose their grip and their setting, like worn out Uni-Saws would. The accessory Biesemeyer fence was a godsend to those with such equipment, and became the standard which other fences were measured against on this side of the Atlantic. The Euro-style allows for pulling the fence way, way back to the point on the table just after the stock is severed by the sawblade, so that stock which is stress relieving cannot push itself sideways into the blade, sometimes a critical feature when working with solid wood. Remounting the fence to low position for cutting thin stock is quite useful, as is flipping it end-for-end to have it overhang the blade, for template cutting. These features make me appreciate the Laguna more than Saw Stop's fence, but not withstanding, the reason I would choose a Saw Stop anyway is having the safety feature with top build quality. But truth to tell, I need to have a machine with greater function and features than either one of those, so I would have to forgo the safety feature until Felder equips their lower level machines with its own technology, or other manufacturers heed the call.
I ordered an f2 earlier this year after an extensive search. I had my choice down to a sawstop and a Laguna. I decided to go with the f2 and have zero regrets. I agree the biggest downsides to this saw are the stability/accuracy of the fence and the over arm dust collection. Otherwise it's an incredible saw considering the price. A great value.
If you compare the first video and this one, it’s a different table saw. It’s the same model, but updated version. I got my laguna Fusion 2 two weeks ago, but it was missing parts.
The Fence is a major let down for a saw of this calibre bro.. I think another rail at the back of the cast Iron table would solve the issue of deflection u have and make this saw a real high end saw. I live in Ireland and through their European partners I'm looking at the Harvey Alpha range of saws. I#'m looking to get my paws on one of those bad boys with the tin plated Cast Iron tops which don't rust anymore due to this coating they have on them.. The do 36 & 52" ranges in the saws but I think they are well worth the asking price at just under or over 3 Grand.. The saw is stunning to look at just like the Laguna as well. I really like the Laguna saws too man.. Hope it's working a treat for u btw..
I really appreciate your review...this saw is one of three I'm looking at buying in the near future and your information helped a great deal. As a side note, I'm interested in where you bought (or made?) that fence caddy? I would love to get one! Thanks
F1 owner here. Shop equipped with small dust collection system. The interior hose on the saw and the port restriction were removed. Still mediocre dust control. I finally removed the shroud from around the blade and collection is much improved. The shroud was redirecting dust out the top due to airflow not reaching the blade.
I really appreciate how thorough and honest you are in all your videos, but especially your reviews. You don't ramble, but I feel like you hit all the important aspects. As a DIYer, I appreciate the time and effort you put into your videos. Well done.
I Agree
I just received my F2 a week ago and I'm pretty pleased with it. I agree the dust collection is not as good as I had hoped, but compared to what I've been using (a craftsman from 1960) I'm ecstatic! I'm still tuning it in and getting setup the way I want it. But, right now I have absolutely no regrets with this purchase.
I purchased a saw stop about 2 1/2 years ago, the dust collection is excellent with minimal accumulation in the cabinet after months of use.
Regarding the deflection of the fence, I think the main concern would be that there is no deflection up to the point where the material is actually cut by the blade. After that poin there shouldn't be lateral force applied to the fence.
That's what I was thinking... 👍
Even the very best Biesmeyer style fences will deflect at the end which is just inherent in the design because it is only clamping at one end and the leverage is applied to the opposite end. Thank you for the review. I have been considering this saw for awhile. Where I am at in Southern Ontario Canada the Sawstop PCS is over $4000 which is too much for a hobby.
I see a couple comments on the fence deflection. A year or so ago i watched a video by Felder. The fence is suppose to flex as a safety function to help avoid kick back if the wood has any tension in it. So long as the fence does not deflect where the saw cuts the wood you are good.
You should never be putting laterial forces on the wood after the saw anyways.
Hope this helps ppl running away from european style fences. They do the same on jointers and any machine with these style fences.
I have to disagree here. No matter where the fence deflects it is going to impact where the saw blade is. If the fence flexes out, due to you applying to much lateral pressure, what happens when you ease up on that pressure 1/2 way through the cut? The fence is going to push the work piece into the blade. This is not good. Flex like this on saw fence is bad. The Jet version of this saw is a better option. It has the same internals as it is basically the same saw with a better fence system. There are versions with and without cast iron table extensions, but it does not come with the overhead DC (gimmick). Cast iron extensions are overkill on these types of saws IMO. They are important on big old heavy saws that had a lot of vibration. The weight helped dampen the vibration. These new saws have no vibration, so it is overkill. Though, some stamped extensions are garbage, so just make your own out of melamine, or plywood.
I do agree that you should not be putting that much lateral force into the fence. A lot of woodworkers are guilty of this. However, when doing large sheet goods it is difficult not to. My Shop Fox W1837 came with a similar fence. I bought a set of 2x3" steel rails on amazon (open box) and got the Super Cool Tools fence. What a great upgrade.
I, too , pulled the trigger on the Laguna Fusion F2 tablesaw in August 2021 thanks to your "Why I chose Laguna over SawStop Video". I concluded (almost) identical findings within days of startup. As a newbie woodworker the Laguna Fusion F2 is a quality build but the dust collection is disappointing...so much so that I upgraded to the Shark Guard and am researching an overarm solution that will fit my beginner skill set. Thanks to Travis and Shop Nation I see a path forward. Keep up the inspirational guidance.
I’ve been watching an reading reviews (for weeks now)…pretty sure there is no one perfect saw! But, you make some strong points and comparisons to the SawStop. The only other saw that seems to get consistent great reviews are the Dewalts! I’m just a DIY’r setting up a shop in my garage that wants a good reliable (hopefully accurate tablesaw!). I had almost ordered the Shop Fox Hybred, but I think now I might just go with the Laguna F2. Little more money but seems an overall better machine! Thanks!
Super helpful video, appreciate the no-BS, straight up, authentic way you present your opinion and information.
I love your reviews and your methodology behind when you do them.
Thanks, the Fusion line is for sure on my list for consideration.
That fence deflection is a show stopper for me. My Dewalt job site saw with its rack n pinion fence is solid when locked.
I enjoyed the video breakdown of pros and cons. Great job and honest reflection in your presentation, I didn’t feel there was a conflict of interest with your full disclosure. Im a professional woodworker. I’ll be in the market for a new cabinet table saw this fall as will be selling my Delta cabinet saw and moving to a different state. That said, the Delta has practically same fence and I love it. It’s safer than the Biesemeyer type fences when the blade guard is properly in place. It’s one of the reasons I’m interested in the Laguna. I never had deflection issues with the Delta fence. I will reuse my Extractor overhead 4” rigid port over the saw blade, so better airflow over the blade and guard has larger footprint to capture more dust then the Laguna’s paltry ‘free’ dust port. Saw dust collection is my number 2 priority. That said, I’ll be looking at the Fusion 3 model, now $3K. Taiwan made is usually much better than China made, so not a problem for me.
I recently bought the Fusion F3. I had the same issue with the fence deflection until I squared the top to the blade, and then squared the fence. Now that everything is dead nuts square, the slight potential for deflection doesn’t impact accuracy of the saw. That said, if the saw isn’t properly tuned, the deflection of the fence will contribute to further inaccuracy of your cuts. For anyone that buys this saw, buy a gauge and tune your saw. It is well worth the small investment in time and additional money to get the best performance out of your saw.
Great points, yes I've found the same thing. When the saw is calibrated square (table, blade, fence) the deflection doesn't actually impact anything.
What gauge did you buy if you don’t mind me asking sir?
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up... blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice czcams.com/users/postUgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter's tape... this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
I can't speak to the F2 as I have an F3 recently purchased and if it's the same, they must have updated the miter bar as mine was fully adjustable and can be tuned very nicely. The gauge itself is fine. The fence on it is tiny as hell and just silly.
Excellent review. Thanks for showing the amount of flex on the fence. Looks like a great overall product but that's a deal breaker for me.
That deflection looks pretty large. I just tried the same experiment on my Lowes Delta tablesaw, and it doesn’t seem to deflect that much. Three places that it could be moving… the front rail is flexing, the rail to fence joint has some play, or the fence is flexing. Any flexure in those beams (the rail or the fence) would indicate, to me, a serious error in design. I would tend to be more forgiving of the joint, but still… I’d be inclined to replace that fence with the Delta system, which is available with both rails online, assuming it fits. Overall, that still looks like a good option if the comparable Sawstop is out of someone’s range. Thanks for the review! Love the channel!
'Preciate the honesty and transparency in your reviews, Travis. Great info. Thanks for what you do!
I agree with your assessment. I have the previous version of the F2 (no DRO). I converted mine to 220 to free up space on my 120 circuits. To increase suction inside the cabinet I took off the dust collector connection from the cabinet and drilled out next to where the hose on the inside connects. This, in addition to taping over any other holes in the cabinet, has vastly improved my dust collection, even without using the over blade setup. I need to find a small blast gate so I can isolate the over blade hose if I'm not using it to make it quicker to isolate. If you happen to be able to 3D print one, I would buy it from you!
Very much appreciate the review, Travis. I got my F2 over the summer and unfortunately due to work I have had very little time to run it through its paces. I actually discovered your initial video of the F2 vs. Sawstop after I had already ordered my F2, and I came to the same conclusion then that you did, that although the Sawstops are very nice, pricing it out put it at about double the cost of the F2.
Now with this review I’m glad to see that I can look forward to getting more time in the shop with my F2 and getting it running properly (and hopefully mitigating some of the dust collection and fence issues). Also very much looking forward to building a fence caddy for it that a certain CZcamsr made a great video on…
The deflection could be caused by too many parts that make up the fence "frame". By that I mean that the "head" that slides and locks on the rail is attached to the " fence holder" that the sliding fence attaches to. That's two different parts with a mechanical connection. (bolts, pins, rivets?). I would assume that the head locks tight and doesn't move. But there is an attaching point from the head to the long square frame that could be a point of movement. In the Delta Unifence the locking part on the rail and the frame that the sliding fence attaches too is cast as one piece. Mine is 25 plus years old and is rock solid. Also another advantage of the Unifence is that the sliding fence can be used on both sides of the blade. It's my understanding that the Laguna fence can only be used on the right side of the blade. Am I wrong about that? Other than that, the saw looks like an excellent machine for the price. I don't think I would let the fence keep me from buying one if I were in the market. Have you found the 1 3/4 horse motor to be enough?
Great review Travis. Maybe Laguna will work on some of the "not so good" things you talked about. Unless the saw is encased in a vacuum, I haven't seen any table saw that is great at dust collection. Just part of our hobby. Thanks for all your honesty.
Thank you for the video, my 30+ year old craftsman finally pooped out on me and I bought the fusion 2, after watching your vid, and love it, its so quiet my wife says she doesnt her it from her office while Im making dust. Keep those great vids coming.
I have a cabinet shop and the F2 has filled my needs for 2 years now. I did upgrade the fence rails to 52” tho
Thanks a lot. I have a Fusion F1 (no room in my little shop for the F2!), and I have about the same opinion.... and I love it!
Thank you for providing your content. I have a Laguna PX12 planer and love it. I am a hobbyist woodworker and have a limited budget and the Laguna PX12 works well for me. Mine has a prototype cutter head and it works well with hard maple, mahogany and walnut, the wood species I usually work with.
Really informative vid. Especially like the fact that you shared some not so good things about the saw.
In regards to that 220v upgrade, it's a joke. I bought it shortly after getting the saw. It didn't have any instructions with it at the time and support couldn't point me to anything. The strain reliefs they used are impossible to remove. Support suggested I just take the old switch off and put the new one on. You still have to remove several unremovable strain reliefs and you still have to replace the power cord. At that point, you the only old part left is the cable from the switch to the motor. I was able to get my money back for it.
I also asked support about adjusting the blade to the fence. You have to loosen some screws, but the images were not clear on where the screws were and I couldn't match it to anything on my saw. Support basically said to open it up and figure it out myself; that it would be obvious.
Good review. Today I went to Rockler. Viewed the F1, F2, side by side. I am sold on the F2. It’s exactly the size and quality I want. Thank you for getting it to my attention via your review. Please maintain the no nonsense forum you have with your videos.
The deflection on the fence is not really an issue.
As stated below, in a very good comment, it's an aid to avoid kickback. I have never thought of that, but that is very well thought of.
But also, don't forget, the second half of the fence is absolutely useless. As a rule of thumb you should set you fence length to be 45 degrees back from your saw blade beginning. But you could genuijust have the fence end at the exact point the blade begins and still have a good cut.
On my 4HP SIP saw the fence locks front and back so I always without fail, make sure that the back of the fence is .5-1.0 mm further away from the blade than the front. Never had kick back and hopefully I never will. Doesn't seem to affect the dimensional accuracy either so I'll continue.
Sorry for the long comment. Do you find the motor on that Laguna to be a bit underpowered?
Thanks for giving the overall dimensions. Something that is very difficult to find for nay saw on the internet. 1.5 car garage, even dedicated as a shop, can't do that width, and still allow me to be a mechanic too. Thank you. Thanks for all the videos, and the high quality content.
I looked at the fusions today. Measured them. The f1 is 31 1/2 in front to back. 59 in left to right with the rails being a big part of that length. The F2 is same front to back and left to right it’s 67 in. Once again the rails are a big part of that size.
I just got my F2 in. Love it, except a few things. One I noticed is the blade tilt. I can only get it to 44.8 degrees. (checked against my little square digital gauge as well). I'm guessing that's something I will have to adjust inside... I just don't have the time right now to tweak things. I prefer they worked "out of the box". That over the arm thing is cumbersome and the "teeth" dig into the wood. I doubt I'll use it... so now i have to plug the smaller port down at the bottom by the 4" or I lose a bunch of suction. The tool caddy on the side of the saw is the same as from a few years ago, but they changed its placement and the mitre gauge slot is now blocked by the handwheel. You have to stick the mitre gauge in from behind now and it sticks out of the back, making it harder to have an outfeed table butt up to the saw unless you make a space for it. Still a way better saw than what I had.
I agree with your review, I love my F2, but the dust collection is my biggest issue.
So catching up here as it is 2023 almost 2024. I recently acquired a Fusion 1 that was being sold due to moving. I purchased it for $400. While this was an amazing deal as it was rarely used I got it home and found that the dust collection on it was clogged from thin pieces was lodged to the bottom of the dust collection. On clean the inside cabinet to find that the hose from the 4” was reduced to a 2 1/2”. When the blade is at the lowest in the cabinet it kinks or bends and the hose is flimsy. The length is necessary to raise up with the blade height. The bracket that holds the wrench and miter tool comes off and is a hole into the the cabinet that i sealed off with a small thin tin diamond plate piece cut to size and the screws will not accommodate much more that that to put the bracket back on. The panel the covers the motor also holds tons of dust and builds up. I covered the hole for the overhead hose to add more suction to the saw itself. Still a good saw! And had I not found this deal I would have bought one anyway. Great review! Keep it real and don’t forget to keep some mix and builds in your videos.
Instead of comparing to a Sawstop, I would be interested in your thoughts on this compared to your old delta. I`ve got a delta 36-5100 with the cast wings and I am very happy with the performance of that saw for the money.
Great Job! I have been waiting on the review. Have dewalt contractor saw currently and will definitely be in the market for the laguna F2 in 6-9 months. As always great production! Thank You!
I've had mine for about 3 months agree 100%. One thing I'll add is that my fence was dented upon arrival and they sent me a new one no questions asked. Only it was a different fence, no high/low detachable thing, it's all one piece and now my measuring line doesn't line up with the ruler on the table. It's off by a perfect 1.5" so it's not that bad. Idk if that's good or bad but thought I'd add it.
Thanks for the review. Ive been wanting to buy a new saw and been looking into this one.
I bought an F2 AND a Laguna Revo 1216 Lathe for about the same price as a SawStop... I'm very happy.
I got the sawstop for the insurance. But it really is well made with a beast of a fence (I upgraded it from stock version). I think Laguna would need wider wings to withstand the moment arm that's being created. And bracing for the fence itself. But as you said, at half the price (or more), some compromises had to be made.
It appears that the fence could benefit from more rigidity. I know they have a fusion F3, however it does not appear the fence is any more ridged. When I decide which cabinet saw to upgrade to I am hesitant to pick Laguna for this reason.
Thanks for the review. I have an older shop Smith and an older craftsman saw. I have been looking to replace the craftsman for a newer saw. The craftsman I am going to turn in to a dedicated dado stack saw. That is due to the craftsman not have some of the current safety features. Thanks once more for your review.
As a woodworker of over forty years, I bought the version of the F2 before this version. I needed a saw with a small footprint. That said, you are correct that the Laguna has some of the features that much more expensive saws have. My fence version has no deflection and I have consistently used my fence for many months and it and the measurement scale are still right on. Dust collection, I put a 4x6 oval hole in the cabinet and plugged a 4 inch hose to it. That solved the problem , and it one of the few Laguna does have trouble with.
I have just ordered a fusion 2 from Charnwood at a fantastic price. I was after a fusion 1, which is out of stock Uk wide, but have now bought the fusion 2. It seems Charnwood are offering the f2 at a brilliant price to those who are after the f1. There are lots of distributor issues with Laguna at the moment. Charnwood were the UK distributors but are no longer it seems. The baton has passed to Axminster who will only be selling direct so an immediate loss of competition and no date for resumption of sales. Not many f2 left on this deal so if you were interested in the f1 give them a call
I'm shook that it's been 1yr already 🤯. Seems like only a few weeks ago I saw your 'not a $3k SawStop table saw video'.
Great review Travis.
I bought the F3 and have been really happy with everything EXCEPT the dust collection. In short, it's horrible, however, I've never found a table saw that has really good collection. All in all, they're great saws and would definitely recommend to anyone looking into a table saw purchase that they look hard at this series of saws.
I hope that if/when you remake your overhead dust collection, you make that a video!!
My Sawstop professional 3hp 220v doesn't collect dust from the overhead very well either. It is better than nothing but far from perfect and it depends on what you are cutting. It is however very sturdy and easily adjustable and swings out of the way if necessary. The lower dust collection does work very well. Your tip on closing up the angle adjustment hole is a good one so thanks.
Very nice review. I'd love to see you check out the Harvey Alpha series, too. Stumpy Nubbs recently got one and their 2hp 36" rip capacity model is frequently on sale for $1,800 right now. Again, it's one that comes with all the features included. I built out a SS contractor saw on their website with the capacity, dust collection, cast iron wings and mobility and it was about a $1,600 difference. That's not even looking at their cabinet saw models.
Thanks man! I was holding my breath, hoping you would recommend, mine gets here sunday.. I'll take the hell yes!
Fabulous as usual Travis. Thank You- I've been eager to see what you thought of it. I ended up going with Harvey due to ol' Mr. Nubs over there. Thank You and keep up the fine work.
Agree with everything here. I have the exact same saw only an older version I picked up off of Craigslist for 700 bucks, which was a steal since the guy never used it and look brand new. The dust collection does suck, and it does accumulate in the cabinet, like you I have not made those modifications to it yet, simply cause I work so much, but it is in the plans. Me personally any large sheet goods gets cut up by the Makita track saw, for me in my small space it’s safer & the accuracy of the track saw is amazing. So that’s not too much of an issue with the fence, a lot of what I do is small work on the table saw. Being about 12 years old or so it will seriously not only pass a nickel test, it will pass a dime test, and both tests were conducted cutting a 2” piece of Indian rose wood. I was actually amazed by this. It has actually been an extremely wonderful Saw to use & have in my garage & I would recommend it too!
That flexing fence was something I spotted right away and it's pretty much the reason why I decided to spend more and get a sawstop.
I understand that the back of the fence does not influence the accuracy of the cut. By the time the board reaches the ricing knife it is already cut. If the cut board pushes on the back of the fence you have other problems. It is almost impossible to flex the back of the fence if your bland and fence are in alignment. Does the fence flex at the blade? If so that can cause issues for you.
Watched your initial review and this one again. I bought the 14-12 bandsaw primarily to resaw lumber. I like everything except the 4" dust collection port is over-sized - that is, my 4" dust hose did not / will not connect to the saw. Solved the issue with a 4" dust hose connector and also a 4" rubber connector. Now my dust hose from the cyclone connects as it should [ plug and play. Not convinced that the $600 difference between the F1 and F2 is worth the money. The main difference is the additional 1/4 hp. Is the juice worth the squeeze?
Love your honest reviews.
Great job! thank you for being so honest, from Laguna Beach CA
Fix your fence problems by getting a 2x3" rail kit (or making one) and getting a Super Cool Tools fence. They are very nice. Also, I still disagree that this is equal to a Saw Stop. They just are not the same class of saw. Maybe close to the Saw Stop Contractor saw, but not really the same either. The Fusion is more of a lightweight cabinet saw, where the Saw Stop is more of a medium weight cabinet saw. The Fusion F2 is a rebranded / different version of the Jet Proshop. You can not say the Jet Proshop is in the same class as a Jet Xacta, which is what you try to do by saying the Fusion is equal to a Saw Stop. The Jet Proshop is in the same class as the Fusion and the Jet Xacta is in the same class as the Saw Stop. That is not to say it is a bad saw for the $. I just do not want people to get the wrong idea here.
Thank you for the Review. I bought one because of your introduction to it after you bought yours. I love it. I bought mine after you bought yours and didgeridoo the Digital Readout. Huh.
I see a lot of comments about fence deflection. All fences of this style, where the only lock is on the rail at the front of the table, is going to have some deflection. There is not much of a way around it for this type of fence. The fence that came on my old Delta locked at both ends of the fence. But it was replaced when I made the table wider to accommodate plywood sheets. I went with a Vega fence and system. Minimal deflection and the only time it's an issue is when someone is horsing around a sheet of plywood on it. But used properly it's straight as an arrow.
thanks for the review i have been considering this saw thanks
Thank you for all your great content. You organize the information and present it in a way that makes it very easy to get all of the information.
Sorry, you might want to check your sponsor link in the description, you added an extra "e".
Fixed! Thank you for pointing that out
The new table saws from Harvey look amazing and address the complaints you had with the Laguna. Although it’s $700 more but looks worth it.
Isnt Lagunas saw made by Harvey too?
Harvey makes the Laguna saws but they have a few significant upgrades on their own Apollo saws. They are still building their resales locations so they are not always available to inspect in tool showrooms. They are really well designed.
Thanks for this. Your other video was one of the reasons I plan to buy an F2 in the near future.
You just sold me on the SawStop. Really great video and thanks for helping me decide!
Ok, looks like a good professional cabinet table saw. You probably should have gown with a Harvey. That's what I have and Am VERY Happy with this device. 3 things you dislike about your Laguna, Harvey kills.
Worthy of a Change Home Improvements
Appreciate the review both good and bad. Currently editing my initial review of my Delta and nodded along when you were talking dust collection on table saws.
awesome follow up for the last video thanks!
Super helpful since I’m in the market for this model. Thank you.
Great review man!! 👏
BUT... after everything you have stated about this machine, it's safe to say that it's not really in the same class as SAWSTOP and doesn't really compare, it does some things well, but that fence deflection is definitely a deal breaker for me.
SAWSTOP is expensive as hell, but here's the solution, use a lesser table saw for a few years and start saving money, the lesser table saw will get you by in the mean time and then by the time you have the money saved you'll be very enthusiastic and ready to make the switch, it doesn't have to be a SAWSTOP either, but it doesn't have to have a perfectly flat surface and a perfectly square and accurate fence with ZERO deflection!
Great video, Travis! I actually bought an F2 several months ago after watching your Saw Stop vs. Laguna video. Like you, I think it's a fantastic saw for the price, and I also have the exact same grips that you have (mainly the dust collection). After all is said and done, I'd buy the same saw again, so thanks for making that comparison video - it really helped me make my table saw purchase decision. Love your channel, man!
The front of the auxiliary guide should be a maximum of 10 mm beyond the point where the saw blade cuts the wood to its full height. If the auxiliary guide extends further, the risk of the workpiece getting stuck between the saw blade and the auxiliary guide increases. And futher more you will have less deflection
You should buy a vega fence they will fit almost all table saws they are a little bit pricey but after all my years in biz they are without any doubt the best
Awesome review, Travis! That fence deflection is a bit of a bummer
I have used the laguna table saw, and I think they cheaped out on the front rail of the fence, as it’s made out of aluminum, not steel. Even the $650 delta saw has a steel front rail! Their saws are pretty damn good, but aluminum is a very soft metal, and having the fence clamp down on that is, well, poorly designed… I now use a sawstop, and that fence has no deflection at all, as the front bar is steel. I haven’t seen any other cabinet saw besides the laguna use an aluminum fence bar. Usually jobsite saws have aluminum bars… I am disappointed about this, and would not classify this to be on par with a sawstop, grizzly, or jet, as this was a major part they really skimped out on the quality. I upgraded my old one a while ago with a delta fence, and it’s so much better! But you gave honest opinions, and actually gave useful information about the saw. This was a really good video!
My F2 is trapped in its crate awaiting setup...but the shop is still under construction. Thanks for all the info...it's very helpful.
I feel like the fence is kind of a game changing problem, and I see multiple people below discussing deflection. That just shouldn't be happening, and if the design allows for it, that is just a bad design, or worse, a cost cutting, measure.
I am heavily considering this, but the main reason I even want to upgrade me saw is for a top of the line fence, and SawStop has that... even their contractor saw can have the T-glide fence.
Seeing that deflection really concerns me. The fence just looks so light overall, which is not good imo.
Thanks for the review.
Have the F1 and I would say there are similar positives and negatives. Honestly, the over-blade dust collection is a joke, but otherwise I’m super happy with my saw.
Thanks a lot for the 1yr review and your no-nonsense approach is very refreshing. The same F2 was on my final-two list when I was looking at upgrading from my almost 5 yrs old Ridgid R4512. Your comparison with the SawStop was IMHO spot on. I went with my other option, the Harvey HWL110LC-36P. I won't go through a detailed comparison, that would be hijacking this thread. Just to say the Harvey addresses a good deal of your like-not-so-much points.
Stay safe and think about all the hot-dogs you're saving by not having gone to the SawStop side of the Force ;-) If interested we could do that comparison remotely? NB my garage is WAAAYY messier than yours.
Patrick, I would love to hear your thoughts. I'm in between the Harvey 110LC-36P and F2
@@kp2four Between those 2, definitely the Harvey. Between the F3 and the same Harvey, that would be a much more nuanced decision. Again, I don't want to highjack here, so I'll leave it at that.
You can put a 3mm strip of something at the end of the cast iron table and wheel at the end of the fence will bump into it making it solid and wont move a bit. I also noticed the same problem with the fence and this is so simple that Laguna should actually do this instead of me.
Im looking at this one and the Harvey Alpha Series. I cant decide which one. They both have good qualities that go back and forth
I have an old Delta Unisaw with the Unifence. My issue with it is the fence loses its square to the blade , check it once a months. easy to adjust The other issue with the old saw, NO Riving knife. I made Zero clearance inserts with a spitter. Works ok but rather have the real deal. Oh yah one thing. Horrible dust collection. I wear a mask anyway. Saw dust in the lungs is not good.
Good review BTW. Gonna stay with the Delta. with a sharp blade it cuts just as well as any other table saw.
RE: Dust Collection - dust connection isn't a feat of vacuum; it's a feat of air movement; vacuum just creates air movement. What I don't see in that cabinet is where a 4" pipe's amount of air is going to flow through the cabinet. Without an inlet into the cabinet somewhere (at full 4" rather than with constrictions), the efficiency of that much air trying to move is probably reduced by cavitation inside the cabinet (edit: now I know it's restriction not cavitation), and not creating enough moving air higher in the cabinet. I feel like a lot of companies adding dust collection to their tools is always an afterthought, without enough attention paid to the dynamics of air movement. $.02
Looks like a good bang for the buck, and that built-in DRO angle gauge is pretty sweet. Have you checked it for accuracy (maybe cross-referencing the Wixley type)? I'd love to have that feature on my saw. Also like the simple, built in wheels that allow you to dolly it around. That said, I think saying it's in the same class as the Sawstop is a bit of a stretch (even ignoring the safety aspect). The Sawstop PCS (assume that's what you're comparing), is a much beefier machine - your F2 weighs about the same as Sawstop's contractor saw. I imagine that's largely due to cast iron components in the PCS vs lighter weight material in the F2 (trunion, fence rail, etc). You'd need to spring for the F3 to get closer in making more of a direct comparison. Please know I'm not knocking your saw in any way ... I'm sure it will continue to serve you well for many years to come. I'm just saying that to suggest it's about the same as the SS or that it's half the price, well like I said ... it's a bit of a stretch. :)
Great review. Have been using my F2 for about 2 years now. Love it, but agree on the dust collection problems. Would love to see a video on how you designed your outfield table to work with your F2!
Hey Ben, April Wilkinson has a great video for a fold down out feed table that works great on the F2. I have had mine for about 2 years also. It was the last model before the overhead dust collection but I was to able buy the add on through Laguna for about $70. My big problem is the dust collection. Looking at possibly putting another port in the cabinet that will remove the dust from the cabinet a little better. I have been looking for someone else that may have done to see if it helps. It’s a great saw. Just wish the dust collection was better. Also added a All-Terrain mobile base from Rockler. That was huge upgrade for mobility.
F3 here and all good for over a year.
Bout to buy this model. However, I'm gonna throw the Incra fence on it ... which will make it extremely accurate.
Harvey’s fundamental heavier duty and all round better build quality leaves Laguna for dead.
Purchased my f2 because of your original video. Would love to know if you’re going to sell a product that helps with the suction of the dust collector (cover for the open space by the front wheel)
Here in the UK we can't get Sawstop table saws at all. Nor Grizzlys or most of the other stuff you guys can take for granted. At least Laguna have a UK dealer network for their whole range including the Fusion range, dust collection, band saws and lathes too. Trouble is the shipping costs bump the price up considerably. For example, the Fusion 2 in the UK retails at £2599.00 inc. vat/tax, which = $3,382.75! We can get sawstop technology here but it's attached to some Festool contract/jobsite type saws. As you can guess, they're NOT cheap.
Great review, just enough info to make me want to go up a notch or two, maybe Harvey or SawStop.
I ordered a F3 and Laguna could not get it delivered 3 times so I cancelled it and now I am considering buying a 4 hp Harvey Woodworking Industries work station model.
Fair and honest review. My only nitpick is that this is not in the same league as a sawstop (even totally ignoring the safety system).
This is in the same league as harvey, king canada, grizzly etc.
Just curious, what about the SawStop makes it in a different league?
@@ShopNation
1- sawstop is 400lbs, that significantly more metal
2- fence has no deflection
3- look through the sawstop manual online in the adjustments section, sawstop has many more adjustments and much easier to adjust tricky things like tilt axis alignment. Sawstop does it with threaded adjusters. F2 has no provisions for it, you would have to shim the table until it’s right and accept factory tolerances on what can’t be adjusted.
4- dust collection works
5- cast iron trunions vs alu
6- one piece steel fence rails vs 2piece alu
Edit: more simply: they are both in the same league of saws, ie they are both true cabinet saws. But within the cabinet saw league, they are not directly comparable, in quality or price.
@homer009x I'd put the Harvey above the F2 (I own a Harvey).
Weight is 411lbs. Everything to switch to 220V is provided. Fence stays true in any situation with massive front and rear steel rails. Cast iron trunions. Dust collection is great, not perfect but pretty close. Single wrench blade change with push button to block the arbor, said wrench is long and quite thick (not a cheap piece of stamped steel). Single knob to secure the riving knife. 2 riving knifes included, one is on the blade guard. Top class miter gauge included. Throat plates are thick aluminum pieces with no deflection whatsoever and that open notch in the back. Just sayin'...
@@wildpat03 I agree with much of what you’re saying. But harvey and laguna are in the same ‘league’.
The king canada is very similar to the harvey and like you, I preferred it over the laguna. Although the king has a stamped steel throat plate which is not great.
The laguna does have one wrench blade change too, not even sawstop has that.
Great review bud, thanks. I went with the Harvey table saw at the same time you got the F2. Loving it, and the dust collection line is a bit more robust. Same issue with a very similar fence though.
I've only had mine a short time but I like the fence. I does deflect if you force it but there isn't normally pressure past the blade. The fence does not misalign or move during use. It moves and adjusts easily. My main issue is with the dust collection. I would appreciate any ideas from someone that has used the saw. My old Craftsman contractor saw with a DIY system collected dust better. The onboard tool holders are nice but are nothing special.
Bout the fence. All rip fences should be Eurostyle like that one. We Americans were never forced to address the drawbacks of our current ideal of highly rigid long bar, so we don't understand the features and utility of Laguna's, but it's function is much better. You are showing how there is some flex at the tip, but that will not actually cause an inaccurately sized part. The vice of under-performing conventional rip fences is that they lose their grip and their setting, like worn out Uni-Saws would. The accessory Biesemeyer fence was a godsend to those with such equipment, and became the standard which other fences were measured against on this side of the Atlantic. The Euro-style allows for pulling the fence way, way back to the point on the table just after the stock is severed by the sawblade, so that stock which is stress relieving cannot push itself sideways into the blade, sometimes a critical feature when working with solid wood. Remounting the fence to low position for cutting thin stock is quite useful, as is flipping it end-for-end to have it overhang the blade, for template cutting.
These features make me appreciate the Laguna more than Saw Stop's fence, but not withstanding, the reason I would choose a Saw Stop anyway is having the safety feature with top build quality.
But truth to tell, I need to have a machine with greater function and features than either one of those, so I would have to forgo the safety feature until Felder equips their lower level machines with its own technology, or other manufacturers heed the call.
Enjoyed your video but I have my heart set on a Harvey
I own the Harvey 36" and I would say IMHO you're right...
Thanks for a excellent review 👍🏻
Another great production, thanks
I ordered an f2 earlier this year after an extensive search. I had my choice down to a sawstop and a Laguna. I decided to go with the f2 and have zero regrets.
I agree the biggest downsides to this saw are the stability/accuracy of the fence and the over arm dust collection. Otherwise it's an incredible saw considering the price. A great value.
If you compare the first video and this one, it’s a different table saw. It’s the same model, but updated version.
I got my laguna Fusion 2 two weeks ago, but it was missing parts.
The Fence is a major let down for a saw of this calibre bro.. I think another rail at the back of the cast Iron table would solve the issue of deflection u have and make this saw a real high end saw. I live in Ireland and through their European partners I'm looking at the Harvey Alpha range of saws. I#'m looking to get my paws on one of those bad boys with the tin plated Cast Iron tops which don't rust anymore due to this coating they have on them.. The do 36 & 52" ranges in the saws but I think they are well worth the asking price at just under or over 3 Grand.. The saw is stunning to look at just like the Laguna as well.
I really like the Laguna saws too man.. Hope it's working a treat for u btw..
I really appreciate your review...this saw is one of three I'm looking at buying in the near future and your information helped a great deal. As a side note, I'm interested in where you bought (or made?) that fence caddy? I would love to get one! Thanks