Hawk G426 Fusion?

[STEVESSAWSHOP]

Just wanted to know if there are any Hawk G426 Fusion owners on this forum. If so your thoughts about the saw?
Hawk G426 Fusion was only built for a short time before they closed and then sold to Bushton Mfg.

[workin for wood]

Never heard of it Steve. I own a G4. I tried a search for it and the only reference to a G4 fusion is this thread.

[Rolf]

I also have a G4, No clue as to what a fusion is.

[BobD]

I talked with Gail Jennings at the SAW Expo last year. He was demoing the Fusion. It was supposed to correct many of the issues people had with the G4 (kinda the G4.5 so to speak).

I'm not sure what the status is, though...

Bob

[Rolf]

The G4 had issues?

[STEVESSAWSHOP]

About 100 Fusion saw left there doors before they closed. It was the newest saw Rbi was building. They went back to aluminum arm supports and a aluminum pitnum arm replaced the plastic one. Just was wondering how owners liked it.

[proudrex]

Yes there are a few issues with the G4 that I hope get corrected in the future. Read on if you are interested (btw, I REALLY like my G4).

1. As all know the plastic bottom blade holder support really needs work. I solved the problem by putting a dowel in the hole under the support. I haven't had a broken support since then.
2. The holder for the upper blade holder would be better if it were anodized black, the silver actually caused glare in my magnifying light. I put a piece of black electrician's tape on it to solve the problem
3. A couple of times I have been in close with my light when the blade has slipped or broken and the upper arm has smashed into my light and broken my bulb. The only way I can think to solve the problem is to stay out of the way
4 The tension adjustment at the rear of the saw needs some work. The threaded rod bends a bit and the tension lever will rotate and can actually get caught in the saw. I used some duct tape to help the catching problem but the whole system is a weak point and a source of problems for me

[Rolf]

Proudrex.
I have never had any of the above problems, That said
When I first got some of the newer blade holders (the one piece aluminum ones) I realized that the radius was wrong and when the clamp moved it flexed the plastic clip. I took my new clamps to work and milled a new radius on them. So now the clip only holds the blade clamp in place with no stresses on it.
The reflection bit how about using a black magic marker.
Never had a problem with the tensioning mechanism.
It will be interesting to see what the new company will do with some of the minor glitches.

#3 that must have scared the stuff out of you. I have had the arm hit my ring lamp, but knock wood never broke it.

Welcome to the group!

It would also be nice if they built a smaller 16" version of the G4 so it is more portable (for my meetings) and if they priced it right it would compete with the current mid range saws.

[lucky788scroller]

Originally Posted by Rolf

It would also be nice if they built a smaller 16" version of the G4 so it is more portable (for my meetings) and if they priced it right it would compete with the current mid range saws.

That I think is a great idea Rolf. Once they get their feet planted firmly I think that thought could really take them somewhere.There really arent many in the mid-priced range anymore, but what there is are of good quality, something RBI was always known for.

[workin for wood]

I have one of the first G4 saws ever built. My saw has an aluminum support arm and an aluminum pitnum arm and it is anodized black. Only ever had two issues. First was that they sent me blade holders made of indestructible plastic. The plastic didn't take long and it would split apart when tightening the nut, but they then replaced them with aluminum ones which I never had a problem with again. The biggest problem I ever had was the two fingers on the bottom that hold the lower blade holder. I have broken about a dozen of them in 5-6 yrs or so of owning the saw. I do work the saw hard, but those fingers are pretty chintzy. Now I no longer have that issue because I replaced the entire assembly with one that I had Frank Pozgai design for me and he is now selling them to hundreds of others that also shared my same issue. It does make me feel better though, knowing I wasn't the only one breaking that piece 2-3 times a year. oh...and I've replaced the spring in the back a few times..that's a PIA.

Far as the arm snapping up if you break a blade...yea..I've bled over that a few time or more! Sometimes I'm cutting things so tiny and I start leaning in so close, tongue sticking out I'm sure, and then wham, right in the forehead. I don't consider it the saws fault.