table saws
- Thread starter Tyron
- Start date
powermatic makes the best tablesaws on the market if you got the $$
The best fence is the biesenmeyer. I used to sell and service woodworking machinery,fixed hundreds of tablesaws. If you can find an old powermatic model 66 saw with a biesenmeyer fence buy it,you cant do better.
The best fence is the biesenmeyer. I used to sell and service woodworking machinery,fixed hundreds of tablesaws. If you can find an old powermatic model 66 saw with a biesenmeyer fence buy it,you cant do better.
I grew up working in my dad's cabinet shop, using his industrial grade equipment. I have owned everything down to the cheapest portable table saw made. If you have the room and money get industrial grade, it works better and will normally last longer than you, even when used heavily.
If going with less than industrial, I recommend at a minimum a contractor grade cast iron table and belt drive. The direct drive saws can not even begin to keep up with belt drive when ripping hard wood or 3/4" plywood and they are not heavy enough to handle a full sheet of plywood and stay stable. Save the direct drives for throwing in the back of your pickup, or the junk yard.
Panel saws are great for cutting plywood to length I don't think they are nearly as good or accurate as a table saw, with a run out bench, for ripping to width, but they will do it.
If going with less than industrial, I recommend at a minimum a contractor grade cast iron table and belt drive. The direct drive saws can not even begin to keep up with belt drive when ripping hard wood or 3/4" plywood and they are not heavy enough to handle a full sheet of plywood and stay stable. Save the direct drives for throwing in the back of your pickup, or the junk yard.
Panel saws are great for cutting plywood to length I don't think they are nearly as good or accurate as a table saw, with a run out bench, for ripping to width, but they will do it.
Try Amazon also. Just bought a Jet Band Saw. & A delta drill press from Home Depot that matched Amazons price plus free shipping. ( i had a $50 gift card from Christmas) Plus theres many reviews by buyers/users etc.
I agree with what others have said, and craigslist is a really good source for tools, if you take the time to educate yourself on what you are looking for, and make sure to check out condition before you buy. Always remember to buy the most tool you can afford, and NEED. If you are only going to use the saw for a few small projects, buy cheap. If you will use the saw for decades, then perhaps saving up for a more expensive saw, that you don't need to replace is the way to go. I found a used Delta unisaw, and only paid $600 for it. A unisaw is a really solid piece of machinery, but you aren't going to be moving that from place to place on a whim. There are 3 big things which will make a huuuge difference on what your saw will be capable of:
1) Tune it up. Take the time to make sure the saw is parallel to the fence, and perpendicular to the table surface. Spend a LOT of time doing this after you buy your saw (new or old)
2) How good the fence is will affect how happy you are with the saw. Beisemeyer is one of the best fences out there (I have one), but there are a bunch of knock offs available now that the patents have expired. A solid fence system will affect your cut. If the fence flexes, you can't make a straight cut. My father has a 50+ year old craftsman table saw. He recently replaced the fence and is much happier with it than he was with the original one.
3) A good blade. I have used a wide variety of blades, and a good sharp blade can make a nice cut. But after I used a Forrest blade, I never went back. My Forrest 40T(tooth) makes a better crosscut than any 80T Frued I ever had. They cost 2x, but seem to stay sharper 2x as long, and have waaayy bigger carbide, so will last longer.
Long post, hope it helps.
1) Tune it up. Take the time to make sure the saw is parallel to the fence, and perpendicular to the table surface. Spend a LOT of time doing this after you buy your saw (new or old)
2) How good the fence is will affect how happy you are with the saw. Beisemeyer is one of the best fences out there (I have one), but there are a bunch of knock offs available now that the patents have expired. A solid fence system will affect your cut. If the fence flexes, you can't make a straight cut. My father has a 50+ year old craftsman table saw. He recently replaced the fence and is much happier with it than he was with the original one.
3) A good blade. I have used a wide variety of blades, and a good sharp blade can make a nice cut. But after I used a Forrest blade, I never went back. My Forrest 40T(tooth) makes a better crosscut than any 80T Frued I ever had. They cost 2x, but seem to stay sharper 2x as long, and have waaayy bigger carbide, so will last longer.
Long post, hope it helps.
Not sure why you would want a panel saw.
Dewalt makes a decent jobsite portable 10" table saw that I have cut miles of wood with you won't be dissatisified if you get that one. They also have a compact version if you are a bit tight for cash.
If you have a bit more than $500 I would get the Bosch portable 10". You won't be sorry
Dewalt makes a decent jobsite portable 10" table saw that I have cut miles of wood with you won't be dissatisified if you get that one. They also have a compact version if you are a bit tight for cash.
If you have a bit more than $500 I would get the Bosch portable 10". You won't be sorry
dark_fairytales;4857101; said:
Being a custom cabinet and trim installer myself, I have to agree with the above statement. I would love a panel saw, but would take a table saw over a panel saw any day if I had to choose between the two. So much more can be done with a good (even average) table saw. Just learn proper safety before even attempting to use a table saw.
jspatriots;4866756; said:
I've been looking at those for awhile now but they're still pricey. I'm going to wait until prices come down a little more. But I love the concept!
