As I am in need of a new portable table saw I have been researching the latest and greatest. While the new Bosch 4100 series seems to be the current gold standard, it’s $600.00-plus price tag is several hundred dollars beyond my budget at this time. I would like to have some recommendations from those using the somewhat lower priced portables such as the Ridged, Makita, etc. Thanks.
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Haven't used the 4100, but if you can find a used 4000 they are pretty good. My only complaint is the fence. I used to have the Ridgid and the fence on that one is awesome, especially for the price. Smooth glide, accurate tape on the rail and the t-slots on the fence are great for feather boards.
That said, they are both huge and heavy. You can wrangle them in and out of a truck/van, but it takes some lifting. I've been trying to decide on a portable as well, and am seriously thinking of buying another Ridgid. You really can't beat it for the price.
Jimmy W.
I love my Ridgid as well.
Don't you have the rolling stand they make?
I've got a ramp I made for it and my chopsaw....roll 'em both in and outta the pickup no problem.
J. D. ReynoldsHome Improvements
Well when I had it I did, but never made a ramp, just leaned it against the tailgate and lifted it up and in. Wasn't too hard, just a pain at the end of a long day. Plus I didn't really have room for a ramp as the bed was usually full of tools materials and random "stuff".Jimmy W.
Look for Reconditioned saws, usually quite a price savings.
I had just been in Hd and blows and Hd had it at 599$ which is good cause blows has it at 549$ so go to Hd and tell em,and you can get it for matching price plus 10% so now your at 500 plus I think some good power shopper here can help get another 10% like open a new account and get 10% now your at 450.
It could happen.
I had the Bosch 4000. But taking that thing out of the can every day was a pain in the back, so I bought a Mak, which weighs about half, and sold the Bosch.
Mak has since redone the saw, making the fence more up-to-date.
Many swear by the Mak with the Rosseau table.
"I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul." Invictus, by Henley.
"Many swear by the Mak with the Rosseau table."I'm one of them. Rousseau with the out feed with my Mak. Nothing more portable or reliable.
ditto what Jer says - 10" Mak w/Rousseau can't be beat; affordability, weight, power. Very nice set up.
Carl
The Makita is a good saw but great only with the Rousseau table, which gets you up there in price.
The Bosch is a very good saw but underpowered and heavy.
For cheap and portable, have you looked at the Dewalt baby saw? It's about the size of my old (and indestructable) Makita 8".
Take a look at the Jet. Got mine thru Amazon..$250? Doesnt come with all frills like wheels and such but rips 24" is belt driven rather than integral motor so its quieter.Fence is okay but iaint no Beismeyer. Ive been pleasently suprised.Big step up from crappy $100 Protech and easier than taking my big Grizzley apart to setup.
Course and I dont why like most small saws u have to fabricate a no clearence throat plate which i wont use saw without. Buy extra plate and fill with Bondo!
theres got to be one in every crowd,i'll be it.
i have the ryobi with the folding stand from hd. i really don't know how you can beat it for 225.00. someone had a review awhile back and if i remember right it came in 3rd behind some 600.00 saws and they picked it for a best buy for the money. if your buying at hd or lowes go to lowesmoving.com and get a10% off coupon.hd will take it also. larry
if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
i have a makita 2703 works fine,again the fence set ups are ok.plastic frame is somewhat light but the overall weight of the saw is easy to move around.i take to jobs the jet 708315 table saw .metal body,very strong but light.only other job site saw would be the dewalt but very expensive.good luck look on amazon .com when they have there sales,no sales tax,free shipping.
I can't believe how great the little Ryobi is for 160 bucks canadian. Folding stand, rip to 27 inches and outfeed support. Could have spent triple but did not have to.
Have a good day
Cliffy
You tell them Cliffy! Course down here we're sometimes known as TAC's - Tight - A** - Canadians. Eh!Getting down to daytime highs in the 50's here in CT - can't say as I miss the weather where you are, but do miss home. I will freely admit to owning an old Ryobi table saw for years. Only one that I know of that has the depth of cut to rip a 4x4 - which I have done on it.Let's not confuse the issue with facts!
Hello GDCARPENTER
Five minutes before I received your post I drove by your house, coincidence. I am a tight A$$ canadian al right, comes from being the son of an immigrant I guess. I like to use the word frugal!
Things around your old homestead are rolling right along. Price of nickel is still high so lots af cash floating around and houses selling. Brian Abrams has a semi across the street from your dad and just got 79K in a week for it, still original.
A couple days of snow but nothing lasted yet past a couple days. Below 0 degrees Celcius tonight. All my work now till spring is indoors. I showed Patty your trailer in JLC she asked if I wanted to build one too. I made up a drawer, side compartments and removable shelf for the back of the pick up to get me by for awhile. I keep it empty for drives to Cambrian, can't steal it if it ain't there.
Our family excursion to NYC is getting delayed a little because my buddy is getting married in Montego Bay in FEbruary, so we are making a family trip out of the event.
I hope everything is well in your neck of the woods.
Have a good day eh
Cliffy
Montego Bay! Guess if you have to go you have to go.Chillin here, freezing at night now. Bad news is my boss's spec home project in Greenwich has been slowed down, something about wetlands. Might well be we will be doing a lot of foundation work this winter. Good news is it might mean spending next winter inside trimming out some 10,000 square feet or more of high end housing.Else wise all's fine here.If you do ever get the mojo to build yourself a 'gdboss' shoot me a message at [email protected] - could help you with some plans.Garfield the gdcarpenterLet's not confuse the issue with facts!
reconditioned DeWalt.
the real gold standard.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Where did you find the reconditioned Dewalt? How long ago?
I looked a few weeks ago and kept drawing blanks. Googled it - didn't help.
I wound up with one of the $150 cheapies at Lowes and I've already told my helper he's buying it once this job is done. But I would prefer the Dewalt if I can find it. If not, it will be a reconditioned Bosch.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Don,Here is a refurbished Dewalt DW745:http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000HXT2N6/sr=/qid=/ref=olp_pg_refurbished?ie=UTF8&coliid=&startIndex=0&me=&qid=&sr=&seller=&colid=&condition=refurbishedI have this little Dewalt saw...pretty nice really. I have the Bosch 4000 too, but it is in the shop for repair.The Rosseau table with outfeed would really trick out the DW745.
Basswood,
Thanks for the link, but I was looking for the bigger Dewalt -- #744 or 746 I think. I want the flexibility to be able to rip wider stock, maybe plywood or laminate. The 16" is too narrow.
I'm probably going to wait a few weeks. I've got real estate taxes due on my rentals December 5 and in January too. :-( Then again, if I get the right job...never know what might happen.
Don K.
EJG Homes Renovations - New Construction - Rentals
Stick that little saw in a Rosseau table and you can rip up to 27"
I dunno ...
4 or 5 yrs ago? Right after they came out.
got one the first week amazon had recond's for sale.
gotta be one out there somewhere.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I bought the Bosch 6 months ago and so far my crew has not been able to do anything to it except get it dirty. If it walked tomorrow I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
You might need to buy another Bosch...if it is the 4000, it is not really a very rugged saw. My Bosch has "fried" twice in two years. It is in the shop now, in fact.
I'm surprised you're having trouble with your saw. Mine's had pretty intense abuse for almost four years, with very little wear showing. Of course I probably just jinxed myself.
What are you doing when it fries (so I can avoid it!)?
The first time, I just flipped the switch and the electronics just fried with out any load.The second time (just this past week), I was ripping 3/4" plywood and smoke just started pouring out of the saw...I will know more when the service guy gets under the hood.I like the Bosch...when it works.As trim guy, I don't work a table saw very hard. I only use the saw maybe a couple of days a week and even then, usually just for a few rips of cabinet fillers, etc.Perhaps the new Bosch saw is more robust.
I had a problem similar to the one Basswood described. There are two bearings on the motor, one holds the end of the shaft furthest from the blade in a rubber cup which is press fit in the plastic motor housing.It burned up. It took me a good 45 minutes to pull the whole saw apart and get the armature out with the bearing on the shaft. I ordered a new bearing, and when it arrived the next day, I put a gear/bearing puller on the old one and pulled it off. The new one is an interferance fit, so I baked it in the oven at 275 while I put the armature in the bottom of my freezer, then slipped it on quickly. When I reassembled, I noticed some slight melting in the housing, but it seemed snug, so I kept going... total cost, 1.5 hours, and $15 including shipping.Then 2 months later that old smoke came back Arrrgg.This time, it was my fault. i should have replaced the housing and the rubber insert originally, as I think that while the bearing fit was snug, it wasn't concentric, and caused undue friction on the replacement bearing. Same drill, but this time the parts ran $85, and it took me 1.25 hours. But it spins better than ever.So, IF you have this issue, the fix is cheap, but replace all the parts!Otherwise, I've loved the saw for the 4 or so years I've owned it.Jake Gulick
[email protected]
CarriageHouse Design
Black Rock, CT
Good info.--Thanks.I'm too busy right now to mess with tools repairs...so I just let the tool guys take care of itI picked the Bosch up from the tool shop today. It is a nice saw and it will be good to have it back in the lineup. The mini Dewalt (745) I grabbed while the Bosch was down, is going to be great too. Very small and light, but with good power and cut quality.
Shop called yesterday--siezed bearing--got so hot some plastic parts melted:Parts and Labor $212.It is a sealed bearing on a lightly used saw just over 3 years old. There is no way to lube this bearing...so if you have a bad one, things lock up.On my earlier electrical problem, I do use short, heavy extension cords to prevent voltage drop...so I can't figure out a way to prevent that issue either.
The Makita with the Rousseau table and the outfeed is the cats's meow. The motor is strong and it will rip 4x stock. Plus you get great portability with the rolling table.
It may be out of your budget but you can start with the saw and add the Rousseau table and outfeed later --- naah, it needs the good fence on the Rousseau.
http://www.rousseauco.com/model2750.htm
http://www.rousseauco.com/phomodel2750.htm
http://www.bigeasytools.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1351
Here's an interesting Rousseau product for the Makita:
http://www.bigeasytools.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1349
Billy
Edited 11/13/2007 10:10 pm ET by Billy
Frankly, I enjoy the portability, reliability, accuracy, and overall coolness of my Disston.
Thanks very much to all who responded. Your comments have been very helpful in my quest to finding the right saw.
I wouldn't overlook the Porter Cable 3812S. I like it better than the Bosch 4000 for a number of reasons. If you do any appreciable amount of crosscutting you'll appreciate the t-slot for the miter gauge which the 4000 doesn't have (the 4100 does). The 3812 uses a full size table insert and uses a rack and pinion setup for bevel adjustment which I think makes it easier than the Bosch to set bevel angles. The 4000 kinda flops around when you pop the lever. Price ............... right now Amazon has the 3812S for about $360 delivered to your door. You do give up a wheeled stand - you get a folding one. I've added the Rousseau wheeled stand to my saw ........the elevators seem to go out of order whenever I show up at a jobsite. All in all I'd buy the 3812S again; from a price/ performance standpoint it's the best saw out there imho.
Edited 11/14/2007 12:18 pm ET by jc21
I have the PC, and for the most part I have been happy with it. Power and accuracy is good, capacity and controls are good. I think I gave about $250 for it a couple years ago at Lowes, included the stand.
It is a bit bulky and heavy.
""It is a bit bulky and heavy." ...........you're being charitable lol. Neither it or the Bosch are light; they seem like tanks compared to my old Makita. The folding stand was fine for level ground; once stairs started becoming a regular occurance I had to get a wheeled stand- I'm no spring chicken anymore. I like the Rousseau; it makes going up stairs much easier and it's rock solid when open. Thinking about adding an outfeed table to it next year. Great price you paid- the Bosch is better in some repects but I'm not sure $250 better.
Edited 11/14/2007 2:58 pm ET by jc21
I bought the Rigid saw earlier this year--primarily because JDplugged it so enthusiastically.
I felt the price was fair-and upon using it found the fence to be fantastic
it came with the folding stand on wheels--which is even BETTER than fantastic.
really-the only negative--it has a child proof safety switch that required a "key" type plug to actually turn the saw on---and they shipped the saw to me without that do-hickey---so i had to wait another week or so for them to ship me the part before I could use the saw
other than that---very happy.
HEY- JD-are you the guy who made the router table that drops into the RIGID table------------- can ya post that picture again-- I wanna steal your idea.
Thanks
Stephen
I have the dewalt. Really nice to carry around.
Never been able to stop it, ripping 2x4s etcs. Very Powerful.
Favorite Feature has gotta be the bevel change, no fiddling with knobs, it is simply a lever that locks and you lift the motor (bout the weight of a skilsaw) and it is locked into place.
Only rips 16", but there haven't been many times I've had to set up a guide and clamps with a skilsaw. Truly a surprise. Sure beats waiting around for another guy to lift those heavier models or trying to get the wheeled ones up stairs.
FYI
The Borg should have the Ridgid on sale on Black Friday for 300 bucks.
http://blackfriday.gottadeal.com/BlackFridaySales/Store/HomeDepot
Don't know how accurate this website is.
Thanks for the Borg alert!!!
I'm a bit biased as I have the Bosch and I love it. I have friends that have the Makita and Rigid and they love theirs. Mind you they haven't tried my Bosch.
Dave
My brother (very picky finish guy, pickier than me) has used all three extensively (including my Bosch, and also a Dewalt), and now owns two Rigids. Says it's a no-brainer. Just like the Bosch but better. Have you tried the Rigid?
I have and I gotta say I still prefer the Bosch. I find it very user friendly. Almost like it was a carpenter that designed. Very easy to move around with the folding table with wheels. I've had mine down in cramped basements with even more cramped stairwell. I took it out of the basement by myself with one hand.
My best advice. See if any of these guys will let you try their saw. Then make your decision. That is how I decided on the Bosch, I used a buddy's and I was sold instantly.
Dave
we were on a job with another crew last month helping them get a roof framed and dryed in. They had a Rigid and it was a very nice saw. very similar to the Bosch. My guys thought it was one step above the Bosch.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
OK, I will weigh in here.
I just bought the Bosch with stand this summer for about $375, just before they moved to marketing the newer model at six bills, but I'll bet that you can find the older one someplace or get it as a reconditioned.
I also have the original DW portable TS, for probably 8-10 years now.
I have no trouble at all with weight on either of them. The DW I can carry up the stairs and the Bosch has it's wheels....BTW, you can buy the bosch with out the wheels. most of the weight guys are complaining about is in that stand. without the stand it is pretty easy to heft and haul.
I have a love/hate relationship with both of them. The DW has had several problems over the years but I love the fence system. It is also handicapped in that I cannot use a dado on the short arbor. They may have fixed that on newer models.
The Bosch is easier to use in every way except that the fence is clunky and far less intuitive than the DW fence. Time will tell if it has other mechanical problems making it more or less dependable than the DW.
I also have a Grizzly contractor's saw that I used to haul onto jobs. With upgraded fence that saw it great but it stays in the shop most of the time now, thanks to the portables
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
It is also handicapped in that I cannot use a dado on the short arbor. They may have fixed that on newer models.
I bought mine pretty much right after they hit the market ... like I said ... kept celling Amazon ... Tool Crib back then ... and asked if they had any recond'd ...
very first week they had some ... I ordered mine.
along with the 6" dado kit ... which fit just fine.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Do they have some sort of special dado kit?
Mine was likewise one of the earliest out and I have never been able to put my wobble dado on it. In one of my talks with tech guy, I mentioned the no dado possibility, and he just said, "Yeah, sorry about that."I think I must have a special early run.My arbor threads stripped right off the first time I went to change the blade too, within a month of buying it. They replaced the entire motor assembly
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I have an extra "flat" arbor washer ... the outside one.
now I'm thinking about it ... I'm not sure if I swap out the inner washer ... thicker/ tapered deal ... and dado with the two outer washers ... one in ... one out.
? Gotta take a looks ee and se how it all fits.
I have a freud stacked dado and a freud wobble ... 6", I believe ... and both do fit and work great. When I first ordered the recond'd saw ... I got one with a badly warped ... or bent ... table. Sent it right back ... and hit up tool crib for a freebie ...
That's how I came to have the extra washer ... I got a have price dado throat plate as a peace offering ... and pretty sure they sent that extra washer at the same time.
maybe they knew it needed that to work?
I'll pull it all out and check it next week.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
I gotta take another closse look at mine now. See if maybe the inside washer is somehow stuck where it always seemd permanent....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I'll check out mine too.
Now I am curious ... it's been a while since I used my dado ...
and last time I did use my dado set up ...
it was on someone else's saw.
think we had a bosch set up that day.
so I'll have to see how I make the Dewalt work ... and see just why I have 2 outer washers ... and see if the inner comes off ... etc.
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
"It is also handicapped in that I cannot use a dado on the short arbor."They must have fixed that because I have one now for about a year and it takes my 8" dado just fine.
I bought the Rigid. With a 10% off coupon from the BSA, it was something like 410.00 with tax.
Love It!!!!!!!!1
http://www.toolking.com/dewalt_dw744r.aspx
just did a quick search ... "reconditioned dewalt table saw" ...
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
DW, Portercable, Ridgid, Bosch there all good saws but all lacking the traditional saw feel. The rpm's are too high the fence sucks and try and run sheet goods and they wont stay in one spot. I ran across a 50 year old Craftsman table saw two weeks ago. Picked it up for a 100 bucks. Still in great shape. Motor still hums the top is still flat the fence is great and it stays where you put it. Not to mention the noise reduction from the old Ryobi. I built a plywood box for a base w/wheels to replace the metal stand and when its time to transport it to another job I remove the motor to lighten it roll it to the van tip it off the stand into the van. Now I'm getting rips with little to no saw marks and a longer fence to guide material. It's not for everybody but when your doing trimwork ya can't beat it.
Hammerelbow
Bosch--gravity rise. Good heavy blade.
Great saw.
Good morning. I recently went thru this situation of buying a new table saw because my dewalt was stolen. My budget was strapped so I could not go for a new dewalt.
I bought a rigid but took it back within a week. I did not like the stand or the way the saw started up. I ended up with the Hitachi C10RA3. I paid $300 at Lowe's and the saw does a very good job. It is lightweight but very powerful. We cut some of everything including oak stair treads.
A very good saw for the money.
James Hart
" I did not like the stand or the way the saw started up"That stand was definitely more clunky than the Bosch stand.I also hated the grinding ratchety noise as the rigid came up to speed, but it cut fine once it was spinning.What I am curious about is how you could afford a Rigid with stand but not the DW without a stand? Similar in oprice, aren't they?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I must confess. I have a HD card that allows me to pay for the saw for 6 months with no interest. I could swing that. Other than rigid table saws the local HD did not have many choices. I ended up at Lowe's.
James Hart
Four or five years ago I was working for a contractor who had a Bosch table saw with a gravity rise stand. Now I’m on my own. About a year ago, on the strength of a good review in Taunton’s yearly tool roundup, I bought a portable Ryobi to fill in for my Delta contractor’s saw. Now the Delta is growing cobwebs.
I think I paid somewhere around $200 for the Ryobi and it’s a great saw... as good as or better than any portable I’ve ever used. One neat thing is that it will rip a full 3 5/8 inches. You can go all the way thru a spruce 2x4 at a 10 degree bevel in one pass with no hint of bogging down. Dust collection is another strong point, with full shrouding under the table and easy hook-up for a shop-vac.
The only problem I had with it was that after 3 or 4 weeks of heavy use the height adjustment started to bog down. It runs on something like a 9/16 screw and that was clogged with sawdust. Now I blow it off regularly and its OK. I’ve used this thing like a mule, and I’m well into my second blade and its been great
Too bad they’re so hard to find now. Home Despot doesn’t list them on their website, and Amazon doesn’t either. Why sell a $200 saw when you can make more on a popular $500 one. I did a review on Amazon.
That is the saw I posted earlier about. I got it at 159 Canadian last summer. Put a few miles on it and it has been great too. I really like how it folds up and fits in the back of my truck under the shelf. If I was building kitchen cabinets I would pay for a more expensive saw, but building kitchens and houses this one was money well spent.
Have a good day
Cliffy
have you looked at the new ryobi saw.they made the table extension slide much better.has a sliding table to the right.if it cuts as good as the older one you and i have bosch and rigid better wake up because those are ryobi headlights in there rearview mirror. larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
## Too bad they�re so hard to find now. Home Despot doesn�t list them on their website,@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@Was gazing fondly at one in HD yesterday. I think the model is now BT3100. Actually seems to have a cult following and good things said about it. $250 with stand.After using the foreman's Skill table top saw on this last deckectomie, it's very tempting. I think I might be able to lift it. The really nice class A contractor saws have enough weight and size that moving them alone becomes an issue.FWIW - our Habitat uses the Rigid and it has survived them in rather good shape. Of course, when they hooked it to the 240 outlet on the spider box, it really ran fast, but not long. Had to work to do that one. New motor, no more 240 at the box and still runs. I like the fact that you can remove the guard without a mechanic present.The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
Toolbear, just to clarify, I have the saw with the integral, folding stand... the BTS20R. According to Ryobi’s website its been replaced by the BTS21. The funny thing is, when you click on the "Where to buy" link you end up at Home Depot and they’re still showing the BTS20R.
Toolbear, just to clarify, I have the saw with the integral, folding stand... the BTS20R. According to Ryobi�s website its been replaced by the BTS21. The funny thing is, when you click on the "Where to buy" link you end up at Home Depot and they�re still showing the BTS20R.@@@I suspect it's a full time job to keep a commercial web site updated. Probably outsource this to India. Do you have enough miles on the saw to review it? How does it work?We are doing radical deckectomies and such (love those termites and brown cubical rot) and often have a lot of stuff to rip into trim, etc. In CA, if you have plant wood, you are just running a termite lunch counter. The worse is the faux Tudor of Westminister. (Help me before I buy another tool again - but no need to rush the intervention. This is my busy season.)The ToolBear
"Never met a man who couldn't teach me something." Anon.
I have a Ridged and a Dewalt, like them both.
The Ridged with stand is on sale this weekend for $299, purty darn good deal.
I have used many different brands in the past couple of years. They all have faults. I recently upgraded from a $100 Craftsman table saw to the Bosch 4000 (not 4100 but same motor). I found the Bosch to have the best rip quality and a high quality fence system. The Best fence is on the Dewalt 477. But the cut quality on the dewalt was worse than on my Craftsman. It left marks on pine and poplar and burnt cherry and hickory. It seems to have a much weaker motor than I am used to. Also, after adjusting for an angle cut then back to 90 degrees you must reach under the saw sometimes to make the blade parallel to the fence. I have been the most surprised by the Ryobi. The cut quality was very good but not what I would call excellent...second to the Bosch. The Ryobi stand is easy to set up and the fence system is decent. For the money it is a great buy. The Makita is probably the worst buy for the money. Although the motor is a beast; you will never kill it. That means after you buy it and figure out that the fence is a joke, the stand is a joke, and the blade height adjust is a joke, you are stuck with a #### saw that will last forever. You could get the Rosseau stand but by then you will have spent enough money to have bought a much higher quality saw. If somebody gave me the saw for free I would get the Rosseau stand and modify the height adjustment knob to turn with a cordless drill. Oh and the Makita cut quality is good...same as the Ryobi. I have not used the Rigid. I like the design and specs but just havn't used it. Seems comparable to the Bosch. I bought the Bosch because of my experience with the saw and the brand. Most of my tools are Bosch.
GK
Interesting report.
I just returned from a hellacious trip to HD to specifically get the Ridgid sale saw..I got there about 10 ish I think..SOLD the F out! No rain check...no you can't buy the display unit ( manager's words)..Bummer dude. They were gone by 0730.
I got the Bosch a few weeks ago, it IS a fine saw, but I'd rather not haul, so I considered the Ridgid for this currant site ( both are long term jobs) and I have a Shop saw, that is a full size for here at home, I justified the new portable(s) as when these jobs are done, I have a "dedicated" dado set up, maybe.
Anyway, being as I drove an hour up there in an almost empty van, I snagged the Ryobi in lieu, after all it too was sellin like ice cubes in hell, I have yet to open the box, but I really trust Tiawan for some unknown reason, besides the fact that I run a Tiawanese Planer from the 70's ( huh, its Ryobi AH-115 AWESOME) and I know the manufacturers have different standards then the mainland krap that is being passed off now.
To be honest, the Bosch is not all I expected for the $$$. I will refrain from saying "Chinsy" which may bring about a reference to China in a derogatory way, but..for the $$ Ryobi, seems to be carrying the ball a bit better than I have had expectations for.
After I unpack this critter, and fire it up, I may come back with a report that is useful, but being as it was still 30 bucks less, and shows it, compared to the Ridgid on sale..my jury is still out.
BTW, I still carry a 99.00 swamp saw ( tradesman?) for that "level the load" ability in the van (G). But it has done some awesome work, that a circ saw screwed to a hunk of advantech, upside down, on horses..just can't pull off, professionally..LOL
Now if some manu wants to REALLY nail the $$$$$, they'd get up with better dust suck, and zero throats that WORK with common site goodies, the cast al tops and stamped steel inserts are more of a hassle than the saw is worth, IMO.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
I just got the latest HD email flyer, ridgid with stand for $299, usually $449. hmmm..
GONE Hmmmm?
see aboveSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
the game to play with that saw,and it's hindsite now. someone posted a deal that it was going on sale. so you go buy it last weekend for500. and now you go back and want it priced match,they will do that. cost 299.larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
I have no Idea what you said
want some of this?
Made ya lookSpheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
me niether,lets talk next year before thanksgiving and see if we canfigure it out.:] larryif a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?
I agree with you regarding the Makita saw. I have been running mine in the Rousseau stand for over ten years now with minimal problems. I stripped a few gears on the bevel control, but it still works fine.
I have been trying to justify buying a new saw, but the Makita isn't even thinking of quitting any time soon.
I think the perfect portable table saw for me would have the following attributes:
1. lightweight (pref. less than 50lbs.)
2. Powerful, indestructible motor (like Makita)
3. rack and pinion fence (like DeWalt)
4. the ability to use a standard size mitre gauge (unlike my Makita)
5. The ability to run a full-size dado blade
6. Rip at least 24"
I could probably think of more, but this is a good start I think.
I saw what looked like a very nice Hitachi at Lowes for, I think, $209. Has its own built-in folding stand. Smooth action on the fence, etc.
I saw that Hitachi a while back and it looked good for $209. From what I remember it was pretty lightweight and portable with wheels. Havent really heard anything about it, anyone tried it?
I have the Bosch 4000 - had it for 6-7 years now, since it first came out.Had the base fall apart while storing upright in the trailer - wasn't even cold or anything, but a new one only cost me $65 (I put it on).It still works great, but it is getting a bit long in the tooth - I notice the fence somehow got a bit wacked at a twisted angle - need to look at that someday soon.I also built a router table to drop into the wing extension - nice setup - great looking and works perfect. (search the archives and you'll find those threads with pics)If I didn't have thee Bosch, it seems to me that maybe the best of both worlds might be the little Dewalt for portability and a Rosseau stand that the little sucker could drop into so you could get a decent table size and ripp capacity.Wonder if they make a stand for the newer tiny Dewalt yet?Anybody here own and use the newer Jet jobsite saw that is belt driven? They run about $200 or so. There was a lot fo discussion on JLC, but it'd be nice to hear any comments from users here.JT
Well, if I can still find it after Xmas I'll probably buy it, before my next MS trip.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader
That sounds like a good plan. Hitachi saws have a good rep, and the price is sure right. Maybe Santa will will deliver one, if its not too heavy.
Won't fit down the chimney, unfortunately.
If your view never changes you're following the wrong leader