I was in HD today and sawe the newest Ridgid table saw. It has a top made of 1-1/2″ thk granite. The merchandising said it’s heavy so it reduces vibration, it’s smooth, and it won’t rust. Ok, but I tend to work on the top of my saw, banging things with a hammer sometimes, wonder how long the stone will last.
I can’t wait to see an article in Consumer Reports or FHB touting the vast benefits of the new saw and how it’s the best thing since electricity. But why? The cast iron tops have a nice dapening effect, but even better, use one of those link belts and eliminate the vibration. And coat it with dri-Cote to keep it from rusting. Just seems like a complete waste of money.
“Put your creed in your deed.” Emerson
“When asked if you can do something, tell’em “Why certainly I can”, then get busy and find a way to do it.” T. Roosevelt
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i seen it too (nahsville TN, HD), not really sure why they are trying to reinvent the wheel with granite, ill use it, but wont buy it.
Woods favorite carpenter
I saw one of those a few months ago at HD. I didn't notice the cost but it did seem utterly ridiculous.
I believe the reason for granite tops are cost. A granite top does not have to be cast, aged and stays flat after grinding. Cast iron does have to be cast,which mean molds etc. When the CI tops are initially ground they are set aside for a period of time to season. Then quality tops are reground.Granite tops do not rust.
I would rather stick with CI myself,mostly because we don't know how the granite tops will stand the test of time.
mike
seems like a granite top would be fragile an unrepairable....
so how are fasteners being installed, screwed in or is a PL moment???
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I ran my finger along the back fence rail and felt a screw head that seemed to fasten it to the granite, but I didn't explore any further."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
I really don't know. I wasn't extolling the virtues of granite machine tops, just wondering why. The cost is the main factor I came up with. One of my cousins had asked me about the granite tops on I believe he said Steel City saws.I thought he was pulling my leg, then on this forum sometime later I started reading about it.
He did not buy the Steel City saw because it was not made in the USA. He bought an old saw, very old. 1919 ,Philadelphia,that's all that is legible.Babbit bearings, saw weighs 956 lbs on a pallet.Tom paid $25.00 for the saw.I think if he wanted he could have gotten paid to remove the saw.
My cousins are machinists, making this old iron into a thing of beauty was a piece of cake for them.It is almost done.A cabinet shop owner told him if he had any work coming up he give him $3500.00 for this saw.7 1/2 hp motor, I think it takes up to 20" blade.I remember the blade that was on it had a very large bore,more than 1".
Not bad for $25.00.He did put money into it,he got rid of the babbit bearings, replaced the switch, surface ground the top for flatness. There was an inoperative foot pedal to raise the blade and lock the height. He repaired that too.Made new handwheels,they were missing as was motor cover. Tom said he put about $450.00 in for bearings ,switch and misc metal for handwheels etc.
He will eventually sell it if he gets his price, this saw is too big for a homeshop.Then he says if he can't get a used powermatic or other USA made saw ,he'll build his own.
He can do it too, I think he can build anything that is made from metal.
mike
I'm not sold on the granite tables.
But I have put a presision straight edge on the top of tablesaws and they are seldom flat. In fact they can be anyhting but flat.
If you were doing presision work on a table saw it would be important to to have a dead flat surface as a starting point.
I would like to have a presision table saw but can't afford one.
I get tired of fidling with tools.
"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
I worked in and owned my own shop til I retired. You are correct that most saws are not flat.That being said,absolutely flat is not necessary for commercial shops.The table saw is used for ripping almost all the time.When ripping stock the table flatness is not as important as if you were to crosscut or do work other than ripping.
We had a large Delta ,not a unisaw but a commercial grade saw that was dead flat.The only saw I can remember where we actually took the time to check it that was flat.
mike
I agree. Most of the operations used by a table saw it wouldn't matter.
But some people are using them to produce small precision parts.
More like craft work than production.
"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
can you see yurself loading a sheet of 3/4 ply and be off blanced or lose yur hold and that sheet of ply slams onto that granite top edge wise...
good chance that piece of granite is toast...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
"Some days it's just not worth chewing through the restraints"
I wouldn't want a granite topped table saw.
To fragile in my opinion."There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
Colder than cast iron too I'd bet.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
PROUD MEMBER OF THE " I ROCKED WITH REZ" CLUB
You're not supposed to be sitting on it. ;^)
colder than a well diggers....... knee
"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
Edited 12/7/2009 6:20 pm by popawheelie
Ya ever get frisky in a kitchen with a granite island? If ya did, you know what I mean...not all of us are co-ed shops, but some are.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations
PROUD MEMBER OF THE " I ROCKED WITH REZ" CLUB
Put up a sign. No girls allowed!"There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
Wouldn't the granite be more
Wouldn't the granite be more pleasant to eat lunch on though?
If you were doing presision work on a table saw it would be important to to have a dead flat surface as a starting point.
Is it really that important when we're cutting something as dimensionally unstable as wood?
MikeInsert initially amusing but ultimately annoying catch phrase here.
I've seen articles and talked to a guy at a woodworking club that use table saws for precision work.
The guy at the club did a presentation of making small boxes.
He was coming out with a video. Maybe over at Knots?
They are using exotic woods. Pretty pricey stuff.
I belonged to another club and a guy did a talk about his work turning.
His turned object were going for up to 20,000.
another guy let the club take a tour of his shop.
He made pool cues. They started at 5,000.
He made them out of maple I think. Maple from Canada."There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers
Saw one at HD a few weeks ago all covered in dust. Close out. Can't remember the price. Silly idea.
A granite saw top? What an interesting thought. We can follow that with stone tables on either side of the radial arm saw, the shaper, and most other places. Before you know it, we'll be debating stone vs. Corian vs. Formica. Then some hillbilly will post pics of his nicely stained custom concrete top.
A stone table can be dead-on flat, and smooth as silk. I'm just wondering about mounting various accessories to the table - like my Brett Gard. Or an after-market fence. Iron I can always drill and tap.
What will happen when a cutting tool makes impact with a stone top is anyone's guess. I am afraid that oversize inserts will be used to avoid this possibility - leaving us with another source for error.
Steel City pioneered the trend, as far as I know. Steel City not only has granite table saw tops, but granite fences on jointers, tables on band saws, etc. Their story line is flatness, no rust & no warping.