Bruce,
I'd still do what I can (save up for another month or two, whatever) to get
one of the entry level cabinet/hybrid saws, especially if dust control is
important to you. When you're getting up to the prices of these saws, I'm
assuming you're planning on buying it once, and it will last you for quite a
few years. An extra $200 now could work out to $10/year, or less than
$1/month for the life of the saw. See what kind of mileage you get with
SWMBO with that theory.
Also, check out this forum:
http://www.workshopbuzz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3318. It's set up by one
of the Canadian wood-working magazines. They've had discussions about a
King hybrid/cabinet saw as well, which would only be available in Canada,
and a Craftex (Busy Bee, similar to Grizzly) cabinet saw.
This thread (
http://www.workshopbuzz.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3197) talks
about a bunch of those saws as well, and mentions a Delta 36-656 saw which
is the 36-655 saw with a Bies fence.
And according to a number of posters, the Craftsman 22124 was at a recent
Canadian wood-working show, and Sears Canada is bringing them in, but the
price is probably going to be closer to $1200 than $1000.
Anyway, have fun with your purchase! Like I said, I'm happy with my GI
50-185. I just wish the footprint wasn't as awkward, and I suspect any
contractor saw would be the same. The dust collection will also be a kludge
on any of them, due to the open back (and the belts running through where a
back wall would be).
Clint
wrote in message
oups.com...
Clint:
The CDN$979 General 50-220 has their basic aluminum fence. The 50-220C
has their 30" capacity baby Biesemeyer fence. The 220C would set me
back CDN$1100 (see
http://www.general.ca/images/circula...P.2ANG.CAN.gif).
Doubt that the 220 would run on 20A at 110V. Also doubt I could sneek
it downstairs without the wife noticing...
HoT also has an entry-level Delta cabinet saw - the 36-655 for CDN$900
(see http://www.houseoftools.com/product.htm?pid=201668). It would run
fine on a 20A curcuit, but I don't care for the fence. Marson has a
36-655 w/o a fence, but they're asking CDN$950 for it.
Apparently the 36-717 is Delta's newest "hybrid" saw. According to FCB
Machinery, the 36-717 isn't available in Canada - and according to
Sears Canada, neither is the similarly built Craftsman 22124.
Bruce