Table saw conundrum....

[BerBer5985]

Ok, I bought an older model Delta contractor saw for around $75 about a year ago because I was thinking in my head that I wanted a larger table saw for doing plywood cuts and something a little smoother, but the reality is, it just takes a large footprint in my garage, although I'd love to get into a little wood working. nothing too extreme but just some minor things to get started. I've been working in aligning the saw and finding things off alignment and what not and I think I have it close now, but when the motor is hanging it seems to pull the saw out if alignment a fair amount. I've messed with this thing for a long time and I'm thinking I may want to go back to a portable table saw, gain some room in the garage, but still want to be able accurate cuts. I've been looking very seriously at the Rigid Portable table saw with the stand which is around $500 or so ( hoping it will go on sale). Do you think it would Neva wise move getting rid of the delta and trading to a portable saw? I miss being to just take it outside on nice days and what not and making plywood cuts and the contractor saw is just too far heavy. I keep leaning this way thinking that by going with a larger portable table saw as nice as the ridgid that I won't be sacrificing much in the long run, and gaining portability and simplicity. Help mr guide my decision.

 

[msnow]

if its plywood you are looking to cut and space you are looking to save, the festool track saw is the answer. I believe that it will out cut in accuracy and time any table saw you can buy new for under 1000 bucks. It is a great saw to deal with sheet goods. Add a bench top table saw in the mix and you have a great portable set up and can do just about anything. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Outlawmws]

Personally I hate a table saw for cutting full sheets of ply. It's too hard to manage unless you have full size in-feed and out-feed tables for the saw. Panel saws are great, but you will lose about 12 ft or more of wall space.

I've been using a clamped straight edge (Similar in concept to the track saw, but requires more "user input" to keep on track) and my Skill saw with great results over the years, including making a few pieces of furniture and quite a number of kitchen cabinets. Now I'm no production shop, but it doesn't sound like you are either.

 

[Sparkfarmer]

My two cents:
If the fence is good on the Delta I wouldn't give up on it easily. If its not good, and you would also prefer portability... There should probably be a new table saw in your future.

Cheers
SF

 

[KenC]

If yours really is the contractor's saw, Keep It. It is far superior to any of the portables. Once it is set up correctly it will stay that way. Most of the portables sacrifice durability for weight savings. Universal motors, aluminum castings etc, do not replace cast iron in the saw world.

But, definitely get a good mobile base under the contractors saw. And design a folding outfeed table to assist with long rips.

I've had both types as well as a full sized Unisaw with outfeed and side tables.

Trust me, bigger is better.

 

[woody 73]

A benchtop saw most times come in direct drive and you can carry it almost anywhere,most time (at least the new models) have a lot of plastic,aluminum and some steel parts. Those little motors are loud and not as long lasting as the larger motors coming from the bigger class of saws. One downside will be a smaller footprint (top) which will limit you to smaller plywood boards and because these saws do not have a lot of weight they tend to vibrate more. But space wise they are nice to bring to any job site; and they will not break your wallet.

Contractor saws will take up more room (you can buy wheel sets),they have larger motors that will tend to last longer,bigger footprints for larger pieces of plywood and they will cost you more money. Because the motors hang off the back they tend to build up a lot of sawdust so cleaning will be in order.

Cabinet saws Heavy less vibration,higher cost,improved dust collection and cabinet trunnions are easier to adjust. They will **** up your valuable floor space (you can buy wheel kits/or sometimes they come already mounted); and a good saw will set you back some big dollars.

If I were in your shoes I would keep any old delta machines because they are all very good in quality as compared to the new machines coming out of china. If money is no object then buy a saw stop (save your fingers). If money is scarce look at cl and buy used machines. If you need the space then go for the smallest bench top.

Hope this helps you out.

 

[Deere_Man]

I bought a 1948 Delta Unisaw at a School auction for $450. The tilt and blade raise were both very stiff but a complete dis-assembly, cleaning and restoration Id put it up against anything. The footprint on a cabinet saw is much smaller than a contractor saw and with a good mobile base they are fairly easy to move around. An added benefit is safety as it is easier to collect dust on a cabinet saw. You do have to be a little patient to find them in that price range. If you're only going to cut plywood a tracksaw may be the way to go over the portable. Look into a company called Eurekazone, for under $200 you're in business and it's well thought of on a woodworking forum I hang out on.

 

[BerBer5985]

Oh I'll cut more than plywood. The reason I wanted the contractor saw at the time was for being able to rip larger pieces when I needed it. I'd love to pick up a cabinet saw if I had a "wood shop", but I'm interested in too many things. I love to dabble a little bit in woodwork, in welding and metal work, and in messing with cars all in a 20x20 garage. Space gets very tight, needless to say, so space comes at a premium. The contractor saw is nice, but with the variety of things I do, a portable large table saw might suit me better. For example, I might dabble in some woodwork, but the next day rebuild my shed. If I was strictly a woodworker, I'd own a cabinet saw no question. If I was strictly a metal worker I'd own a full size mig and tig, but as a hobbyist it's a middle of the road mig welder. Im waiting for the perfect excuse to spend the money on the ridgid such as a great sale, or a need to take the saw with me. I just haven't run into that need just yet. I think when I rebuild my shed next year will be the time to jump on one or possibly a black Friday sale or something.

 

[jfull]

I went through the same issue, I had a craftsman contractor saw that I sold and bought a ridged portable. The one thing don't like is the topmis plastic, so no magnets stick, but overall I love it and am glad that it folds up nice and small.

 

[BerBer5985]

Do you think you gave up a lot going to that ridgid portable? I mean on my contractor saw my rip capacity right now is around 28" or so and I think the ridgid is 25-26" or something and beyond that usually a circular saw and straight edge is what I use anyway. I'm saving up for the ridgid because I think I want to buy it, but the sad thing is I probably won't get much for the delta. I've seen most contractor saws listed for $75-150.

 

[slopecarver]

which model contractor saw do you have? we could then tell you if downgrading to a portable would be worth the loss in capacity and quality of cut. Smaller cast iron contractor saws do exist but nearly every stock fence that I've seen on a table saw of any generation has been junk and you would need to consider upgrading the fence (a delta t2 would work)

We would also need to know the exact type of woodworking you are doing and wheter or not you need a deep depth of cut (many older small saws have small blades but the new portables have larger blades.) I love my 34-500

 

[49tandc]

A couple of years ago, I bought a set of plans from the New Yankee Workshop for a table that wrap around (any) 10" contractors table saw. It provides a full size table, yet when not in use, has wheels on the end so it only has a small footprint & can roll to a corner of the shop when not in use. Rolls easily to the truckbed if needed somewhere else. Its a well though-out tool. When needed, roll it out and sit it on some saw horses. It is VERY helpful dealing with full sheets of plywood. Good plans & well worth 10 bux or so for the plans. - http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?9908


49T&C

 

[BerBer5985]

Well it's a delta 36-640 contractor saw. As far as woodworking, for the most part so far it's basic carpentry like some simple dados and things like that, but I can't say I've ever built a piece of furniture. I've built a basic toybox for my son our of MDF and painted it and some shelves, but I can't say I've done much more than that. I'd love to learn to make some cools things for fun like some nice boxes with joined edges and things, but I'm in the learn process.

I like that table saw extension table. def neat. I also think something like the rousseau extension tables that they make for several models would be something I would add on to the ridgid if I buy it and that way I can still do larger pieces, but not sacrifice the portability of it.

 

[Uncle Ben]

Personally I went with a Ridgid TS3650, which is a contractor saw (not portable), but it did come with a "hercules" mobile base, which can be engaged with a press on a foot pedal. For me this is the best option for a standard 2 car garage and I want the most accurate cuts I can get, without the space requirements of a full cabinet saw.

The top is all steel, fairly large for a contractor saw (maybe too big for your situation), quiet smooth motor, and can be setup to be very accurate. I store my crosscut sled on top and sometime use it as workbench space for light work, and just take off the sled when I need to rip or do something else.

They can be bought used for a lot less than the $500 that you are considering for the portable Ridgid

 

[GarageEnvy]

I've used a Delta 34-440 for years. Until recently it was in the middle of a 14'x18' shed and I know what you mean about taking up space. At our cabin I have a cheapo portable saw and although we only use it once or twice a year, it's a good compromise to get portability. My Delta has two extension wings and could be more compact but it's still heavy. If I was starting from scratch I'd go total portable like your Ridgid or all the way to a cabinet saw like Grizzly, Unisaw or Powermatic. Honestly for most my plywood projects I have the fine craftsmen at Lowes or Home Depot rough the panels down to size. They're easier to transport move and cut. Plus, it's also free.

 

[BerBer5985]

I think I missled everyone with the plywood comment. Sorry about that. I'm not buying it based on strictly doing plywood. I bought it mainly to build the fireplace in my family room at the time because and a shelf for our cabinets so it was nice to have the size, but a larger portable saw would have dome the job just as well. I would love to pick up a cabinet saw, or more importantly have a complete wood shop and another building for metal work and cars. Haha all these tools don't fit every well in one area!

 

[BerBer5985]

What about something like the Dewalt 745 which is a compact table saw for transporting and a decent saw with good reviews, and then the rousseu stand to go with it. Should net me a little more money but overall, it would serve both purposes, portability, and larger object cutting.

 

[Toolfool]

I'm a finish carpenter and I've been using a cheap portable Delta table saw and a Rousseau folding table with an outfeed table for on-site work for almost 20 years. I can rip plywood or long material accurately and do precise cabinet and trim work too (quality blade is key). The whole thing breaks down and packs into the truck. I bought the same set-up for my brother in Pittsburgh, he's a weekend handyman with limited garage space. I think it's the way to go.

 

[BerBer5985]

I'm a finish carpenter and I've been using a cheap portable Delta table saw and a Rousseau folding table with an outfeed table for on-site work for almost 20 years. I can rip plywood or long material accurately and do precise cabinet and trim work too (quality blade is key). The whole thing breaks down and packs into the truck. I bought the same set-up for my brother in Pittsburgh, he's a weekend handyman with limited garage space. I think it's the way to go.

I think so too! Thanks! I may go that route. I saw that dewalt saw on sale a little while ago for $299, I should have picked it up because it's back up to $369. I figure that'll do everything I need with the rousseu table. How's the fence on that table? Decent?

 

[Toolfool]

My fence is parallel to the blade. I add a particleboard facing to it so I can get the blade close without hitting steel, and to be able to clamp guides and stops to it.

 

[BerBer5985]

The new dewalt dw745 is so portable and tiny that it will store on the shelf in the garage and it looks like the rousseau table folds up and stores every easily so I can have it set up in the garage in a few minutes when I need it, or take the saw with me to a jobsite. Looks like it might fit the bill. It's a shame the rousseau table is so expensive. It costs as much as the saw.

 

[rsanter]

look up where they take the contractors saws and make a rolling toolbox type base and side extension for them. yes I know this will now take up more space but then you can also make an overlay top that will sit on top of it and be a general workbench when you dont need the tablesaw.
use big enough wheels that you can take it out to the backyard if you need to

for starage you will need a shelf that it will roll under so you can have full use of the space above. yes I know I mentioned using it as a workbench however you want it to be a pull out workbench so things do not collect on top of it. roll it out when you need a workbench or table saw and back when your done

bob

 

[Toolfool]

The new dewalt dw745 is so portable and tiny that it will store on the shelf in the garage and it looks like the rousseau table folds up and stores every easily so I can have it set up in the garage in a few minutes when I need it, or take the saw with me to a jobsite. Looks like it might fit the bill. It's a shame the rousseau table is so expensive. It costs as much as the saw.

Just make sure the Rousseau table is designed to fit the saw. Another contractor saw my set-up and thought he'd save money by buying a Rousseau table on craigslist. The table didn't fit the saw he had. They offer a few different tables with adapters for each specific saw.