I have recently gotten into woodworking, and built my own woodworking
bench and more recently my wife and I completed our first project. We
have minimal tools and I have been looking for a good table saw. So
far, I'm leaning towards the Delta Hybrid saw, model 36-717 with the
Beis fence. I realize these haven't been out long, but I'm wanting to
get opinions from the more experienced people out there on my thinking.
I checked Woodcraft's website and noticed it said they no longer carry
it...so I called them to see why. They said there was a problem with
them and the manufacturer was redoing them and would be "re-releasing"
them sometime in September I believe. Anyway, I'm hoping to keep the
purchase under $1000 so I still have a little money left for the
accessories like blade alignment tool and whatever else I figure out
that I have to have with a table saw. The reasons I have tentatively
decided on this particular saw is because it has a full cabinet, the
beis fence, and has dust collection. It seems like a good middle
ground between the contractor saws and a cabinet saw. Does this seem
like a good choice?

lance wrote:
I have recently gotten into woodworking, and built my own woodworking
bench and more recently my wife and I completed our first project. We
have minimal tools and I have been looking for a good table saw. So
far, I'm leaning towards the Delta Hybrid saw, model 36-717 with the
Beis fence. I realize these haven't been out long, but I'm wanting to
get opinions from the more experienced people out there on my thinking.
I checked Woodcraft's website and noticed it said they no longer carry
it...so I called them to see why. They said there was a problem with
them and the manufacturer was redoing them and would be "re-releasing"
them sometime in September I believe. Anyway, I'm hoping to keep the
purchase under $1000 so I still have a little money left for the
accessories like blade alignment tool and whatever else I figure out
that I have to have with a table saw. The reasons I have tentatively
decided on this particular saw is because it has a full cabinet, the
beis fence, and has dust collection. It seems like a good middle
ground between the contractor saws and a cabinet saw. Does this seem
like a good choice?


If it's the one I'm thinking of - haven't followed the model numbers
that close but it's about $1100? - what I have heard is that although
it's advertised, its availability is still sketchy. Thus, I have not
seen many reviews of it by current owners/users.

OTOH, if you take a look at Sears Craftsman version which regularly
sells for around $975 but typically can be found on sale for much less
(someone said that it could be had for around $600 with a really good
sale in combo with the Craftsman Membership Card)you'll find what
appears to be the same saw.

I DID look at the Craftsman mentioned above quite closely and attempted
to compare it to the equivalent Delta which, I'm sure, is the one you're
looking at. Very nice saw.

If the two saws aren't coming off the same production line, I'd be very
surprised.

Don't think I've seen anything but good reviews on the Craftsman and so,
I suspect, the same should hold true with the Delta.

In article .com,
lance wrote:

I have recently gotten into woodworking, and built my own woodworking
bench and more recently my wife and I completed our first project. We
have minimal tools and I have been looking for a good table saw. So
far, I'm leaning towards the Delta Hybrid saw, model 36-717 with the
Beis fence. I realize these haven't been out long, but I'm wanting to
get opinions from the more experienced people out there on my thinking.
I checked Woodcraft's website and noticed it said they no longer carry
it...so I called them to see why. They said there was a problem with
them and the manufacturer was redoing them and would be "re-releasing"
them sometime in September I believe. Anyway, I'm hoping to keep the
purchase under $1000 so I still have a little money left for the
accessories like blade alignment tool and whatever else I figure out
that I have to have with a table saw. The reasons I have tentatively
decided on this particular saw is because it has a full cabinet, the
beis fence, and has dust collection. It seems like a good middle
ground between the contractor saws and a cabinet saw. Does this seem
like a good choice?


Hi Lance,

Check out the Grizzly line. I upgraded to a 1023SL
this past January. I was considering the Sears with
the Bies fence, but on inspecting it, I was a little
disappointed - a little lacking in beef and I thought
it had flimsy handwheels (the Griz has these silky
smooth heavy ones that are a pleasure to turn.)

I could not be more pleased with the Griz - I also
added a WWII blade. It is an awsome combo for around
$1K - around $2/pound! Their shop fox fence is
rock solid & true - it has not disappointed either.

Lou

Wow, that's a beaut! What type of woodworking did you get into? That's
a pretty hefty table saw for anyone who is recently into woodworking.

Then again, it should last you a LONG time.

Jack

lance wrote:
I have recently gotten into woodworking, and built my own woodworking
bench and more recently my wife and I completed our first project. We
have minimal tools and I have been looking for a good table saw. So
far, I'm leaning towards the Delta Hybrid saw, model 36-717 with the
Beis fence. I realize these haven't been out long, but I'm wanting to
get opinions from the more experienced people out there on my thinking.
I checked Woodcraft's website and noticed it said they no longer carry
it...so I called them to see why. They said there was a problem with
them and the manufacturer was redoing them and would be "re-releasing"
them sometime in September I believe. Anyway, I'm hoping to keep the
purchase under $1000 so I still have a little money left for the
accessories like blade alignment tool and whatever else I figure out
that I have to have with a table saw. The reasons I have tentatively
decided on this particular saw is because it has a full cabinet, the
beis fence, and has dust collection. It seems like a good middle
ground between the contractor saws and a cabinet saw. Does this seem
like a good choice?

Well, I am wanting to make anything really, but would eventually like
to make my own bedroom furniture among other things. I realize it may
be a step-up from what most people start with, but that is precisely
why I was looking at it. I don't really want to have to upgrade. I
don't think I need a professional level saw, but would like a good one
that I am not going to outgrow as a hobbyist. After looking at the
1023SL that Lou recommened, I think I now have a contender, and will
now need to decide between that one and the delta 36-717.

lance....
I have sold and used Delta for years and I am a big Delta fan. I have
always been able to get good service and parts are normally available.
Support your local Wood Craft store. They will give you good service
after the sale.

Mike

In article .com,
lance wrote:

Well, I am wanting to make anything really, but would eventually like
to make my own bedroom furniture among other things. I realize it may
be a step-up from what most people start with, but that is precisely
why I was looking at it. I don't really want to have to upgrade. I
don't think I need a professional level saw, but would like a good one
that I am not going to outgrow as a hobbyist. After looking at the
1023SL that Lou recommened, I think I now have a contender, and will
now need to decide between that one and the delta 36-717.


Hi (again) Lance,

If you contact Grizzly, they will put you in contact
with someone in your area that owns their saw, so that
you can take a look/feel.

If you google Grizzly here on the wreck, I think that
you will find their support & reputation are very positive.

I bought my Delta 14" bandsaw at my local WW Warehouse
a couple years ago - they're out of business now. Sucks cause
I really liked that store. It is a great BS tho.

Same guys are now working at the new Woodcraft. Bought a
Jet sander from them. Still great guys - they just don't remember
selling me that BS!

I happened to be in a Sears (Hardware) store today, putting
a payment on my monthly. Took a stroll through their tool area
and looked (again) at their TS's. If you could grab that $969
job for $600+, then that's a good deal - probably what it is
worth. The next model down was listed for around $650 I think,
so at around $500, it would be good too.

Me? I'd still buy the Griz for $1K, beacause it is just that much
better IMHO.

I'm retired - never sold nothin' but paint/burgers when I was in
college - 40 yrs ago :-( .

I bought my 1023SL after almost 20 years with a decent but
not great contractor's saw.

A good TS will make your work a lot more enjoyable and accurate.

Get the WWII too!

FWIW

Lou

Snipped.

If you google Grizzly here on the wreck, I think that
you will find their support & reputation are very positive.
I happened to be in a Sears (Hardware) store today, putting
a payment on my monthly. Took a stroll through their tool area
and looked (again) at their TS's. If you could grab that $969
job for $600+, then that's a good deal - probably what it is
worth. The next model down was listed for around $650 I think,
so at around $500, it would be good too.

Me? I'd still buy the Griz for $1K, beacause it is just that much
better IMHO.


I think Lou is spot on here. I have not seen the Delta, but I have looked at
the Sears models. They are competant saws which are much better than the
80's craftsman contractor saw with which I was sadly all too well
acquainted.

If you can get a the high-end sears for $700, I would say that it is an
excellent value and it will do what you need. But for $1K the Griz gets my
vote because it is a "real" cabinet saw and it wil lbe that much nicer to
use.

BTW, you do not *need* fancy tools to set up a a saw well. Do buy the full
kerf WWII.

-Steve

I thought getting the blade exactly parallel to the miter slot and
fence was really critical to a well performing saw. In thinking this,
I assumed I would need a tool to align these, which would probably not
be very cheap. Is there a relatively easy way to get a new saw ready
to use without buying more tools? If so, could you explain, or point
me to a resource that explains? Thanks in advance. I'm now leaning
much more towards the Grizzly.

"lance" wrote in message
oups.com...
I thought getting the blade exactly parallel to the miter slot and
fence was really critical to a well performing saw.

Yes it is. You can use a combination square.

Raise the blade to its highest setting. Set the fence of the combination
square in the slot and extend the rule until it touches the front tooth of
the blade. Lock the rule in place. Mark this tooth with a pencil. Rotate the
blade back until that tooth is just above the table, but in the back
position. Tweek your blade angle (on a cab saw this is done by moving the
saw top, on a contractor saw you move the trunions) until the same tooth
just brushes the rule of the combination square in both the front and back
positions.

A dial indicator will let you measure very small distances. You really don't
want to measure, you just want to make two distances equal.

You probably want to have a decent engineer's square to set the 90 and 45
degree bevel stops.

Blade to fence is even easier. Just use some fixed-width piece of metal
(like the metal rule from your combination square) and use that to measure
the distance from the "reference tooth" in front and back pisitions to the
fence. Do this using the 1" dimmension of the ruler (not the 12" way).

Let me know if I need to clarify that.

Regards,

Steve



In thinking this,
I assumed I would need a tool to align these, which would probably not
be very cheap. Is there a relatively easy way to get a new saw ready
to use without buying more tools? If so, could you explain, or point
me to a resource that explains? Thanks in advance. I'm now leaning
much more towards the Grizzly.

In article .com,
lance wrote:

I thought getting the blade exactly parallel to the miter slot and
fence was really critical to a well performing saw. In thinking this,
I assumed I would need a tool to align these, which would probably not
be very cheap. Is there a relatively easy way to get a new saw ready
to use without buying more tools? If so, could you explain, or point
me to a resource that explains? Thanks in advance. I'm now leaning
much more towards the Grizzly.


Lance,

Check out:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...L&&gid=157D36D
E-DE48-42FD-8473-F6443CA273AB&site=grizzly

(watch the wrap)

The manual (pdf) explains how to square/align everything
if necessary.

My 1023SL required very little tweaking out of the box.

Lou

"lance" wrote in news:1125266725.061708.273780
@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

I thought getting the blade exactly parallel to the miter slot and
fence was really critical to a well performing saw. In thinking this,
I assumed I would need a tool to align these, which would probably not
be very cheap. Is there a relatively easy way to get a new saw ready
to use without buying more tools? If so, could you explain, or point
me to a resource that explains? Thanks in advance. I'm now leaning
much more towards the Grizzly.


Were you, for example, to purchase a good, 6" combination square, say from
Starrett, you would not only have what you need to properly align your saw,
but would have a tool you would likely use almost every time in the shop.

Patriarch

Thank you everyone for your wonderful insight and advice. It is much
appreciated. I have talked to the wife and think we've decided to get
the 1023SL. One more question, if anyone knows...is it easy to add a
table to fill out the space to the right where the rails extend past
the wing? The Delta hybrid saw I was looking at came with this
already, and that is one thing I would like to have on the Grizzly.
I'm sure I could just put an MDF piece in there to fit, but is it
really that easy? I don't want to get the 1023SLX which adds the
extension table because it would be too long. I'm in half of a 2 car
garage, so I'd like to keep the standard length rails that come with
the saw. Thanks!

Hi Lance,

Funny you should mention that space to the right of
the saw. I have installed a router table in the space.
What I did was drill 1/4 inch holes for bolts - two
in the wing edge and 1 in the center of each rail. Then
I attached an oak frame with bolts - level with the
wing. Added some cleats inside and dropped in a piece
of melamine which I routed out to hold a plate that
I got from Rockler (around $50-$60). I'm still
tweaking it - between projects. Of course, you could
just as easily drop in a piece of melamine or whatever
with no hole if you just wanted an extension.

Good luck with your new saw!

Lou

In article .com,
lance wrote:

Thank you everyone for your wonderful insight and advice. It is much
appreciated. I have talked to the wife and think we've decided to get
the 1023SL. One more question, if anyone knows...is it easy to add a
table to fill out the space to the right where the rails extend past
the wing? The Delta hybrid saw I was looking at came with this
already, and that is one thing I would like to have on the Grizzly.
I'm sure I could just put an MDF piece in there to fit, but is it
really that easy? I don't want to get the 1023SLX which adds the
extension table because it would be too long. I'm in half of a 2 car
garage, so I'd like to keep the standard length rails that come with
the saw. Thanks!

"lance" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thank you everyone for your wonderful insight and advice. It is much
appreciated. I have talked to the wife and think we've decided to get
the 1023SL. One more question, if anyone knows...is it easy to add a
table to fill out the space to the right where the rails extend past
the wing? The Delta hybrid saw I was looking at came with this
already, and that is one thing I would like to have on the Grizzly.
I'm sure I could just put an MDF piece in there to fit, but is it
really that easy?

Almost. Use melamine, the surface will slicker, especially after you wax it
a bit.... oh yeah put paste wax on your shopping list (not car wax, the
stuff for floors and furniture) on your shopping list. You will use it for
all sorts of things in your shop.

The melamine alone will be a little weak (prone to sagging). Add a 1x2 apron
and one crossbar and you'll be all set.

Cheers,

Steve

Looking at on-line pictures, the Delta 36-717 looks a lot like the Craftsman
00922124000 which I purchased last December.

Superficial differences are the Delta supports the wooden table extension
with a couple of legs. The Sears model uses the fence rail for support
which has worked well for my needs.

I paid just less than $700 with the Christmas sale price and then another
10% off for the Craftsman club discount. I have not seen it at this price
since last Christmas.

The Sears saw is generally sturdy, although it did skimp on the height/angle
handle attachments. I would have preferred a beefier handle, but to be
honest, the adjustment is very smooth and the design is adequate. I have
not seen the Delta saw "live", but I would buy the Sears saw again,
especially at the price I paid for it.

So far the saw is meeting my woodworking needs. Whichever saw you buy, I
would get a good quality blade. I gave away the blade which came with the
saw and purchased a Forrest Woodworker II.

Dave Paine.

"Unquestionably Confused" wrote in message
...
lance wrote:
I have recently gotten into woodworking, and built my own woodworking
bench and more recently my wife and I completed our first project. We
have minimal tools and I have been looking for a good table saw. So
far, I'm leaning towards the Delta Hybrid saw, model 36-717 with the
Beis fence. I realize these haven't been out long, but I'm wanting to
get opinions from the more experienced people out there on my thinking.
I checked Woodcraft's website and noticed it said they no longer carry
it...so I called them to see why. They said there was a problem with
them and the manufacturer was redoing them and would be "re-releasing"
them sometime in September I believe. Anyway, I'm hoping to keep the
purchase under $1000 so I still have a little money left for the
accessories like blade alignment tool and whatever else I figure out
that I have to have with a table saw. The reasons I have tentatively
decided on this particular saw is because it has a full cabinet, the
beis fence, and has dust collection. It seems like a good middle
ground between the contractor saws and a cabinet saw. Does this seem
like a good choice?


If it's the one I'm thinking of - haven't followed the model numbers that
close but it's about $1100? - what I have heard is that although it's
advertised, its availability is still sketchy. Thus, I have not seen many
reviews of it by current owners/users.

OTOH, if you take a look at Sears Craftsman version which regularly sells
for around $975 but typically can be found on sale for much less (someone
said that it could be had for around $600 with a really good sale in combo
with the Craftsman Membership Card)you'll find what appears to be the same
saw.

I DID look at the Craftsman mentioned above quite closely and attempted to
compare it to the equivalent Delta which, I'm sure, is the one you're
looking at. Very nice saw.

If the two saws aren't coming off the same production line, I'd be very
surprised.

Don't think I've seen anything but good reviews on the Craftsman and so, I
suspect, the same should hold true with the Delta.