NEW TABLE SAW

Like so many other woodworkers I did a lot of research before I
decided which saw to buy. In the Fall of 2005 I bought a Craftsman
table saw for about $575. It has a 10" blade, the motor is 1 ½ HP
developing a maximum of 2 HP, weighs 350 pounds and including the
wings has a 27" x 40" cast iron table. The model number is 152.22.

I am delighted with its performance. The rip fence can be aligned
with the miter gauge slot by sliding the fence adjacent to the slot
and changing its alignment by loosening two hex nuts, making the
adjustment and tightening the nuts. It also has an extra, aluminum
fence which can easily added to the main one. The table can be
aligned parallel to the saw blade by loosening the nut under each of
the table top's four corners, moving the table top slightly one way or
the other and tightening the nuts.

The miter gauge also has an additional aluminum fence that can be
added to it.

It came with an all around 40-tooth blade. I mailed in a coupon that
came with the saw and I received an 18-tooth crosscut blade and a 60-
tooth blade for plywood, gratis.
It comes with a 4" dust port that I don't use. It has an open stand
to which I taped on three of it's sides card board pieces which touch
the floor and a fourth piece in front which is attached with Velcro.
From time to time I lift up the cardboard piece in front and sweep out
the sawdust. I do this to avoid the noise, cost and lost space of a
vacuum.

I made three sleds: one for cross cutting, another for using dado
blades and a third for bevel cuts. Each one has ½" MDF for a base and
two runners. The cross cut sled is 16" deep and 40" wide with 1" of
plywood for each fence and a clear acrylic blade guard. It is easy to
use, I get consistent cross cuts and it is quite safe. I can also
attach stops and a tenon fence. The other sleds are smaller, measure
12" by 20" and have hardwood fences.

I have had three occasions to call customer support and each time a
person answered my call quickly and if they couldn't help they
transferred me to someone who could.

On the negative side the screws supplied to attach items to the
table's sides did not work. I found the saw blade guard such a
nuisance that I removed it. The miter gauge is just so, so.

All in all I couldn't be happier with my choice of table saws.

Because it is my first one I bought a copy of "The Table Saw Book"
and the accompanying DVD by Kelly Mehler. I studied them both very
carefully and found them to be a tremendous help.

G. H. - Beaufort, SC 7/1/07