On Mar 15, 5:14*pm, Phisherman wrote:
On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:21:58 -0500, "MikeWhy"

wrote:
"-MIKE-" wrote in message
...
I guess my point is... so far the only advantage anyone can offer for
having a granite top is to dampen vibration. *So why would you give up all
the advantages of a magnetic top, just to dampen vibration caused by
faulty or poorly designed parts?

It might be helpful to ask it the other way, too. Why NOT granite? Who
knows. The only thing that comes to mind is not being able to tap a threaded
hole in stone. I don't typically drop heavy, sharp cornered steel tooling on
the tablesaw. The only jig I have that fits that description is the big,
heavy tenoning jig. So far, I managed to not ding the C.I. top with it. I
also move somewhere else for heavy hammering. Why NOT granite?

Granite might crack, chip or break, wears faster than iron.

The cracking has a lot to do with selection. Natural fissures occur,
but can be found ahead of use.
Chip? Well, that takes a bit too. Something that chips granite, will
likely damage/pit cast iron as well.
It will out-wear cast iron by a long shot too. That stuff takes
diamonds to machine.