"Derffred" wrote in message
oups.com...
Greetings! I recently purchased a Laguna band saw and its table
surface is as smooth as glass, or glass smooth water if you're into
water sports. I seriously keep a towel around to shine it up after
each use. On the other hand I have a 2001 Craftsman (Ryobi) table saw
with a surface that looks like the back end of a mule in comparison.
The real functional difference is how wood glides across the Laguna and
requires a Caterpillar Bulldozer to move across the table saw. I
realize the surface area difference and physics..etc. Also, there's no
way to get my ugly duckling to be a swan. There has to be a reasonable
way to smooth out my table saw but I don't know enough about the
workings of metal to do this well. Is sand paper too little and an
angle grinder too much? If there is some amazing goop that will do it,
as long as it doesn't affect the wood, Any and all suggestions,
especially first-hand stories, are appreciated.

Derf
.

If you are talking about grinder marks that you can see and feel you may do
well to leave them alone.

Better manufacturers design these high spots in their surfaces to help the
wood glide more easily especially when a top lubricant such as TopCote is
used.
I too have a Laguna BS and would rather the top be similar to the one on my
old Craftsman TS cast iron top.
My current Jet cabinet saw has a smooth surface and it has never been as
smooth as the Craftsman either.
Minimax explains that the rougher surface provides less vacuum and less
friction.

With out knowing for sure what you are really seeing and feeling I would
suggest first to use a top lube like TopCote first to see if that improves
matters.