Fellow lovers of wood. Now that my house is almost complete, my attention turns to making furniture. I have been using a Dewalt DW744 for the rough stuff but feel it’s time to upgrade. Space is somewhat limited, so I am considering a contractor’s saw. The choices appear to be Powermatic, Jet, Delta, and something called General International which I just found out about tonight. Most important is accuracy in the fence and reliablity. This saw is going to last me 30 years.
I would appreciate feedback from other woodworkers about their favorite table saws and why. And what saw they would recommend in the $800 to $1500 range.
Thank you.
Replies
If space is a consideration, you owe yourself a look at Festool's plunge cut saws and the guiderails that come with them.
Get the package that includes the vaccuum.
Like any other tool, it's kind of picking the pros and cons that suit you. And I kind of doubt, if you get into woodworking, that this saw is going to last you 30 years. Not from the longevity standpoint, but you'll get froggy. Oh, I could get one of those . . .
Anywho. I know squat about General other than a couple of canucks who like them. I like a lot of the craftsmanship that goes into the **older** Powermatic 66's, which I think is my all time pick for really good saw. Unisaw is a close second. I'm keeping it in your price ballpark. I haven't tried the Jet. They look snazzy, but I don't know anyone who has one and neither do I, so . . .
I love Festool stuff, but the plunge saw is not a replacement for a tablesaw. You're going to want to ride a tenoning jig and dado heads and molding cutters on there.
I guess, if I were tryin to get you the deal, I'd look for a used tool buyer and see what they could drum up. They might just find a gem. Some of those old tools are just built to last for eternity, and you can always upgrade the fence system. (I'll enter as exhibit A and B here old butterfly metal lathes, running perfectly, now occupying the metal shop at the local community college. These are WWII surplus. And B is a cast iron jointer with a 16" bed I helped a friend rehab. Same age. )
"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." - Mark Twain
"Space is somewhat limited, so I am considering a contractor's saw."
Your acutally space requirement for a basic cabinet saw is less than a contractors saw. If you put it on wheels and move it out of the way the motor on the contractors takes up lots of room.
With either one you can load them up with extension tables and outfeed tables until they are bigger than aircraft landing fields.
As too the contractors I have the a basic Jet and really like it. You will probbly be happy with any of the 4.
Edited 5/7/2005 7:51 am ET by Bill Hartmann
They are all made offshore, so why not consider one of the heaviest, the Woodtek from Woodworkers Supply.
Compare their specs with others. I believe they are the only maker of a contractor-type saw that offers right and left tilt models.
Whatever your saw, outfit it with one of those linked drive belts for smoother operation, and wire it for 220V feed.
Here is the right tilt model. 2HP motor and 250 lbs. The left tilt weighs 25 lbs. less, but has the same motor.
View Image
Edited 5/7/2005 8:02 am ET by Gene Davis
Whew! Would take me a week to reply to every one. Thank you for the feedback. The good folks at Woodworker's tried to talk me into a WoodTek as well. A bit nervoous about it because it looks like a Grizzley. I realize that every thing is made overseas today. Even the good old Chevrolet has a French transmission, engine from Mexico, etc. So we just have to find the stuff that works the best.The old stuff is built to last, and finding a used machinery dealer is a great idea--You knew there would be a however--however, I usually never buy used because I just have bad luck with used stuff.Keep the feedback coming guys, I'm still on the fence. (pun intended)
Get the Woodtek and spend your savings on a Forrest blade.
Looks like maybe 6 hrs to my surplus Unisaw. I've got an old Rockwell 12-14 to replace it. The Unisaw has a 50" Biesemeyer fence that's probably too large for you. If you want to leave me the Biesemeyer I'll make you a hell of a deal as I was planning to buy another fence for the 12-14.
Mine, or anybody elses, you really don't have reason to fear used. Not much to wear out, other than easy to replace bearings, and with your usage you're unlikely to ever experience even that.PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
Someone already mentioned that a cabinet saw will actually take a slightly smaller footprint than a contractor's saw. Also, the the enclosed base of the cabinet saw does a better job of controlling dust. And --- if you ever think you might want to add a dust collector, then you'll want to get a cab saw now. Because of its mass, I think your cut quality and accuracy will be better with a cabinet saw. However, most require 220v.EDIT: Have you thought about one of the hybrid saws ( e.g. Jet, Dewalt)?"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
-- Bertrand Russell
Edited 5/7/2005 9:44 am ET by nikkiwood
We are in the same boat. Need a real table saw but it has to be mobile. I just bought the Hitachi. I forget the model number off the top of my head. But it has flip down wheels on it so you can put it away. And of all the ones I looked at, at Lowes where I bought it, it had the best fence by far. I haven't put it together yet, today or tommorrow sometime.
Who Dares Wins!
capn,
Search the Knots forum...lots of good stuff to further your research.
Todd
All this good feedback got my brain cells churning. The comment about dust collection is good. A dust collection system is on the menu and 240V is no problem. So know I have to consider a cabinet saw.Someone mentioned right v. left tilt. What are issues of ripping with a right tilt? Seems the work piece would now be under the blade rather than over it. Would there be an issue of pinching the work piece between the two? Although, with left tilt, if you don't watch it, the piece can ride up and you don't get a good cut.The 30 v. 50 cut capacity has been a question as well. While I agree that 50-inch may be too big, the only 30-inch cabinet saw I've seen is offered by Powermatic. Not sure I'm ready to spend more than 2-grand. Seems the 50-inch would be great if one was doing a lot of plywood.I have a Dewalt DW744, which is going to be sold. While it had served me well in the construction phase of things, I am not willing to put money into a $500 saw that might not serve me well for exacting work. While the rack and pinion fence has been wonderful, the table is aluminum and the fence adjusting screws are tapped into it. They slip. Dewalt wants $262 to rebuild it. Would rather put that into a really good table saw, which is the heart of any shop. Woodworker's is having a sale on the Unisaw. Hmmm.Thanks, Guys. Great ideas.
There is no such thing as 50" saw.There are 30 and 50" fences. And then you either have to either buy and extension table, make one, or sometimes they are included in the "package deal".I am looking at Tool Crib's Jan catalog and they show the Jet in both 30 and 50". Jet also has a 50" package with a mobile base includes the extension.If you get the 50" then it only takes a few minutes with a hacksaw to covert it to the 30".If you get the 30" then I am guessing about $100-150 for the 50" rail as a service replacement.
Don't overlook Grizzly. Their high end tools are well built and reasonably priced, at least here in Western Washington. I have a couple and have been pleased with their performance.
capn John,
Please don't buy a Delta!
I owned one and what a P.O.S There was no way it would ever stay aligned and the motor on it wouldn't saw anything other than warm butter in the summer!
Consider a cabinet saw if you want to save space..(actually smaller footprint than a contractors saw) you might also put the saw on wheels to keep it out of the way untill you need it and then push it into place easily. I've got one in too small of a place and because I can shove the equipment I'm not using out of the way I still can get a remarkable amount done..
My experiance with Grizzly has been so wonderful that I always suggest them to people.. http://www.grizzly.com solid well made and sturdy.. not a lot of fancy whistles and bells but a decent saw never-the-less.. Oh and it helps that they are priced very cheaply.....