Laguna table saw CL find

[Eric2576]

Hey guys,

came across a little gem the other day, a Laguna Fusion table saw only 2 years old and talked the guy down to $300. It runs great but has a few minor issues. One, the hand crank for the raising mechanism is missing. Two, the plastic motor cover on the right side is missing. Three, the paddle switch, the actual yellow paddle, broke off - already have a replacement for that though. The two leveling feet were munched when a forklift was used to move the saw, and last, the riving knife is missing.

In the last two pics you can see I've started taking the rust off the top. It doesn't feel like normal rust, but almost like a dark brown coating that's really hard to remove. I'm pretty sure though that the saw came with the standard polished bare metal finish and not some brown stuff, lol. No deep scratches in the top and looks like it will come out pretty nice.

I started with salt and vinegar, but that was pretty much useless. Then I switched over to Marvel Mystery oil, but that was also not doing much, so I am now using a combination of 320 wet/dry with WD-40 for the really tough spots, and a brown scuff disc on my drill for the rest. After the scuff pad, I may use my random orbit buffer for finishing it up. Off course Johnson's Paste Wax as the last step.

After taking these pictures, I contacted Laguna service center about the missing parts, and they emailed me right back asking for my saw's serial number and my address. If I get super lucky, maybe they will send me a package with the wheel, paddle switch, motor cover, and riving knife, lol. Yeah right.

In any case, when I get this saw all situated, I will probably keep this one and get rid of my other saws. Not sure yet as I am still restoring my 1957 Unisaw and may have to have a shootout between the two. The nice thing about the Laguna is the fact that is has a Biesenmeyer clone type fence and it's all there and working great. Also, let's not forget the Laguna has the riving knife...well, not yet, but soon.

If anyone has any of my missing parts, just in case Laguna support is not as supportive as I'd like, please let me know. How do you loose a hand crank?

Cheers

 

[Chucktin]

Great find! That top looks like something was on it (a tarp?) that attracted moisture.

 

[seber]

Have you tried the Scoth-brite rust removal pad? I've done it your way, but if I had to do it again I'd give the 3M product a go.

 

[TMcCay]

After you remove the rust or staining on the top apply some Slipit to the top. It has been around forever. Will not transfer to the wood or affect the wood for future finishing. Also makes the wood glide over the top easier. I found mine at Rockler years ago and won't be without it.

 

[TMcCay]

Nice find on the saw also! $300 is a steal!

 

[Eric2576]

Great find! That top looks like something was on it (a tarp?) that attracted moisture.

You might be right about that since the rust coating is pretty uniform. There are a couple of places where it looks like something was spilled on it, but I did a few more passes with 400 this morning, and look at the difference.

You can also see that whoever assembled the table didn't do a very good job at aligning the extensions. The right extension edge closest to the camera is sitting low and the back edge is sitting high. Will be simple to just loosen the bolts and straighten out.

 

[Eric2576]

Have you tried the Scoth-brite rust removal pad? I've done it your way, but if I had to do it again I'd give the 3M product a go.

Will definitely try your suggestion because the pad has been the most productive to this point. Betta pad, betta shine, lol.

 

[Eric2576]

After you remove the rust or staining on the top apply some Slipit to the top.

Are you brushing on or using the aerosol?

 

[Eric2576]

So Laguna just called and is getting ready to send me a quote for the parts. Let's see how precious their parts are to them. The hand wheel, the motor cover, and the riving knife.

Can't wait!

 

[Eric2576]

Great news. Laguna just called. Actually Richard Soria from customer service called and gave me the quote. A new hand wheel assembly, spacer for the wheel, riving knife, and motor cover shipped to my doorstep for $90 total. $18 of that is shipping. I couldn't whip out my credit card fast enough. This saw will be completely restored and ready to go for a total of about $405. Not bad for a saw worth upwards of a grand.

 

[Eric2576]

Seber, after looking into the Scotch-brite pads, I came across these on Amazon: 2pcs 5" 125mm Poly Strip Disc Wheel Paint Rust Removal Quick Strip Disc for Angle Grinder

Yes sir, for an angle grinder. They will be here tomorrow - gotta love Prime. I'll get rid of the rust on the top, align that sucker and polish the heck out of it. Checked prices for Slipit and am gonna stick to what I already have in my shop - Johnson's paste wax for now.

I feel like a kid in a candy store. Been eyeing a Laguna table saw for a while, just didn't want to spend that kind of money. Now I have my toy for a price that I enjoy, lol.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

you ****
you ****
you ****
you ****

 

[Eric2576]

you ****
you ****
you ****
you ****

And, off course, had to order a new sticky measuring tape for the fence. On it's way. Woo hoo!!!

 

[ilovevocs]

If your concerned about surface flatness I would recommend a medium coarse honing stone over the angle grinder.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[MoonRise]

Eric,

You ****.

And +1 on NOT using an angle grinder. Unless you are really-really skilled in using one on a flat surface and have the ability to actually KEEP the surface flat.

Power tools, I'd go more for a pad sander (1/4 sheet or 1/2 sheet if you have or can find one) with the ScotchBrite pads. A bit easier to keep a flat surface actually flat (you can still muck it if you don't pay attention to what you are doing though).

But what you are doing or have done on that first table wing/extension looks pretty nice so far.

 

[WAS Jr]

I’d bet good money that someone sprayed that with WD-40-the worst rust preventative in the history of the world- then walked away.
Don’t ask me why I know what happens when you do that.
Bill S

 

[Eric2576]

Don't misunderstand, I'm not gonna do anything more than put that Scotch-brite like pad on the grinder. The pad is relatively soft and flexible and I'll let the pad do the work without pushing it. Just enough to get the rust off and then I'll go over it with a flat piece of hardwood wrapped in 400, then 600, then my buffing pad. Done this before on other rusty parts, my motorcycle for example. Had lots of practice buffing out the aluminum forks. The came out great, but then I changed my mind and went powder coat satin, lol. Go figure.

Oh Bill, what happens when you do that?

 

[Eric2576]

The magnetic switch came in today. Looks identical to the original, fits perfect. The blue rust remover discs also came and I was a bit surprised how stiff they are. Forget about "relatively soft and flexible", lol. Since I have a rusty cast iron table saw extension, I'm gonna practice on that and see how it goes. The Laguna top is almost perfect as far as the surface goes, so I just want to remove that thin layer of stubborn rust. If the pads are too aggressive on the trial pieces, I won't use them on the Laguna top.

 

[Strouty]

Cardboard can do that to metal fairly quickly.

I will definitely agree that you ****.........

 

[Eric2576]

Holy **** Strouty, I was gonna take a minute to check out your Salvage Garage journal..........212 pages????? Um, I'll leave that for the next three weekends, lol

 

[tarmy]

Suckage...

Burnishing tool would clean that right up...

Great find...

 

[Eric2576]

I'm telling you, that blue abrasive pad for the grinder did a fantastic and quick job! It took about two hours to do the left wing with 320 and a brown scuff pad. It took 10 minutes to do the rest of the table with the blue pad. Even if you keep it in one place for a bit too long, it doesn't eat into the metal. The rust disappears but the metal stays. Off course it will eventually eat into the metal if you keep it in one spot, but just keep it moving and you'll be fine. The final picture below is after using my random orbiting polisher with some 120. I'm still gonna hit it with 400 and then 600 tomorrow. But man, this removed that layer of rust like nothing flat. Love it.

 

[Chucktin]

Envy.

 

[MoonRise]

Looking good Eric.

 

[Eric2576]

Thanks MR. Looking at the Laguna promos, those table tops are pretty shiny.

Hopefully getting an update from Laguna today when my parts will arrive. Bought a new tape measure for the saw from Amazon but they sent me the wrong one. Got another one coming today. I ordered combo Standard/Metric and only received Standard.

Also gonna address the funky junky Laguna wheels under the saw. It has two plastic - very low - wheels on one side. They are so low that any small dip or bump in the rolling surface makes the base catch. Maybe I can replace them with a couple of inline skate wheels that will give me slightly higher ground clearance, urethane cushion, and ball bearings. That would be a vast improvement in mobility.

 

[Eric2576]

My assumption was that the skate wheels were of a larger diameter than the Laguna wheels. Turns out they are the same diameter. The skate wheels are a bit narrower, so I had to improvise to take up the extra width that I was missing. Looking through my parts bin, I found some washers and a couple of stiff springs that fit perfectly over the bolts holding the wheels. Although I did not gain the ground clearance I anticipated, the difference when moving the saw around was amazing. The old wheels where in such bad shape that they caused a swaying motion that exponentially got worse the further you pulled the saw. With the skate wheels, the saw moves like it's gliding on air. No more swaying, no grinding, just smooth goodness. Eventually I'll do something to increase the ground clearance, but for now this is a huge improvement.

 

[Eric2576]

Oh boy. The parts came today. The motor cover is out of stock, and the handle for the wheel is not the right one. More waiting.....

 

[Eric2576]

Found some slightly larger skate wheels that will give me another 1/4" extra clearance.

 

[Fulcrum]

I'm telling you, that blue abrasive pad for the grinder did a fantastic and quick job! It took about two hours to do the left wing with 320 and a brown scuff pad. It took 10 minutes to do the rest of the table with the blue pad. Even if you keep it in one place for a bit too long, it doesn't eat into the metal. The rust disappears but the metal stays. Off course it will eventually eat into the metal if you keep it in one spot, but just keep it moving and you'll be fine. The final picture below is after using my random orbiting polisher with some 120. I'm still gonna hit it with 400 and then 600 tomorrow. But man, this removed that layer of rust like nothing flat. Love it.

Looks beautiful man. Great find at a terrific price!

 

[PugetDude]

I'm jealous...
and you ****.
(but subscribed for updates!)

 

[Eric2576]

I'll be posting a short video of the table top rust removal on YouTube. Am I allowed to link that here?

Woo hoo, the motor cover arrived, but not the handle for the adjusting wheel. Why not all in one box at the same time? Oh well.

Fulcrum......Pudget

 

[Eric2576]

Called Laguna again today and this time had them walk into the warehouse to get my parts.
Still missing the correct handle for the adjustment wheel, and a couple of other bits. Hopefully they will be sent out today and no later than tomorrow. Dang, been close to three weeks since my first call and still no functioning saw.

 

[Indexmill]

Awesome saw and buy.

Does it have anything inside of it?

 

[Eric2576]

Once I vacuumed out all the saw dust I discovered that it had the optional dust collection system and a small spray can of lubricant in a zip lock bag. I thought the can in a ziplock was kinda strange and was now thinking "Breaking Bad" with more goodies on the horizon, but that was it, lol.