Help me pick out a table saw... - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

tropple · 10-27-2004, 08:21 AM

Hi,

I'm getting even crazier trying to pick out a tablesaw. I'm working with ~$600 and need to be able to move it single-handed. (some disassembly and several trips is fine).

Tell what about your favorite tablesaw.

Tell the nightmare stories about your least favoritie tablesaw.

clavus · 10-27-2004, 04:27 PM

I bought a Rigid brand table saw at Home Despot. At the time, I had a tight budget and serious misgivings about what I viewed as a "flimsy" table saw. Most of my other tools are a little more high end, so I was prepared to be disappointed.

Well...I really like the dang thing. I have no complaints, AND I can move it single-handed.

the420star · 10-28-2004, 06:05 AM

Take a Look at Delta, they make a few table saws and some small enough to move alone. Also Delta makes a quality Product. I have a old craftsman, which is really the same thing as a rigid. No complaints there.

fhqwhgads · 10-28-2004, 08:10 AM

I have a delta, and the only complaint that I have is with the miter slot. The damn thing isn't a standard size, so that when I bought a standard featherboard, it wouldn't fit. Any addition that you want to buy (tenoning jig, featherboard, miter sled) has to be able to fit the miter slot that Delta made...

If I had it to to again, I'd look more closely at the Craftsman saws. I'm not sure what quality the saws are, but I know that they have a ton of accessories that go with them.

tropple · 10-28-2004, 08:54 AM

Well, I'm heading to Force Machinery in NJ on Saturday. I want to see them all in one spot ;-)

http://www.forcemachinery.com/index.htm

Their website sucks, but they carry a lot of brands and it a woodworking store ;-)

xwesleyx · 10-28-2004, 01:10 PM

600 bucks will buy you something nice or something cheap. It depends on what you need it for.

Jobsite saw: Either Dewalt or Bosch. Spend a few extra bucks and buy a nice blade.

kazoo · 10-29-2004, 09:06 PM

This link should help you. I read Hanley-Wood's Tools of the Trade, and their most recent test results are published along with those of other panels.

clavus · 10-29-2004, 11:10 PM

Oh ya. Don't skimp on the blade(s).
Good table saw + crappy blade = bad table saw

tropple · 10-30-2004, 10:49 AM

Well, hell. I went to Force Machinery today. It's an okay shop, I guess. They have a half dozen or so table saws to check out. Unfortunately, the bottom end there was about $1000.

I went by Sears and scoped out their saws. I sure as heck would like to see them all in one spot so I could go back and forth ;-)

This sucks. I'm going to have to find a local woodworker to do some talking about table saws.

xwesleyx · 10-30-2004, 05:49 PM

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...?v=glance&s=hi

gonadman · 11-06-2004, 03:50 PM

Love my Dewalt. Had it 3 years with no problems. The rack and pinion fence is accurate and always true to 90. Can be moved single handed. I built a wooden platform for it and just shove a hand truck under and move wherever. For transport, I can unbolt fron the platform, lift and put it in and out of the truck myself. I'm an amateur woodworker, and do not use this saw daily on a professional basis, so its been perfect for me. Like the quality. Three years of use and the top still looks great without wear or scratches. I believe they go for ~$499 with stand. Dewalt makes lots of accessories for it too.

tropple · 11-08-2004, 04:03 AM

I went with a Grizzly 10" contractor saw:

http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2004/014.cfm

I picked it up from the freight company on Friday. All I need now is the 200 amp service upgrade so my lights don't dim when I fire it up! It draws 24 amps wired for 110. I'm going to wire a 220V outlet for it as soon as the electrician has the new service panel installed.

10-27-2004, 08:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	Help me pick out a table saw... Hi, I'm getting even crazier trying to pick out a tablesaw. I'm working with ~$600 and need to be able to move it single-handed. (some disassembly and several trips is fine). Tell what about your favorite tablesaw. Tell the nightmare stories about your least favoritie tablesaw. __________________ +++++++++++Boom!

10-27-2004, 04:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	I bought a Rigid brand table saw at Home Despot. At the time, I had a tight budget and serious misgivings about what I viewed as a "flimsy" table saw. Most of my other tools are a little more high end, so I was prepared to be disappointed. Well...I really like the dang thing. I have no complaints, AND I can move it single-handed. __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

10-28-2004, 06:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
the420star Psycho Location: Cow Country, CT	Take a Look at Delta, they make a few table saws and some small enough to move alone. Also Delta makes a quality Product. I have a old craftsman, which is really the same thing as a rigid. No complaints there. __________________ No, they arnt breasts, they are personalities, because its ok to like a girl for her personalities.

10-28-2004, 08:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	Well, I'm heading to Force Machinery in NJ on Saturday. I want to see them all in one spot ;-) http://www.forcemachinery.com/index.htm Their website sucks, but they carry a lot of brands and it a woodworking store ;-) __________________ +++++++++++Boom!

10-29-2004, 09:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
kazoo Psycho Location: Where the night things are	This link should help you. I read Hanley-Wood's Tools of the Trade, and their most recent test results are published along with those of other panels. __________________ There ain't nothin' more powerful than the odor of mendacity -Big Daddy

10-28-2004, 08:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
fhqwhgads Junkie	I have a delta, and the only complaint that I have is with the miter slot. The damn thing isn't a standard size, so that when I bought a standard featherboard, it wouldn't fit. Any addition that you want to buy (tenoning jig, featherboard, miter sled) has to be able to fit the miter slot that Delta made... If I had it to to again, I'd look more closely at the Craftsman saws. I'm not sure what quality the saws are, but I know that they have a ton of accessories that go with them.

10-28-2004, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
xwesleyx Upright Location: ohio	600 bucks will buy you something nice or something cheap. It depends on what you need it for. Jobsite saw: Either Dewalt or Bosch. Spend a few extra bucks and buy a nice blade.

10-29-2004, 11:10 PM	#8 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	Oh ya. Don't skimp on the blade(s). Good table saw + crappy blade = bad table saw __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

10-30-2004, 10:49 AM	#9 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	Well, hell. I went to Force Machinery today. It's an okay shop, I guess. They have a half dozen or so table saws to check out. Unfortunately, the bottom end there was about $1000. I went by Sears and scoped out their saws. I sure as heck would like to see them all in one spot so I could go back and forth ;-) This sucks. I'm going to have to find a local woodworker to do some talking about table saws. __________________ +++++++++++Boom!

10-30-2004, 05:49 PM	#10 (permalink)
xwesleyx Upright Location: ohio	http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...?v=glance&s=hi

11-06-2004, 03:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
gonadman Psycho Location: Philly	Love my Dewalt. Had it 3 years with no problems. The rack and pinion fence is accurate and always true to 90. Can be moved single handed. I built a wooden platform for it and just shove a hand truck under and move wherever. For transport, I can unbolt fron the platform, lift and put it in and out of the truck myself. I'm an amateur woodworker, and do not use this saw daily on a professional basis, so its been perfect for me. Like the quality. Three years of use and the top still looks great without wear or scratches. I believe they go for ~$499 with stand. Dewalt makes lots of accessories for it too. __________________ For me there is only the traveling on paths that have heart, on any path that may have heart. There I travel, and the only worthwhile challenge is to traverse its full length. And there I travel, looking, looking, ...breathlessly. -Carlos Castaneda

11-08-2004, 04:03 AM	#12 (permalink)
tropple Junkie	I went with a Grizzly 10" contractor saw: http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2004/014.cfm I picked it up from the freight company on Friday. All I need now is the 200 amp service upgrade so my lights don't dim when I fire it up! It draws 24 amps wired for 110. I'm going to wire a 220V outlet for it as soon as the electrician has the new service panel installed. __________________ +++++++++++Boom!