Table saws with granite table

[autografe]

My local Sears store has one on clearance marked down from $1099 to $649. Anyone have any experience with this or another saw with a granite table. One concern is that if some one were to drop something heavy it could break the top. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[LordPsychon]

There are some advantages to a granite top: no rust, temperature stable (can take a LOT more heat), and generally stronger. The disadvantages though include easier to chip than cast iron and harder to replace than cast iron. Plus there's a hidden danger in real granite tops that I doubt anyone else would tell you - natural granite often includes some pitchblende which is a source of Uranium. This uranium isn't going to explode or kill you with radiation but as uranium decays it produces radon and that over time can cause lung cancer. It's for that reason that I have synthetic granite countertops.

 

[Caman]

There are some advantages to a granite top: no rust, temperature stable (can take a LOT more heat), and generally stronger. The disadvantages though include easier to chip than cast iron and harder to replace than cast iron. Plus there's a hidden danger in real granite tops that I doubt anyone else would tell you - natural granite often includes some pitchblende which is a source of Uranium. This uranium isn't going to explode or kill you with radiation but as uranium decays it produces radon and that over time can cause lung cancer. It's for that reason that I have synthetic granite countertops.

LOL! A little paranoid on that one. Big doses of radiation will kill, the amount in a tabletop is only a speck of what you get daily.

From the EPA...

Granite
Any type of rock could contain naturally occurring radioactive elements like radium, uranium and thorium. Some pieces of granite contain more of these elements than others, depending on the composition of the molten rock from which they formed.

If present, these radioactive elements will decay into radon, a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas which may be released from the granite over time. You can see in the diagram below how the decay of Uranium-238 (a radioactive element) produces Radon-222 gas:

Graphical diagram of how decay of uranium-238 produces radon gas

To learn more about radioactive decay and radioactive half lives, see our half-life page.

However, since granite is generally not very porous, less radon is likely to escape from it than from a more porous stone such as sandstone. It’s important to know that radon originating in the soil beneath homes is a more common problem and a far larger public health risk than radon from granite building materials. Also, any radon from granite countertops in kitchens or bathrooms is likely to be diluted in the typical home since those rooms are usually well ventilated.

In addition to radon, the other natural radioactive material in the granite can emit radiation. However, it is extremely unlikely that granite countertops in homes could increase the radiation dose above that the normal, natural background dose that comes from soil and rocks.

BTW, That synthetic countertop you have probably has more chemicals that can kill you that an entire granite mine.

BTW/2....you know how they get synthetic countertops? They crush granite and other hard stone and mix it in with an epoxy. LOL!

 

[Want2race]

As stated magnets are the big disadvantage.

That said! You can almost always come up with an alternate was to make a fixture work

 

[rsanter]

I have one of those table saws. They were made by STEEL CITY. They are a great table saw.
If you need a table saw and can afford the $650 then go get it

Bob

 

[zkling]

A few years ago they were all the rage, Ridgid also had one at ol' Home Depot.

 

[LordPsychon]

LOL! A little paranoid on that one. Big doses of radiation will kill, the amount in a tabletop is only a speck of what you get daily.

From the EPA...



BTW, That synthetic countertop you have probably has more chemicals that can kill you that an entire granite mine.

BTW/2....you know how they get synthetic countertops? They crush granite and other hard stone and mix it in with an epoxy. LOL!

Well, what do you know! Learn something new every day. Glad to know it's not a real issue.

 

[tarbellb]

They are flatter than any cast iron top and stay flat with age. A major disadvantage is not being able to use magnetic featherboards and jigs though.

This ^

I have a Steel City, which is the same supplier for any granite topped Craftsman TS you find.

Steel City started out in good spirit, wood worker owned and designed. But ultimately ended up in the Taiwan heap of models.

_ My table saw has been OK, but not great. Replaced the 1.5hp motor once, through warranty (which was pretty smooth).

_ My fence/top/blade alignment is not perfect due to bad machining of alignment holes.

Overall a good saw that I got at a excellent price. But I would check around, for that kind of money you really could score a amazing used saw. Also, I want to say the quality went down over the years for Steel City. Mine is a circa 2008?

 

[michiganman18]

I agree. I started on an alloy/magnesium saw very flimsy. Not having the magnetic top is really what hurts.

 

[Justanoldguy]

LOL! A little paranoid on that one. Big doses of radiation will kill, the amount in a tabletop is only a speck of what you get daily.

From the EPA...



BTW, That synthetic countertop you have probably has more chemicals that can kill you that an entire granite mine.

BTW/2....you know how they get synthetic countertops? They crush granite and other hard stone and mix it in with an epoxy. LOL!

Ditto

 

[retfr8flyr]

Just be aware that Steel City has shut down, so repair parts could be a problem.

 

[theoldwizard1]

How is the blade arbor affixed to it ? I would be concerned about the blade to surface remaining 90°.

 

[woody 73]

Years ago when I first looked at them I was blown away how cool it was; I still like them but I am a little afraid of cracking in my cold garage so I tend to still work with the cast steel.

Some interesting reading:

http://community.woodmagazine.com/t5/Tools-and-Tool-Buying/granite-table-saw-tops/td-p/78754