I think I need a table saw

[rlwhitetr3b]

Wood working is not really one of my hobbies, but I’m staining and installing the doors, baseboard and trim in our new house. This is the third of our houses I’ve done. The first was just a remove, refinish and reinstall while the second was a complete replacement. I purchased a Bosch dual-bevel sliding compound miter saw, which I still have, for that one.

This house has a couple of items that will require me to rip some boards. I have four pocket doors that will require the jam on the top and one side to be cut to allow the door to pass through. I also want to create something to use instead of quarter round on the non-carpeted rooms. This will require being able to rip long boards at forty-five-degree angle.

I thought I had a friend that could help but due to health reasons I’m on my own.

We live in downstate Illinois, so the used tool market is not very good. I have seen some older Craftsman saws and some real junk for sale, but nothing that looked interesting. If I have to buy new, I was thinking of a DeWalt DWE7491RS. I like the fact that if has its own stand and folds up for storage.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/pow...cm-rip-capacity-and-a-rolling-stand/dwe7491rs

How good of a saw do I need for my project and is this DeWalt a good value?

Thanks for your input
Rich

 

[dclassical]

I have the saw and like it. The miter gauge is useless, too much slop, but it does not seem like you need it, and you can always get a better one later or use some tape to remove a lot of the play.

I still want to build some extensions so I can run/support bigger pieces of wood.

Their fence is very good, though the measuring tape keeps peeling off (and yes, I should fix it, easy fix, just never get to it). And I use a measuring tape.

I have no regrets.

 

[jonshonda]

If you have the room, get a nice portable like the Dewalt you mention. It gets a lot of praise on GJ and elsewhere. Also make sure you have push sticks, or something like the "Gripper", which is a very nice tool for holding stock while you rip.

Diablo ripping blades are nice, and if you can use the saw outdoors, your garage and lungs with thank you!

 

[Renegade1LI]

The ridgid contractor saw is listed at 349$ in hd, you won’t find a better saw for that price new with the stand.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Wood working is not really one of my hobbies,
.
.
.
We live in downstate Illinois, so the used tool market is not very good. I have seen some older Craftsman saws and some real junk for sale, but nothing that looked interesting.

You should be able to find a GOOD Craftsman saw near Chicagoland for <$150. The best ones have to motor mounted out front and drive the arbor view a belt. Look to one with a cast iron table and cast iron extension. 2 extensions is is very nice.

Don't worry about surface rust. I will easily clean up with some WD40 and fine steel wool.

Nothing wrong with that DeWalt saw. I just hate to see people pay that kind of money for something they are going to use a dozen times and then have it stashed away in a corner.

I have the saw and like it. The miter gauge is useless, too much slop, ...

For accurate cross cuts, you really need a sled !

If you want to cut tenon cheeks, You will need an expensive miter that can hold your material upright.

Buy a REALLY GOOD carbide blade. Maybe 2. One for general purpose and one for finish cuts.

 

[PugetDude]

I really like my Bosch 4100 with the gravity rise stand. It gives you the option to add integrated pull-out outfeed and side supports- very helpful when ripping longer stock or plywood.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

You should be able to find a GOOD Craftsman saw near Chicagoland for <$150.

Chicago is about 2 1/2 hours away. I'm do not want to travel that far. Thanks

 

[shawhite]

I’m pretty happy with Bosch with the gravity rise stand as well

 

[Renegade1LI]

Just checked the ridgid r4514 is on sale at hd for 349?

 

[vjquan]

I have an earlier version of that saw and the rack and pinion fence is awesome! It's done everything for me as a home owner. A little on the heavy side for a portable, but has enough heft to not move around. I wouldn't suggest running a door through it to trim it as the table is on the smaller side.

 

[kngelv]

The big deal with DeWalt is that they have by far the best fence out of all the contractor saws. They must have a patent because I can’t think of any reason why others have not copied it. It’s dead nuts accurate and easy to adjust.

James

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

I wouldn't suggest running a door through it to trim it as the table is on the smaller side.

The doors were all made by a local Amish door manufacture and are all already hung. Thanks for the info about the saw.

 

[never enuf time]

Get the DeWalt. It really won't lose much of it's value if you lose interest in ww.

The fence is better than any other saw in that range. Pass on the ridgid, it's not even close to the DeWalt. No experience with a Bosch.

I have the earliest version of that DeWalt saw , probably bought it in the early 2000's.
If you don't push them too hard, it should last a long time.

 

[PugetDude]

I've owned a half-dozen table saws over the past 40 years. The Bosch 4100 is the only one I've ever owned that I didn't need to use a tape measure to set the rip fence. I just set it to the scale and let-'er-rip.
I bought the smaller Bosch portable table saw to leave at the cabin- it's also a good saw but not nearly as good as the original.
Don't buy anything too small- you'll get frustrated and end up quitting woodworking or upgrading. I'd stick with contractor size- and the Bosch is king in that category, IMO
YMMV.

 

[ddawg16]

For the money, I'm a Ryobi fan.

I have the BT3000....I've had it 20 years and it's still doing a great job.

 

[never enuf time]

For the money, I'm a Ryobi fan.

I have the BT3000....I've had it 20 years and it's still doing a great job.

Is that the early Ryobi from late 80'- early 90's ?. That looked like an awesome saw. I think Ryobi went downhill from there.

 

[ddawg16]

Is that the early Ryobi from late 80'- early 90's ?. That looked like an awesome saw. I think Ryobi went downhill from there.

I'm going to say early 90's

Downhill? I don't think so. All my cordless tools are Ryobi. And I have a lot....

I've got great use out of them

 

[never enuf time]

I'm going to say early 90's

Downhill? I don't think so. All my cordless tools are Ryobi. And I have a lot....

I've got great use out of them

I shouldn't judge what I haven't used. I once had to rip something on a job that had a newer $99 Ryobi table saw. It was scary !! I've been a carpenter for over 30 years & it ranks right up there in dangerous moments.

 

[ddawg16]

I shouldn't judge what I haven't used. I once had to rip something on a job that had a newer $99 Ryobi table saw. It was scary !! I've been a carpenter for over 30 years & it ranks right up there in dangerous moments.

$99? Are you sure it wasn't a HF?

 

[mikegt4]

Unless you are a dedicated woodworker a modest Craftsman, Delta or similar CL find will do. I have a Delta "contractor's" saw that I bought new circa 1980, they typically go for $150-$200 on CL here. They are built like a tank compared to today's big box store offering. Restored 1950's-60's Craftsman table saws go for $150 on CL. I also recently bought this 8" Delta table saw (it was made in 1950) for $25 on CL. I put new bearings in and painted it, works like a charm.

Look through your local CL "table saw" listings and you will probably find a good saw in short order. Don't consider anything except belt drive.

 

[never enuf time]

$99? Are you sure it wasn't a HF?

I am positive, it didn't help my opinion of Ryobi. I did have an early 90's Ryobi drill that was OK. It didn't last long for everyday use, but it helped me get stuff done.

 

[Renegade1LI]

BT 3000 was an awesome saw, had one since the 90's & just gave it to a young guy that works for me, he loves it. Ryobi has always be an innovator, had the first cordless trim router years before anyone else, I still have an old blue one. First cordless belt sander, pool vacuum & I'm sure there are more, no complaints with their stuff.

 

[PugetDude]

BT 3000 was an awesome saw, had one since the 90's & just gave it to a young guy that works for me, he loves it. Ryobi has always be an innovator, had the first cordless trim router years before anyone else, I still have an old blue one. First cordless belt sander, pool vacuum & I'm sure there are more, no complaints with their stuff.

Their little AP10 planer changed the entire market segment. Still have and use the one I bought in the 1980’s.
I second John’s comments- my Ryobi stuff has never stabbed me in the back.

 

[jonshonda]

I shouldn't judge what I haven't used. I once had to rip something on a job that had a newer $99 Ryobi table saw. It was scary !! I've been a carpenter for over 30 years & it ranks right up there in dangerous moments.

If you've been a carpenter for 30 years, you should know better then to use a $99 table saw. Seriously, that is some green horn type stuff!

I can just see it now, you show up with your new toy "hey guys, look at this $99 table saw I just got". *shots being fired from every direction by every trade on the job*

 

[PugetDude]

If you've been a carpenter for 30 years, you should know better then to use a $99 table saw. Seriously, that is some green horn type stuff!

I can just see it now, you show up with your new toy "hey guys, look at this $99 table saw I just got". *shots being fired from every direction by every trade on the job*

HF vs SnapOn- here we go again.

In the 1980's when the Guangzhou was first opening up I saw some incredible joinery and millwork being done in new upscale storefronts by Chinese carpenters using an upside down circular saw screwed to a piece of plywood supported by cement bags, a jigsaw with six pieces of romex taped together for a cord, a broken plastic speed square, a bag full of sharpened screwdrivers for chisels, rusty files for rasps, broken glass bottles for scrapers, worn out chinese sandpaper...etc. It was incredibly crude, but they made it work.

A true craftsman could turn out some incredible work with a $99 table saw- If that was all he had to work with. Tools don't make the craftsman, a true craftsman makes with his tools.

Not advocating the OP buy a $99 saw. There ARE better options available, and I'm sure those old Chinese master carpenters have all been usurped by hipsters with shiny new tool bags and state of the art Chinese knockoff tools.

 

[jd_1138]

I bought a neat little portable Delta for like $75 I think it was -- off CL 5 years ago. Guy had gotten it for a wedding present and just was not into manual work of any kind so it looked new. It has paid for itself many times over. Makes nicer and easier cuts than my circular saw.

 

[never enuf time]

If you've been a carpenter for 30 years, you should know better then to use a $99 table saw. Seriously, that is some green horn type stuff!

I can just see it now, you show up with your new toy "hey guys, look at this $99 table saw I just got". *shots being fired from every direction by every trade on the job*

It wasn't my table saw. I went to a job and used the "cabinet guy" saw.

You do have to start somewhere though. I would judge a person by their work, not the tools.

 

[ThatSickRip]

I would judge a person by their work, not the tools.

Yep. I learned that outlook years doing motorcycle track days. Some bike or gear when you first see them and youre like THEN you see them ride and youre like It was the rider, not the bike

 

[jonshonda]

HF vs SnapOn- here we go again.

A true craftsman could turn out some incredible work with a $99 table saw- If that was all he had to work with. Tools don't make the craftsman, a true craftsman makes with his tools.

Not advocating the OP buy a $99 saw. There ARE better options available, and I'm sure those old Chinese master carpenters have all been usurped by hipsters with shiny new tool bags and state of the art Chinese knockoff tools.

Yeah but how many of those Chinese craftsmen HAVEN'T been bitten by those tools?

You do make a very good point though, and I often have to remind myself of this when bored and shopping. I have lusted for a Bosch Glide miter saw for years, and to tell you the truth I don't know how many times in the last few years I would have even needed the extended capabilities in width/capacity.

I was given an old crappy CM 10" miter saw that I have dialed in to be as accurate and dependable as any saw in production, (even though I had to physically break the one piece fence to make is accurate). I have made thousands of cuts with that saw, and built a lot of stuff, and each cut costs me NOTHING!

Same thing can be said for my CM 113.xxxx table saw. I picked it up at a garage sale for $75. I took it apart, lubed and improved, and added some really heavy duty steel tubing to pair with a Beisemeyer fence, and now that is as flat and accurate as any saw in production. And although I've got 30-40 hours into it, my time is free and I enjoy taking something that was useless to someone, and making it useful for me.

But sometimes saving time is more valuable then money, and I have found that I am more apt to use a tool if it is easy to use, and dependable. Most of my large tools need to be stored in a shed, and aren't setup and ready to be used w/o investing some time. So instead of using my drill press, table saw, or disc/belt sander, I reach for tools that I can quickly use and put away. Are they always the best and most accurate, no, but sometimes they don't need to be.

I dream of the time when I have enough floor space for all of my tools, but for now I made due with what I've got, and don't have thousands of dollars of tools sitting unused.

 

[Troutdreams]

No particular model recommendations but I’d choose whichever one has the best fence (reviews)


Sent from my iPad using Garage Journal

 

[georgiadave]

For what you have to do, some kind of a track saw might be a better solution.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

I just looked up track saws so I knew what you were suggesting.

I have a guide for my circular saw which I have used successfully to cut plywood sheets etc. I will need to cut 1 1/2 strips from 4 1/2" x 7' boards. I do not think I can do that with my current equipment and I think the resale of a real track saw would be worse than a table saw.

Thanks for suggesting a different option.

 

[Mb4]

Avoid anything Craftsman made after 2001.

 

[nieuport17]

I started with Ryobi table saw. The old blue one.
After I upgraded to Bosch 4100, I was like, that Ryobi was a piece a junk.

 

[jonshonda]

I just looked up track saws so I knew what you were suggesting.

Track saws work really well for processing sheet goods in their stock sizes (4x8' for example) but I think you would struggle to work with narrow stuff.

A table saw is the answer, and portable/foldable is the key in this case due to the admitted low use.

 

[PugetDude]

I started with Ryobi table saw. The old blue one.
After I upgraded to Bosch 4100, I was like, that Ryobi was a piece a junk.

I switched from an older Craftsman contractor saw to the Bosch 4100 and felt the same way. Thought I would miss the mass of the cast iron but the Bosch actually runs a lot smoother. The gravity rise stand is really a game-changer, don’t have to have a table saw perpetually parked in the middle of the shop anymore.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

Delta toward their end made contractor saws that are a pretty good saw. 1 1/2hp motors on them. Large tube rip fences. T-slot mitre slots. And because all other table saws seem to sell for $50, that's the price they show up for.

 

[seber]

If you go the used route, be very picky about the fence. The best saw in the world is useless without a good self squaring fence. Craftsman sold some real stinkers in the past and put them on solid cast iron saws. They have also sold some real miserable saws. I'm thinking of the flex shaft and direct drive models. I have a direct drive in the shop that gets used mostly as a work surface. It has a great cast iron table and self squaring fence but the one hp motor is over rated. It was sold as a 12" saw but can barely turn a 10" blade. I'd put an 8" on it but the direct drive motor gets in the way and I wouldn't be able to cut a 2x4.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I just looked up track saws so I knew what you were suggesting.

I have a guide for my circular saw which I have used successfully to cut plywood sheets etc. I will need to cut 1 1/2 strips from 4 1/2" x 7' boards. I do not think I can do that with my current equipment and I think the resale of a real track saw would be worse than a table saw.

Thanks for suggesting a different option.

I have a track saw and table, for narrow boards the table saw is the way to go. Fyi home depot still has the ridgid contractor saw for 349$, good saw with stand and takes dado blade. We use this saw on site, takes abuse and still cuts good, plus a great price point.