Replies

1. 
   robkress | Mar 11, 2009 03:17pm | #1

   Fred,

   I looked at all three of those makers before I bought and finally ended on the Laguna dovetail platinum.

   The Grizzly that you are looking at has a riving knife but it doesn't travel with the blade so really it's more of a splitter. Not the latest technology but still better than nothing.

   There are two Laguna saws. The cheap one and the dovetail one. the cheap one and the Grizzly that you are looking at look suspiciously similar. Not a big deal. Perhaps they are indeed made in the same place.

   So here's the deal....

   I thought the guts of the PM2000 were over complicated even though it is probably a great saw. And I didn't think that I wanted to have that risk associated with such an expensive purchase. Plus the saw is as close to $3000 as you can get without going over. For that money I would have purchased a Saw Stop.

   I actually put hands on a Steel City and didn't think the mechanics of the saw were that great. Not so big diameter shafts, small castings, etc...

   The Grizzly saw that I was looking at was the G0651. Nice saw but the trunnion rides up and down on ground shafts instead of cast ways. So I checked out the Laguna Dovetail in detail.

   Basically, I was floored by the quality of my saw when I got it. The legs on the table right extension are not well attached (no struts or angle braces) but that was not a big deal. Everything about the saw is top quality. I posted some stuff about it when I first got it. You can do a search and find it if you want. Great Great Great saw. And you won't believe how you ever worked on a table saw without a guard before.

   Rob Kress

1. 
   Fredg | Mar 12, 2009 03:04pm | #5

   Thanks Rob!

   I have a SEL-14 Band Saw and am more than pleased. I think i am seriously going to consider the table saw also.

   Fred G

2. 
   Knotscott | Mar 11, 2009 03:54pm | #2

   AFAIK, the Laguna Platinum MTS0200-0180 and Grizzly G0690/0691 come from the same factory, made of the same components, but Grizzly has several quality engineers that check out the saws before they leave the factory. The Griz has a Leeson motor...not sure about the Laguna's motor. Laguna has had several terrible posts about their CS that would make me very hesitant.

   Dunno much about the PM2000 other than it has built in wheels and a larger table surface.

   Here's a recent discussion about the Laguna and Griz:
   http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=4200308&page=1view=collapsed&sb=5o=7

   
   

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   Edited 3/11/2009 8:58 am ET by Knotscott

1. 
   robkress | Mar 11, 2009 06:00pm | #3

   I looked at some of the posts in that link. Just as a counter point, my customer experience has been absolutely fantastic with Laguna. And the saw is definitely great. Perhaps I will have trouble down the road but all things are like that. So far so greatRob Kress

1. 
   Knotscott | Mar 11, 2009 06:20pm | #4

   When comparing saws (or any tool), I try to determine what advantage one has over the other. Any pros to the Laguna that the Griz doesn't have?

2. 
   Fredg | Mar 12, 2009 03:13pm | #6

   Thanks Scott,

   I will take a look at that. I have had excellent dealings with laguna though and they follow up too. Good customer service is hard to come by.  Talking to the sales dept over there at laguna, they did mention they are moving some MFG. over to "asia" and they may now have some QA issues.

   Fred G

3. 
   Fredg | Mar 12, 2009 03:24pm | #7

   Wow! those knots tore up Laguna's customer service. Sounds like they got a bad deal I was very happy with them. I got a DVD for set up and unpacking before i got my saw. They threw in some 2 extra blades for free. With free shipping to boot you almost cant go wrong i'm thinking. I am by far not an expert on woodworking machinery as i am considered fairly new to woodworking. I am very particular about quality though and don't mind saving for a few extra months to pay for it. I feel the Laguna 14 SEL i got was well worth the extra coin.

1. 
   robkress | Mar 12, 2009 06:06pm | #8

   >>>>>>I feel the Laguna 14 SEL i got was well worth the extra coin<<<<<<Then I think you would appreciate the Laguna Platinum table saw. If you decide for the fixed splitter version though I think I would look hard at the Grizzly if it is cheaper cause it really does look like same saw. Look at both of their owners manuals and you'll be able to tell. And in fact I think that saw comes out of the steel city factory or is related in some way.Rob Kress