Tool review: Laguna’s Fusion F1 tablesaw
Roland Johnson takes a closer look at the capable, lightweight tablesaw
Laguna’s new Fusion F1 tablesaw is an upgrade of the original Fusion that I reviewed several years ago, and the improvements make it a winner again.
The saw table is cast iron, and the wings are stamped steel. The cabinet is now made in two sections—an upper saw cabinet and a lower leg assembly. There’s a sheet-metal floor in the upper cabinet to help contain sawdust. The main dust-collection port is at the back of the cabinet and has a smaller connection on one side for the blade-guard collection hose. The blade guard consists of two linked clear plastic guards with a central mount that contains the dust-collection port for catching all the annoying sawdust blades love to fling. Dust collection is very effective with the blade guard in place, but it’s still good without it.
The rip fence has a nice, versatile feature. You can easily slide off its aluminum face and replace it with a sacrificial face or custom jigs. The fence slides easily and locks securely with little fussing. Plus, its magnifying cursor actually works, providing great accuracy.
I ran a bunch of hard maple, 4/4 and 6/4, past the 60-tooth blade that comes with the saw, and found no lack of power. That’s impressive considering that a 60-tooth blade is not an ideal blade for ripping heavy hardwood. The motor is 1-1⁄2 hp (13 amp max draw), 110 volt. The arbor lock simplifies blade changes and is one of the better ones I’ve seen.
I checked the setup of the saw and found the blade parallel to the miter slots, which is amazing considering the miles the saw traveled to get to my shop.
The saw weighs just under 200 lb., which is fairly light, making it convenient for a small shop, especially with the optional mobility kit ($75).
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—Roland Johnson is a contributing editor.
Photos: Roland Johnson
From Fine Woodworking #290
Comments
Where is the how many fingers Roland lost when he touched the blade test? I'm being serious. I love Laguna bandsaws( I own two) but reviewing any table saw that doesn't have flesh detecting technology is now unconscionable. It is akin to reviewing a car without air bags. SawStop has enough options for every price point. It is time FWW took a stand for real safety instead of just lip service.
I have the Laguna F2 and love it. I have bought the Incra system for it and have made several jigs and attachments from the FWW magazine. I have no issues with safety on the saw, I have a set routine to go through prior to conducting any cutting action on the saw and stick by it. You treat the saw like you treat the ocean, never turn your back on it or take it for granted. Complacency by the person, not the machine causes accidents.
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