Purchasing a new table saw

[Michael Coughlin]

I need some help. I need uy a new table saw. My old one is just a benchtop model delta. I am looking for something either in a hybred or cabinet type. I only have $1000.00 to spend and I am disabled. So ease of setup is a consideration. I have looked at: Grizzly G0715P & G0661, Delta 36-715, Porter Cable PCB270TS, Steel City 35990C & 35990SS, Rigid 4512, Jet 708100 & 708482K. I am lost and need some help in this matter. Any input would be helpful at this point. I am a beginner woodworker, but trying to get better.

                                  Thanx

                                   Mike

[Hugh Clare]

I'm not loyal to any particular brand, I look for the most bang for my buck. That being said, I don't think you would go wrong with the Delta. My research almost always leads me there. I don't know what the nature of your disability is, but that is likely to be a huge consideration in your choice.

[Mike Robson]

I have to tell you I just looked at the new Porter Cable at Lowes...not like they used to make them !!!! I have a 2000 series Delta I bought used off Kijiji sell site...it is 10 years old, it has full cast extensions and way more quality feeling than the new saws I have looked at today. Make sure you look at the one you decide on in person...and not on a computer screen.

 

[justin waldron]

Mike, I would look towards the 3hp Shop Fox.  I have the Shop Fox with the extended table, but many companies offer free shipping on this saw which saves money.  The shop Fox has the Leeson motor and all the bells and whistles, but whatever you choose, buy the most saw you can get for the money.

[David Dean]

well mike there are all kinds of saw's out there I have a Porter Cable but what you what do frist is eine out where the nerest place is to servcie your saw for me it's over 100 mile's so do your home work.

[steve kidd]

hi mike, i have an older ridgid and love it. square and true right out of box. the new ones dont have a belt drive. my dad is going to buy one next week. for the money 550 bucks, i dont think you can go wrong with this saw, good luck with your decision.

[Mike Lerchenmuller]

Mike,

 

What ever you do make sure the side tables are cast iron.  Might even get a router table built in.  It would be nice to have a slide.   I would stay away from the box stores. 

[chris sons]

look into the rigid 10" table saw.550.00 at home depot

[Tom Dolan]

Mike, I bought a new rigid about 6 months ago and have been very happy with it and for the price I think it will be hard to do better.

[Don Wooldridge]

It's also time for me to get a new saw to replace my v. old Craftsman radial arm (!)  but I'm advanced enough now that I want High Precision, not just a so-so cut.  To me, that means, probably, a 10" blade because of the huge choice of blades, esp. carbide, fine cuts, etc. I'd also look for its adaptability to it's using some very useful add-ons like a large precisely located fence with possible rail or track-mounted accessories, stoppers, guides, etc.  I intend to be putting hands-on at my Bellingham Grizzly store, checking out their hybrid (what exactly does that word mean in this case?) 10" cabinet saw, and will also be looking at their table extensions.  I need to be able to reduce down full size plywood materials, and its even a hassle with the old Craftsman to slice & dice down to longer (let's say... a 14" X 42" piece destined to become the side of a rifle container.)

 

BTW: Even though I live in the US, being an ex-Canuck I continue to use metric measurements (you guyz ought to give it a try: 102.3mm is far easier than, say, 39 and 5/16th", plus one-them extra little marks....), and I regularly work to 1mm levels of "resolution", so that my end-product is always square and true.

 

Anyhow, it's truer than ever: buy the best, most stable and precise saw you can possibly afford, and "used" may work, especially if it's an estate sale and not some unit that some fellow is upgrading from, having really "used up" the old one. 

[skut flut]

I may be banished to the nether world for this comment Don,  but take a look at the Incra TS system fence/positioner add on for your new saw, whatever it may turn out to be.  Looks a bit ungainly, but this thing is good.. and you can get metric scales for it to boot!  Nice piece of equipment, and should only take a small second mortgage to get one...

Don Wooldridge said:

It's also time for me to get a new saw to replace my v. old Craftsman radial arm (!)  but I'm advanced enough now that I want High Precision, not just a so-so cut.  To me, that means, probably, a 10" blade because of the huge choice of blades, esp. carbide, fine cuts, etc. I'd also look for its adaptability to it's using some very useful add-ons like a large precisely located fence with possible rail or track-mounted accessories, stoppers, guides, etc.  I intend to be putting hands-on at my Bellingham Grizzly store, checking out their hybrid (what exactly does that word mean in this case?) 10" cabinet saw, and will also be looking at their table extensions.  I need to be able to reduce down full size plywood materials, and its even a hassle with the old Craftsman to slice & dice down to longer (let's say... a 14" X 42" piece destined to become the side of a rifle container.)

 

BTW: Even though I live in the US, being an ex-Canuck I continue to use metric measurements (you guyz ought to give it a try: 102.3mm is far easier than, say, 39 and 5/16th", plus one-them extra little marks....), and I regularly work to 1mm levels of "resolution", so that my end-product is always square and true.

 

Anyhow, it's truer than ever: buy the best, most stable and precise saw you can possibly afford, and "used" may work, especially if it's an estate sale and not some unit that some fellow is upgrading from, having really "used up" the old one. 

[John Schaben]

May be just me, but I get the willly's thinking about breaking down sheet goods on a table saw, any table saw, without significant and substantial infeed, outfeed and wing support. I know, many have done it, myself included, many times without a problem and many that have had a problem had also done it many times without a problem. My position is that breaking down sheet goods is best done with a circular saw and guide if a panel saw is not an option. JMHO

Don Wooldridge said:

 I need to be able to reduce down full size plywood materials, and its even a hassle with the old Craftsman to slice & dice down to longer (let's say... a 14" X 42" piece destined to become the side of a rifle container.)

 

[Wayne Kivi]

I like to lots of research before buying anything and getting my table saw was no exception. I found a Fine Wood Working Magazine a couple of years ago that rated virtually all table saws under a $1000 and being a retired educator, needed to keep to my budget. Much to my surprise, they rated the Craftsman Professional ($990) as the best. There were many good saws but the one they rated as the "best buy" was the Rigid 10". I happened to be at HD just browsing one day and saw that they had a floor model on sale for around $325. I promptly bought it. They helped me dismantle it somewhat so I could get it home. It was the best decision that I made in a while. It has plenty of power and handles anything that I can throw at it, very stable w/cast iron top, came with a built in casters that allow you to move it around with one hand, and is very accurate. I love it.