Here is the situation. I want a table saw. I have no great need for one and as an electrician I don’t use one on the job but I have dreams, fantasies, of building some furniture and cabinets. Nothing too fancy or worthy of fine woodworking but nice by my standards.
I don’t have to much room to work. I will probably be working on a slab in a carport type arrangement. I was thinking something portable would work well.
After much research I have, barring strong evidence otherwise, settled on the Bosch 4000. It seems small and light enough to move to shelter but precision and capable enough to build furniture on. It seems to get glowing reviews and I have had problems finding negative points posted.
This unit is presently on sale at Amazon for $499 with outfeed support and folding stand included. It’s a good chunk of change but not so dear as to bankrupt my discretionary account.
Does anyone have any well founded opinions on this saw? Feel free to opine, pontificate or rant.
Replies
I don't own one yet but from what I've seen, you've made a good choice. It's on my list for a next one.
I can recommend the Bosch tablesaw with no reservations. I've used mine for over a year now at everything you can think of, from really fine trim details to ripping 80' of 1-3/4 inch thick LVL, plowing 3/4 inch dados, you name it, this saw shines.
It's definitely stronger than the Delta contractor saw I used a few years back, and a lot lighter.
The fence is good. I especially like the adjustment because I can run it about 1/32 wide at the outfeed, which is my personal preference. The electronics are great, plenty of power, I've never overheated the motor, and the plastic body didn't break even in sub-freezing weather.
The aluminum table seemed to scratch real easily at first, but you get enough scratches in there and you don't notice it after a while.
It goes in the back of my truck daily and gets a pretty severe ride to work and other than vibrating a bunch of fasteners loose (totally understandable) I've had no complaints.
All in all, an outstanding saw.
DRC
My opinion is that those smaller "portable" saw are really inadequate for fine cabinet work. I believe the most important parts of a table saw are the fence, blade, and motor. Don't get me wrong, the Bosch is a great saw, but designed for a specific purpose, i.e. bringing an accurate and portable saw to the jobsite. But, you can't put a better fence on it, and the motor is a direct drive universal type that might prove to be under powered in certain situations, sure you can put a better bade on it, but I still don't think it would meet your needs. I would recommend the Delta contractors saw with a Biesemeyer or Unifence. Sure it costs $400 more but well worth it.
Thank -you , Piffin, Dave and Rob for all of your posts.
Rob- I wish I had a place to keep a saw unfortunately I really do need a portable saw. While I would love to have a real cabinet saw with a Biesemeyer fence it is just not in the picture. Maybe some day.
I ordered the saw today from Amazon. I will post how things work out. I went with the free, slow, delivery so it will be early June before I know if I get a jewel or junk.
I prefer my DeWalt over it.....the fence makes a good saw great in that case....but the Bosch should be able to do most of what you'll ask of it.
I've built some pretty nice stuff on site with the portable DeWalt.......a cabinet saw would be great.....but I'd have to hire a crew to move it for me!
Remember....lotsa nice stuff was built with handtools. A circular saw and a straight edge could replace a table saw if push came to shove. Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
actually the table is the maost important part of a table saw. Cast iron absorbs vibrations and sets solidly. You need tracks to be parrallel and the top to be true and smooth.
After that the fence is the most important, followed by the blade. Motor comes last because it is easiest to replace when time comes.
But this dude is looking for a portable, like he says and cost is a factor so he made a good choice. In MHO.
I've got a Dewalt in my truck and it's functional but I'm not proud enough of it to recommend it. I bought it just before Bosch and PC came out with theirs.
Excellence is its own reward!
fence makes the saw. Tables can be easily helped with folding outfeed tables.....rollers...and ball rollers. A coupla portable rollers stratgically placed on the sides or behind...and I can safely cut sheet goods all day.
Just wait till they go on sale at woodcrafters or woodworkers suppy and pick up one or two at a time. Pretty soon......you'll have enough to lumber before, during and after the cut. Jeff "That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff, Jeff,
Have you ever tried to use a table that wasn't a true plane?
You can put a thousand dollar fence on a cupped table and still never get a decent cut.
Excellence is its own reward!
In Jeff's defense I think he was referring to the smallish table on portable saws not to a defective or warped table. A small table can indeed be compensated for with roller stands. That said you are IMHO very correct that a table that's not flat makes the chances of getting a decent cut pretty small.
I have heard horror stories about people buying an off brand saw with a cast iron top saw thinking that it was an assurance of quality. Old time tables were cast and aged, sometimes for months, and only then ground flat. The aging allowed any stress in the casting to manifest itself and warp the casting. The grinding would then remove the distortion and assure a flat surface.
Seems the cheaper manufacturers don't properly age or heat treat the casting before machining the top flat. Over time and with natural heat cycling the table warps unfortunately this can happen long after the check has cleared. You end up with a saw adapted to ripping bananas or life as a boat anchor.
I thought we were discussing new table saws here? Let me come to my own defense a bit. "Given a flat table (since we are talking about buying a new saw from a reputable manufacturer I would assume the table would be flat, and if not it can and should be replaced with one that is), the most important parts of a table saw are... I did not mean to say the table is not important, I was making the assumption that it would be flat.
Where the heck did cast iron enter the picture? The Bosch (like the other saws in its class) has a cast aluminum table.
The contractor's saw is not a "cabinet" saw in the true sense since it has an open base. It is still a great saw for making cabinets. You get a cast iron top, you can upgrade to a better fence later, it has a nice motor that can (and should) be wired for 220v, and the stock fence is decent. It is only $100 more. Add a mobile base and it is very movable.
Hi, Rob-
The flatness of the saw table gets more precisely flat as the cost of the saw goes up, at least as a general rule of thumb..........Lots of people, myself included, use a Makita/Rousseau setup which works really well for jobsite portability. But the cost/flatness thing- you will NOT find a Makita saw with a 'flat' table............When you get to the top portable saws, the tables are 'pretty flat'......Contractor saws are 'flat'........the cabinet saws go from 'very flat' to 'extremely precise' depending on the $$$$$$ you pay......As Tom Leykis says, "This is generally the rule, there ARE exceptions."
Ken Hill
as a matter a fact I did try Pif! First DeWalt Tool Crib sent out musta been the bottom of the pile.......did the exchange...new one started flat and stayed flat.....and been a non-issue since! Jeff
"That's like hypnotizing chickens........."
The Bosch 4000 table saw has arrived. It was delivered smack in the middle of the time range I was told to expect. A company exceeding the minimum standard.... wow. How did that happen? The condition of the box made me wonder if it had fallen off the truck several times. The throat plate was hanging out of the largest of the three dilapidated boxes. The UPS guy assured me that everything was there and if it was damaged I could ship it back. I signed and he took off.
With trepidation I unpacked the much abused cardboard. While the smaller boxes contained less delicate assemblies, a folding stand and outfeed extension, I worried about the saw itself. I needn't have worried too much. From the size of the Styrofoam moldings that encased the tool it looked like The unit could be delivered by cannon. Everything was present, the throat plate just barely, and in good condition.
I am pleased with the overall solidity of it' construction and attention to detail. The inclusion of spots designed for storage of the fence, miter gauge and other accessories is much appreciated. Everything is square and tight requiring little assembly and less tuning than I would have imagined.
The problem I am having is that I am dying to use my new toy. I don't have any lumber handy to test my saw. My saw is hungry and needs to be fed. It whispers to me as I nap. The dinning room table keeps catching my eye. Inverted it would slide nicely across the saw top and on to the waiting outfeed extension. I must get some lumber lest I start frenetically feeding household goods into the whirling blade. I must be strong.
Is there a hot line or support group available?
Feed it some furniture. Then you will have an excuse to build some new stuff!
I have 2 DeWalts and am happy with both. I know of someone who has the bosch and says he is happy with his also. Both makes of saws include wimpy stands and add-on outfeed supports. If you are looking for a really good stand that is truly portable and includes a good outfeed support, try the Kwik Stand. Both my Dewalts and my friends Bosch are mounted on it and we have been very pleased. They are - 3 years old and are still in great condition, aside from scratches. They really are good solid stands. You can find them at E-Bay. Just search "Kwik Stand"
Edited 6/18/2002 10:14:38 PM ET by K3BUILD