tabel saw thoughts

[Timmers]

my work shop build is almost complete and need to start thinking about a table saw as the first job for me is to rebuild my kitchen, last room in the house to do.

these are the two that have caught my eye.

T the sip 10"
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/sip-10-cast-iron-table-saw-1/

Laguna fusion3 10"
https://www.yandles.co.uk/laguna-fusion3-10-cast-iron-tablesaw-with-integrated-wheel-kit/p25866

going to need some advise on this and I know I'm in the right place for it.

what are your thoughts of these saws for what I'm planning on doing.
pros and cons.
Things to look out for and any other suggestions

thanks in advance

Tim

 

[Mike G]

Well, there's £700 difference in the price. The question you need helping with is is there £700 worth of difference?

 

[Trevanion]

They're fairly new to Britain but Laguna has always had a decent reputation and as far as I'm aware their machines are actually their own designs rather than being like other companies that buy in a generic Chinese/Taiwanese machine with their own branding on, for example, the SIP you linked to is identical to the iTech saw Scott & Sargeant stock, but the iTech is £200 cheaper:

https://www.scosarg.com/itech-250mm-cast-iron-table-saw-bench

There are probably other companies with identical saws with different names slapped on them.

Laguna also has a good representative in Britain, Laguna Nick, worth having a chat with. I think machines in stock are a bit scarce at the moment so you may have to wait a good while before you get a saw to play with though.

 

[sunnybob]

Do you have the floor space for dedicated table saw? They take up a lot of room if you are going to be cutting up boards and sheet goods.
If you are short of space (like me) I can recommend the de walt 745 site saw. It works well above my expectations, can be moved to open spaces and then easily stored when not in use, and its a lot cheaper than your options.

But note the newer models have a smaller blade for some dam stupid health and safety reason.

 

[9fingers]

The SIP is a badged chinese import from a dealer that has had a reputation for not honouring warranty or money back and instead offering credit notes. I don't know if this is still the case.
The laguna is a cut above being made in taiwan for an american company who are entering the UK market and sold by a dealer with a good reputation.

I'd have the Laguna in a heatbeat but the real question is do you need the extra quality and support offered by the Laguna or is the cash difference better in your pocket to spend on timber.
if you get a mechanical or electical problem are you the sort of person who will fix things and get back to work or will you need help/backup?

In the current market there is a shortage of stock in UK so part of your research should be to actually find a machine in stock that you can have and not be buying a promise of delivery.

If you are serious about the Laguna we have a member here https://thewoodhaven2.co.uk/memberlist. ... ile&u=4721 Nick who is a good guy and will know the supply position.

Good Luck
Bob

 

[Lons]

I bought the SIP ( 01332 ) new a good 15 years ago, might be longer and it does everything I ask of it.
Like all machines they need a little fettling and setting up, a better blade and the dust extraction is or was cr8p but can easily be improved. I added a hinged fold down router table to mine and a simple removable outfield table.
I have no experience of the Laguna but a number of years ago managed to strip the rise and fall worm drive on mine and SIP service on that occasion was faultless.

 

[ScaredyCat]

I'm pretty sure that if you want a Laguna you need to get an order in sharpish, they tend to sell out before they arrive.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

ohhh Laguna and Nick are superb, I bought the 18bx bandsaw and the quality is pretty amazing. It also came with 3 blades although i haven't used them as i bought from Tuffsaws, but they are starret.

 

[Timmers]

i folks thanks cheers for the comments.

space I don't think will be an issue.

the main thing im getting at is will the cheaper saw cut the same and be accurate enough for cutting large sheet goods for kitchen cabinet making, or is it better going for the more expensive option.

im happy to spend more on tool if they last longer and gives lest grief.

cheers
Tim

 

[Lons]

Another option is to cut up large sheets with a track saw then use a table saw for smaller pieces, it's what I do and one of the best power tools I ever invested it, I wish I'd done so many years ago.

 

[Woodbloke]

Another option is to cut up large sheets with a track saw then use a table saw for smaller pieces, it's what I do and one of the best power tools I ever invested it, I wish I'd done so many years ago.

That's what I'd do as well. To my mind, if you're going to slice up full sized sheets and need to do it with a tablesaur, you need a proper panelsaw with an accurate slider.

Good ones are hideously expensive but are supremely accurate and if you don't use it for chopping up sheet goods, it's a very versatile bit of kit.

I used a huge Robland in the trade years ago when we were making stuff for Linely and I recollect that I had a couple of veneered, circular tables to make. Once the curvature of the lippings had been machined (routed or spindled) the joints between each lipping were cut on the sliding table of the panel saw on a very simple, but ingenious jig. So accurate was it, that each fitted together perfectly straight off the saw blade with no further additional 'fettling'.

The saw was kept solely for this sort of delicate, accurate work and was in great demand; it was forbidden to do any sort of 'rough' work on it such as ripping up baulks of timber.

My boss tested it's accuracy by taking a 100mm square chunk of mahogany, squaring it up and then knifing a deep line all the way round. I watched him then cut the block in half on the knife line and when I inspected the cut afterwards, all four knife line cuts could be clearly seen on one piece; the saw had tracked perfectly through the block :shock:

The downside of a really good panel saw is that you need a 'shop the size of a 747 hanger to use it! :lol: - Rob