Table Saws

[TXST8tj]

i am looking to get a table saw sometime soon. the wife keeps asking me to make stuff for her, but i tell her that i am not good enough by hand with the circular saw to make clean enough cuts to make some of the stuff she is asking for. i told her if i had a table saw, i could make perfect clean cuts and i would get started on some project ASAP.

i will need to stay as close to the $500 range as possible. i want something that will last me as long as i need a table saw. nothing of the $99 plastic flavor. my parents have a 20 year old craftsman table saw that they bought new, and it still works great. it's the saw i learned how to cut wood on. that is something i am looking for. something quality and that will last. (although i find Craftsman is very proud of their table saws these days)

i am looking for something with a solid/sturdy permanent base. these are a couple models i am looking at....

Jet
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs...3&productId=100399036&N=10000003+90401+500744

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=93017-28920-JBTS-10LS-2&lpage=none

Delta
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=237665-32764-36-979&lpage=none

Hitachi
http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=159372-46578-C10FL&lpage=none


right now, the delta is looking the best to me. does anyone have any experience with any of these?

 

[Kevin54]

Delta is a good brand. JET is good but Taiwanese. Don't know about Hitachi. WHat kind of woodworking you are planning on doing also makes a difference in the type/brand of saw that you get. I have a Delta Contractors table saw that I got maybe 15 years ago and it has been a workhorse. Excellent repeatability on angles if I have to tip the blade, cast iron top, the fence has always held square. So I am pretty much sold on Delta. I know a few that has JET and they are very well pleased with them and would buy the brand again. But like I said, the type of woodworking that you do is going to make a difference in the saw that you get. If you are going to rip a lot of lumber, then by all means, you will need a table saw. If you are only going to rip one or two boards a year, then maybe you might want to look into a table top model type of table saw. If you are going to be cutting a lot of angles, crosscut boards, cut studs, rafters, etc, then you will want to look at a compound mitre saw instead. My table saw sets 11 1/2 months out of the year. My compound mitre saw is used on a monthly basis it seems. If you are going to get into woodworking fulltime then go for both. Or you may want to look for a used table saw and a new compound mitre. I see Delta table saws, and Craftsman table saws used all the time in the $200 range.

 

[TXST8tj]

thanks for your response. i have never heard anything bad about Delta. i was actually surprised they made something in this price range.

as far as the woodworking i will be doing, it will be a variety of projects.
some things my wife is wanting are a nice toy chest for our 10 month old's toys (and future kids of course) just something other than a rubbermaid tub, ya know. she is teacher and wants some decent bookshelves for her classroom, built to fit her specs (they don't provide a whole lot of extra furniture).
we have an inset wall in our study (would be a closet if we chose to make that room a bedroom when the house was built..for reference), and we would like to do a built-in lower cabinet and bookshelves on the upper half.
i have started some garage projects...shelves, workbench, etc with my circular saw, but would love to have cleaner cuts on things like the workbench top and shelf tops.
when i had access to my parent's table saw, i was making subwoofer enslosures. something i would like to start doing again...but once again, won't bother with using the circular saw.
i will also be building my son a playhouse/jungle gym/fort for the back yard when he is old enough to handle one.
we will also be putting in wood floors and i will be doing the work.

i definitely want a compound miter saw, but it will come second to the table saw. there are things the miter saw can do that the table saw can do too, but the miter saw can't do a lot of things the table saw can, so the miter saw will come later.....but definitely on the list.

 

[myers212]

Give Ridgid a look. Their table saws are well liked. The TS3660 is the "stationary" model while the TS2410LS is the portable model. I have the TS2400 which is last years model. The only difference is in the stand.

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/Table-Saws/EN/index.htm

 

[Northstar9126]

Visit Grizzly.com. Good saws great prices.Sure they are chinese but what isn't.

 

[PAToyota]

I agree with Kevin - check the classified ads. You may be able to find both a tablesaw and miter saw within your price range that way. Also, whether you buy new or used, take a look at this video that describes how to get the most out of your saw: Tablesaw Tuning

Even fresh from the factory, I've seen saws that don't have the blade square to the table and the miter guide rails. Getting everything set up properly will do much to improve the quality of your work.

 

[stricht8]

Believe it or not the $100 el cheapo Ryobi is a real workhorse. Mine has been used hard and it still works fine.

 

[mikester]

I used to own a large 10" table saw. It was a belt driven Delta copy. It was very heavy and very powerful. It could rip just about anything. It just took up so much room ! Plus every time I needed to use it I had to pull it out away from the wall in my garage. Most of the time I would drag it outside so the sawdust wouldnt cover everything in my garage. I had most of the big projects in my house finished so I sold it and bought a Ryobi 10" folding table saw from Home Dumpo. Nice thin blade. Its direct drive but so far its worked out really well for me. If I ever have to take it anywhere its really light and easy to move and it doesnt take up alot of floor space in the garage.

 

[PAToyota]

Typical classified ad around here: http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/718432200.html

No affiliation...

 

[TXST8tj]

i will give the Rigid a look. i have seen it in HD before, just haven't paid much attention to it. if i remember correctly, it is around the price of these others.

i have been keeping an eye out on CraigsList, i just haven't seen anything worth having.

 

[JCByrd24]

When this one can be had for $600 via CC or sale it is great deal.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00922114000P?vName=Tools&cName=Bench+Power+Tools&sName=Table+Saws

It is considered a hybrid which means it has a lot of the features found in a true cabinet saw. Belt drive motor (not universal), cabinet mounted trunions, and cast wings to name a few. This is a heavy saw and takes up some space though. Some of the other ones you've picked out look like good comprimises on cost/weight though without totally cheaping out. I think you're on the right track.

 

[rsanter]

I have seen that hybred saw sell on ebay for $400
I actually just bought its bigger brother (Cman pro cabinet saw) for $200

the deals are out there if you look around

also dont pass the POWERMATIC models, they are good as well

bob

 

[beardking]

If you are willing to drive to DFW, this is listed on the DFW Craigslist (I have no affiliation, I just want the listing to go away so I can stop drooling)

http://dallas.craigslist.org/tls/719557356.html

 

[Uncle Buck]

Delta is a good brand. JET is good but Taiwanese. Don't know about Hitachi. WHat kind of woodworking you are planning on doing also makes a difference in the type/brand of saw that you get. I have a Delta Contractors table saw that I got maybe 15 years ago and it has been a workhorse. Excellent repeatability on angles if I have to tip the blade, cast iron top, the fence has always held square. So I am pretty much sold on Delta. I know a few that has JET and they are very well pleased with them and would buy the brand again. But like I said, the type of woodworking that you do is going to make a difference in the saw that you get. If you are going to rip a lot of lumber, then by all means, you will need a table saw. If you are only going to rip one or two boards a year, then maybe you might want to look into a table top model type of table saw. If you are going to be cutting a lot of angles, crosscut boards, cut studs, rafters, etc, then you will want to look at a compound mitre saw instead. My table saw sets 11 1/2 months out of the year. My compound mitre saw is used on a monthly basis it seems. If you are going to get into woodworking fulltime then go for both. Or you may want to look for a used table saw and a new compound mitre. I see Delta table saws, and Craftsman table saws used all the time in the $200 range.

I agree with Kevin - check the classified ads. You may be able to find both a tablesaw and miter saw within your price range that way. Also, whether you buy new or used, take a look at this video that describes how to get the most out of your saw: Tablesaw Tuning

Even fresh from the factory, I've seen saws that don't have the blade square to the table and the miter guide rails. Getting everything set up properly will do much to improve the quality of your work.

Typical classified ad around here: http://harrisburg.craigslist.org/tls/718432200.html

No affiliation...

These guys have it right, used quality table saws are a dime a dozen in the $200 and less range. Unless you need it tomorrow do your wallet a favor and buy USA used.

 

[Uncle Buck]

If you are willing to drive to DFW, this is listed on the DFW Craigslist (I have no affiliation, I just want the listing to go away so I can stop drooling)

http://dallas.craigslist.org/tls/719557356.html

FYI unless something has changed in the last few years the Rigid line is actually produced by Emerson Electric who used to make many of Sears old quality stationary tools (including their table saws) till Sears dumped them and slapped their label on imports instead! To my knowledge, Home Despot then signed on to Emersons product line and have been with them ever since (I THINK!) CHECK IT OUT.

 

[Jay H 237]

My father has the 10" Delta belt drive that he bought in the early 90s that is still going strong with no parts replaced besides the blade. He had a Craftsman before that that he bought in the mid 80s but had several parts go bad. The fence wouldn't lock tight after awhile, the plastic handle for the tilt wheel cracked. The C-man's motor didn't give any problems though. He got rid of it when he tried to get replacement parts and since it was a discontinued model Sears no longer offered any parts fot it, and it was only a 7 or 8 year old saw then!

(Being a home mechanic I am one who favors Craftsman tools over Snap-On, Matco and other higher priced tools but when it comes to power tools I favor the better brands like Delta, Porter-Cable and Milwaukee. Atleast you can normally still get parts for them years down the road.)

 

[Dustoff 35]

hholmberg is right, lots of good barely used woodworking tools out there. Most of my big wood-working power tools (bandsaw, drill press, planer) were seldom used newer models when I picked them up at a fraction of the new price. Keep looking.

 

[l_bilyk]

I would try to catch the craftsman zip code saw on sale

 

[kbs2244]

Just stay away from the "Contractor" style if you are going to be doing furniture type stuff.
The problem is not the saw, other than the table size being small, it is the guides and such that go with them.
They are built with light weight and portability as more important than accuracy.
You want a big table, heavy sturdy base, belt drive if possible, well fitting rip fence and miter guide.
Check out the wood working sites.
You will see the table saw in the middle of the shop where it never moves and with all kinds of infeed and such stuff around it.

 

[T56 Impala]

The fence is what you should be paying for in a table saw. Get the best you can find. I have a Grizzly. Yes they are made overseas, but for the price, you can get a very nice saw. Cast extensions are a bonus. Stay away from the perforated ones. They are a real finger catcher.

FWIW, The CL here in the Atlanta area has tons of WW equipment on it daily. Decent prices too.

If you have to buy one of those on your short list, I vote for the first Jet. The second is a not so powerful bench top saw. They are not good for making furniture. Too much run out on the blade.

The Delta is a good saw too. You have to watch Delta though. The Track for the miter gauge is sometimes non-standard in Delta saws. (You can't buy a better, non delta brand that will fit the track)

I took a look at the Hitachi saw once. They seem like decent equipment. Not sure why I didn't pick one. I just remeber thatthe Grizzly was a better value.