One thing you can always count on when you ask for tool advice here is that
whatever your declared budget, at least half the responders will recommend
something in excess of it.
I suppose this post is no exception. I have one of the relatively new
Craftsman hybrid saws (part cabinet saw, part contractors saw). It's the
lowest-end model of the 3 available and retails for $550. From time to time
Sears has a major sale in the tool department, so if your timing is right
you may be able to get this saw at your price.
The other thing you can count on around here is a fair number of posters
telling you in no uncertain terms that anything with a Craftsman label is
crap. This may, in fact, be true for a number of the tools they have sold
in the past decade, but it definitely does not apply to their new line of
hybrid saws (manufactured in China by a relatively new company formed by
some former Delta personnel). The only bad things I can recall reading
about this particular saw have been posted by people who hadn't actually
used one but were basing their opinions on previous "Crapsman" experience.
Like you, I use my workshop for only the occasional project, not daily
production and the Sears saw is perfectly adequate for my needs.

Lee

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_________________________________
Lee Gordon
http://www.leegordonproductions.com