SEVERAL people have mentioned a track saw. And they clearly didn't see the part in the OP where I said I have a circular saw and an straight edge to rip bigger sheet goods down.
My Bosch 4100 is the only table saw I have ever owned that I can absolutely trust the rip fence to stay parallel with the blade and the scale to be dead-on width every time. Set it and forget it.
Other than having a riving knife and being able to plunge cut, am i really missing much? From what I've seen most circular saws (7 1/4) have better cutting depth due to larger diameter blade. Aren't most track saws around the 6 1/2-6 3/4 size?
Dust collection. I used a Bosch circular saw with the matching track for years, and it was definitely an outside tool. I made the mistake of ripping some 19mm plywood sheets in the basement with the Bosch circular saw...once. Even though I had the vacuum connected to the saw, I was sweeping and vacuuming chips for an hour after a few cuts and dust was everywhere.
It's something your lungs do automatically.What's dust collection?
For a while.
Is that an MGB? What year? My first car was a 74-1/2.I have a Bosch 4100. I mounted it on a stand that also has a plastic bucket below to catch sawdust. The height is 1/4” taller than my plastic folding table so it acts as an 8’ long outfeed table. It’s light enough I can lift it into the back of my pickup. I changed the cord to a 24’ so I don’t need an extension cord usually.
The best saw feature is the soft start, and it runs very quiet. Even my grandsons aren’t afraid of it. It has a great detachable guard and good fence. It extends to the side and extra 12” so it can rip 24” boards.
Excuse the mess, I’m working on another project and I just pulled it out from it’s parking spot just so you could see the stand and plastic table relationship
I second this. I have had this saw for about 7 or 8 years now, and it has treated me really well for the projects I have thrown at it. I have used a dado stack with it as well so I can confirm that it works. I upgraded the blade in it and made my own zero inserts which made things even better. Maybe it is just that I don't know enough from not using anything better, but it has worked so well for me so far that I plan to keep using it and get a jointer and a planer before upgrading it.
I used to think the same thing until I actually bought my track saw recently. You are correct. Not even close to the same accuracy and ease of making a straight cut.
You may have luck checking CL or Marketplace for used ones in your area. Table saws may get bought for a project then forgotten about so they can be found in good condition used.
I see em at estate auctions I go to. I'll keep an eye out.
Main things to look for are cast iron top, solid motor, and 10" blade.
I totally agree, Miss strong believer in safety features. I finally bought a saw stop. It was expensive but I figured that the flesh sensing technology was worth it.
Glad you didn’t get hurt.I started with a 10” jet cabinet saw I bought used locally. A GREAT machine and all I needed. I’m fairly experienced with machines and tools both professionally and for hobby. I do not get complacent but like everyone I get tired. And that’s when I had my first table saw accident that landed me in the emergency room. Fortunately, tip of finger only, just barely nicked it. Still, ~$2k all said and done.
Realizing how lucky I was, I decided to buy a SawStop which was fairly new at the time. Cost me a little more than the hospital visit but I was able to sell my Jet saw and get $1000 to help
Now fast forward maybe 8 years to earlier this year. Same kinda situation with the saw stop. I’d been cutting some smaller pieces and must not have lifted my hand as high as I thought and the blade nipped my left index finger. Didn’t even notice it but an extremely loud bang from the saw stop startled me. I’ve heard that the saw can trigger by metal in wood so I thought I’d hit a brad nail in the board I was cutting. No, in fact my finger had. More or less a paper cut.
Saw Stop will send you a brand new module if it’s triggered by flesh so I got a new one for free ($100 otherwise).
The table saw is the only machine in my shop I’ve ever had an accident on and I’ve now had 2 in 10 years. I have a lot of machines. The price is actually cheap if your first one is a Saw Stop. Where it gets really expensive is if you realize you need one later.
