Hello,

Had to part with my Delta 10" tablesaw... When I got it to babysit I
was really hoping it would be for the long haul, but alas it wasn't
meant to be... Oh well... we make do.

When I realized I was faced with reassembling my Craftsman 10", I
thought...may as well make some improvements. The tune up suggestions
on the Woodbutcher's Site were a great place to start!!!

These are the improvements I've done (some from the Woodbutcher's site
some my own) and some that I'm planning on doing in the very near
future...

-- Added 12 bolts (had to bore holes for these) to secure the body
housing sheet metal to the leg assembly to stiffen up the frame (8
1/4"x1/2" bolts to secure the side panels to the legs and added one
3/8" x 1/2" bolt to each corner)
-- Added a plate with a dust collection port to the bottom of the saw,
this plate also helped stiffen the frame (attached a toilet flange as
my outlet on the bottom -- It was on hand and it works)
-- Added 1/2" (they're 7" wide and span the legs) plywood panels
around the top of the leg assembly this was to prevent them from
splaying out and wobbling
-- Added 4 2" x 1/8" steel bands around the bottom of the legs to
stiffen them up and prevent them from turning
-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24

Yet to be dones ----

-- Installing a link belt
-- I'll be adding an overhead blade guard - I have parts cut out of
3/8" Lexan they just need to be assembled for the guard, then I'll need
to do the armature for the overhead assembly. (this one should be done
inside a week or so)
-- I also want to close in the back of the saw to improve dust
collection -- (I'm looking for suggestion on what the best way to close
it in btw.)


I've posted some pics of the saw he

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7176102...7594384387020/

Can someone please tell me how to get an actual hyper link to show up?
You'll have to take that address and copy it into your browser...

I'll add new photo's as I make changes...

And trust me I understand that Craftsman ain't Delta, Jet, or Saw-Stop
(had to add that last one)... I've spent maybe $50 total on all the
changes and I fully intend on upgrading to a better saw eventually,
right now this is the one I have and it's doing pretty well....

Just thought I'd share... Have a great Holiday!!!

"bremen68" wrote in news:1164042100.657067.50810
@k70g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

*snip*


I've posted some pics of the saw he

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7176102...7594384387020/

Can someone please tell me how to get an actual hyper link to show up?
You'll have to take that address and copy it into your browser...


*snip*

My newsreader (and likely Google Groups) recognizes URLs and makes them
"actionable" (or "clickable") automagically. If it doesn't work, the
nice seperated link like that makes it easy to find what the person wants
to copy and paste. ;-)

Puckropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

My newsreader (and likely Google Groups) recognizes URLs and makes them
"actionable" (or "clickable") automagically. If it doesn't work, the
nice seperated link like that makes it easy to find what the person wants
to copy and paste. ;-)

Puckropper
--
Wise is the man who attempts to answer his question before asking it.

To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm

Figures the thing recognizes this one... :-) Every other time I've
included a link it comes up as regular text... Oh well.... Thanks.

On 20 Nov 2006 09:01:40 -0800, "bremen68"
wrote:

Hello,

Had to part with my Delta 10" tablesaw... When I got it to babysit I
was really hoping it would be for the long haul, but alas it wasn't
meant to be... Oh well... we make do.

When I realized I was faced with reassembling my Craftsman 10", I
thought...may as well make some improvements. The tune up suggestions
on the Woodbutcher's Site were a great place to start!!!

These are the improvements I've done (some from the Woodbutcher's site
some my own) and some that I'm planning on doing in the very near
future...

-- Added 12 bolts (had to bore holes for these) to secure the body
housing sheet metal to the leg assembly to stiffen up the frame (8
1/4"x1/2" bolts to secure the side panels to the legs and added one
3/8" x 1/2" bolt to each corner)
-- Added a plate with a dust collection port to the bottom of the saw,
this plate also helped stiffen the frame (attached a toilet flange as
my outlet on the bottom -- It was on hand and it works)
-- Added 1/2" (they're 7" wide and span the legs) plywood panels
around the top of the leg assembly this was to prevent them from
splaying out and wobbling
-- Added 4 2" x 1/8" steel bands around the bottom of the legs to
stiffen them up and prevent them from turning

That's a lot of work with the leg system. I'd never heard of it, nor
did I ever think the legs were a problem on mine while I had it.

-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24


Yep - single biggest improvement to my Craftsman saw was the addition
of a Biesemeyer fence. A good fence makes the saw accurate and
usable.

Yet to be dones ----

-- Installing a link belt

Good idea. I did that, but I'm not sure the improvement was all that
significant. It's the steel pulleys I did at the same time that was
more useful. The cast pulleys were obviously well worn on mine by the
time I did it.

-- I'll be adding an overhead blade guard - I have parts cut out of
3/8" Lexan they just need to be assembled for the guard, then I'll need
to do the armature for the overhead assembly. (this one should be done
inside a week or so)

Like a Shark Guard? You're obviously going for dust collection. I
never felt it was worthwhile on this saw.


-- I also want to close in the back of the saw to improve dust
collection -- (I'm looking for suggestion on what the best way to close
it in btw.)




Have you added (or plan to) a zero clearance insert or PALS system?
The zero clearance was nice, but my saw held it's alignment pretty
good, I never felt I needed the PALS.

My saw is gone now, but with upgrades like the ones you're doing, it
becomes pretty fair.

Ultimately, I sold mine and got a saw with more power and didn't
require extraordinary effort to adapt for dust collection.

snip
That's a lot of work with the leg system. I'd never heard of it, nor
did I ever think the legs were a problem on mine while I had it.

-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24



Good idea. I did that, but I'm not sure the improvement was all that
significant. It's the steel pulleys I did at the same time that was
more useful. The cast pulleys were obviously well worn on mine by the
time I did it.

-- I'll be adding an overhead blade guard - I have parts cut out of
3/8" Lexan they just need to be assembled for the guard, then I'll need
to do the armature for the overhead assembly. (this one should be done
inside a week or so)

Like a Shark Guard? You're obviously going for dust collection. I
never felt it was worthwhile on this saw.

-- I also want to close in the back of the saw to improve dust
collection -- (I'm looking for suggestion on what the best way to close
it in btw.)

Have you added (or plan to) a zero clearance insert or PALS system?
The zero clearance was nice, but my saw held it's alignment pretty
good, I never felt I needed the PALS.

My saw is gone now, but with upgrades like the ones you're doing, it
becomes pretty fair.

Ultimately, I sold mine and got a saw with more power and didn't
require extraordinary effort to adapt for dust collection.




I'm actually skipping the dust collection on the guard... The
collector on the bottom should be enough... With this one I liked the
almost bullet proofness of the design and the visibility, plus I liked
how easy it was to move out of the way with the overhead design. I'll
get some pics of it up after I assemble it.

When I had the saw up originally it had a fair amount of wobble/twist
to it. It wasn't to the point of collapse, just more than I liked.
Seemed that they should have used just a little heavier steel when
doing the legs. With the bracing it's solid now.

The saw also sits on a heavy rubber mat now too... (not sure how clear
that is in the pics), my shop floor is a nightmare of angles, when it
was poured the folks who did it sloped everything to the drain in the
middle of the floor and when I say sloped, I mean SLOPED. The entire
floor is almost like a funnel. Thus the wood under the rear legs. I'm
going to make something more permanent in short order.

I was going to do the PALS but wanted to see how it held before I
installed them. I'd seen a few folks say pretty much what you did and
figured it wasn't a must do.

The zero insert is on the plans, forgot to include that...

The machined pully set is coming too...

Don't make excuses for your tools! We have what we have.
I have TWO cast iron 'men. One is crosscut only and doesn't need a fence.
The other has the original junk, but I can push it against the rail to align
it in just a few seconds.
Might replace it if I get more serious, but after a houseful of cabinets,
who knows?
BOTH these saws run straight, with almost no measurable runout, and cut fine
with their 3/4 HP motors.
For heavy ripping, I do go down to an old 12 tooth blade, which cuts 2X oak
just fine.
For crosscut I use an 90 tooth Freud that makes fine smooth cuts.
We's all be better ww'ers if we practiced technique as much as we complain
about tools.
Wife says get a sawstop, but I'd like to hear some owner feedback before
jumping in to that!
BTW, I also have an OLD C'man cast iron shaper that is a fine tool. Too
small for a big panel raiser, but does
rails, stiles, and door edges perfectly. You can buy these all the time for
less than the cost of a big router!
WL
"bremen68" wrote in message
ups.com...
Hello,

Had to part with my Delta 10" tablesaw... When I got it to babysit I
was really hoping it would be for the long haul, but alas it wasn't
meant to be... Oh well... we make do.

When I realized I was faced with reassembling my Craftsman 10", I
thought...may as well make some improvements. The tune up suggestions
on the Woodbutcher's Site were a great place to start!!!

These are the improvements I've done (some from the Woodbutcher's site
some my own) and some that I'm planning on doing in the very near
future...

-- Added 12 bolts (had to bore holes for these) to secure the body
housing sheet metal to the leg assembly to stiffen up the frame (8
1/4"x1/2" bolts to secure the side panels to the legs and added one
3/8" x 1/2" bolt to each corner)
-- Added a plate with a dust collection port to the bottom of the saw,
this plate also helped stiffen the frame (attached a toilet flange as
my outlet on the bottom -- It was on hand and it works)
-- Added 1/2" (they're 7" wide and span the legs) plywood panels
around the top of the leg assembly this was to prevent them from
splaying out and wobbling
-- Added 4 2" x 1/8" steel bands around the bottom of the legs to
stiffen them up and prevent them from turning
-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24

Yet to be dones ----

-- Installing a link belt
-- I'll be adding an overhead blade guard - I have parts cut out of
3/8" Lexan they just need to be assembled for the guard, then I'll need
to do the armature for the overhead assembly. (this one should be done
inside a week or so)
-- I also want to close in the back of the saw to improve dust
collection -- (I'm looking for suggestion on what the best way to close
it in btw.)


I've posted some pics of the saw he

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7176102...7594384387020/

Can someone please tell me how to get an actual hyper link to show up?
You'll have to take that address and copy it into your browser...

I'll add new photo's as I make changes...

And trust me I understand that Craftsman ain't Delta, Jet, or Saw-Stop
(had to add that last one)... I've spent maybe $50 total on all the
changes and I fully intend on upgrading to a better saw eventually,
right now this is the one I have and it's doing pretty well....

Just thought I'd share... Have a great Holiday!!!

"bremen68" wrote in message
ups.com...

-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24


Congratulations on the fence. I have the same fence on my Model 100 and
I've loved it since I put it on. Trust the calibrations. I've never had
the scale lie to me once and though it took a while to develop a complete
trust in it, I now don't even consider putting a tape to the blade. IMHO,
this fence is one of the best buys in the tool world market.


And trust me I understand that Craftsman ain't Delta, Jet, or Saw-Stop
(had to add that last one)... I've spent maybe $50 total on all the
changes and I fully intend on upgrading to a better saw eventually,
right now this is the one I have and it's doing pretty well....


Depending on what model your saw is - if it's an old Model 100, there is
nothing wrong with that saw. It's every bit as good as anything in its
class. Don't sell that saw short.

--

-Mike-

On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:22:31 GMT, "Wilson"
wrote:


Wife says get a sawstop, but I'd like to hear some owner feedback before
jumping in to that!


If you want owner feedback on a Sawstop saw, go over to
www.sawmillcreek.org There's people there that own them.

bremen68 wrote:
Hello,

Had to part with my Delta 10" tablesaw... When I got it to babysit I
was really hoping it would be for the long haul, but alas it wasn't
meant to be... Oh well... we make do.

When I realized I was faced with reassembling my Craftsman 10", I
thought...may as well make some improvements. The tune up suggestions
on the Woodbutcher's Site were a great place to start!!!

These are the improvements I've done (some from the Woodbutcher's site
some my own) and some that I'm planning on doing in the very near
future...

-- Added 12 bolts (had to bore holes for these) to secure the body
housing sheet metal to the leg assembly to stiffen up the frame (8
1/4"x1/2" bolts to secure the side panels to the legs and added one
3/8" x 1/2" bolt to each corner)
-- Added a plate with a dust collection port to the bottom of the saw,
this plate also helped stiffen the frame (attached a toilet flange as
my outlet on the bottom -- It was on hand and it works)
-- Added 1/2" (they're 7" wide and span the legs) plywood panels
around the top of the leg assembly this was to prevent them from
splaying out and wobbling
-- Added 4 2" x 1/8" steel bands around the bottom of the legs to
stiffen them up and prevent them from turning
-- One of the biggest additions - I ditched the old fence and have
installed a new Align-a-rip 24/24 fence. WOW, I realize it's not an
Incra, but compared to the original fence it's wonderful. I was going
to align it to be 12/36 but didn't have the room so it's still 24/24

Yet to be dones ----

-- Installing a link belt
-- I'll be adding an overhead blade guard - I have parts cut out of
3/8" Lexan they just need to be assembled for the guard, then I'll need
to do the armature for the overhead assembly. (this one should be done
inside a week or so)
-- I also want to close in the back of the saw to improve dust
collection -- (I'm looking for suggestion on what the best way to close
it in btw.)


I've posted some pics of the saw he

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7176102...7594384387020/

Can someone please tell me how to get an actual hyper link to show up?
You'll have to take that address and copy it into your browser...

I'll add new photo's as I make changes...

And trust me I understand that Craftsman ain't Delta, Jet, or Saw-Stop
(had to add that last one)... I've spent maybe $50 total on all the
changes and I fully intend on upgrading to a better saw eventually,
right now this is the one I have and it's doing pretty well....

Just thought I'd share... Have a great Holiday!!!


I used to have the same saw...I installed a used Delta Jet-Lock fence on
mine. It was an awesome improvement, and definitely the weakest part of
the Craftsman table saw design.