I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
..... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

go with a nice jet or delta contractor's saw with a 2 HP motor, belt-drive
and probably a 30" fence and your husband will never stop thanking you :-)

the Delta Unisaw or similar are the next step up, and you'll pay for it -
they are heavier and have higher rated motors. Grizzly does make a cabinet
saw that is liked by many, and I believe you can get for less than $1000 if
you want to go that way.

Mike

"oboe" wrote in message
news:jqmZd.5408$mq2.96@trnddc08...
I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

on 3/14/2005 2:24 PM oboe said the following:
I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of

If you're going to pay for it too, how about dumping him and marrying
one of us?g

his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

At the risk of being stoned for uttering the word "Craftsman" I would
suggest that you take a look at their "professional" 10" table saw
offered with the Beisenmeyer fence.

I saw one up close and personal in the store a couple of weeks ago and
1) it seemed to suggest that Craftsman is bringing back some quality
offerings in power tools, 2) was quite solid and, while, not a Unisaw,
did a passable imitation thereof, and, 3) if a quality fence is what he
wants, he'll be hard pressed to find better than the Beisenmeyer.

All this for around $950.00 NEW. Look hard, get lucky and you might
find a used Delta around for around $1000 or less.

While I thought the build on the new Craftsman saw was better, there are
plenty here who would commend the Jet table saw to you.

Nice of you to think of him in this way, though. Good luck on your
quest. I'm sure you'll get lots of advice and opinions here. All
you'll have to do is sort them outg

"oboe" wrote in message
news:jqmZd.5408$mq2.96@trnddc08...

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?



Yes. Lots of other folks will chime in with their opinions because this is
one of our favorite topics to opine on. IMHO there are quite a few good
saws out there today, but for the price range you're looking at you should
go right back to Sears and look at their new saws. They've been reviewed
very well, do not suffer the shortcomings your husband is frustrated by now,
and seem to be a very good value. Watch for comments from Charlie Self -
he's reviewed the new Sears saws for national publications and is one of the
better informed voices here with respect to that particular saw. He's a
sneaky one though, so make sure you keep him focused on saws...

--

-Mike-

From what I have heard the Grizzly 1023 is a pretty good Tablesaw. It
seems sturdy and is less than a grand.
OTOH
I just bought a Powermatic 66 used. It is pretty old but is 5 HP and
still passes the nickel test. My saw was $1000 and it came with a dozen
blades, a 8x8ft outfeed table and a big crosscut sled. While this saw
didn't come with the joy of a new fancy box it is one of the best saws
available on the market and for the price the 1023 is not even close
quality wise.
Thats my $0.02
W

Does anyone know anything about this new Delta hybrid cabinet saw,
model# Model 36-717. I just saw it on Woodcraft for $949 and it does
come with a 30" Biesemeyer fence.

Chuck


http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx...&FamilyID=5302

"Unquestionably Confused" wrote in message
m...
on 3/14/2005 2:24 PM oboe said the following:
I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple
of weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun),
but I want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw
was one of

If you're going to pay for it too, how about dumping him and marrying
one of us?g

Yes .... but he has a 21 year history of building things for me ...
among other things grin

snip
At the risk of being stoned for uttering the word "Craftsman" I would
suggest that you take a look at their "professional" 10" table saw
offered with the Beisenmeyer fence.


Wow, I didn't expect Sears to be one of the recommendations. Is the
Beisenmeyer fence the same as the one offered with the Delta?

"Mike in Mystic" wrote in message
m...
go with a nice jet or delta contractor's saw with a 2 HP motor,
belt-drive
and probably a 30" fence and your husband will never stop thanking you
:-)

the Delta Unisaw or similar are the next step up, and you'll pay for
it -
they are heavier and have higher rated motors. Grizzly does make a
cabinet
saw that is liked by many, and I believe you can get for less than
$1000 if
you want to go that way.

Mike

Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
"contractor saw"?

"oboe"
What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.
. Can I get something good for $1000 or less?

Oboe,
Do you play the oboe or just like the beautiful music it makes when played
properly?

As for the saw... If it stays put, the new Delta Hybrid (36-717) or the Jet
(JWSS-10PF) will fit the bill nicely. The new Craftsman Cabinet saw (model
#OR35504) is in the price range as well.

If he has to move it around frequently, say to God forbid, allow a car into
the shop, or just doesn't use it that often, then the Jet Contractor saw
(708300K) or the Delta Contractor (36-507X) will do nicely.

Dave



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"oboe" wrote:

I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?



Sure. Good of you to let him choose - you should always be careful about
buying tools for guys. We know what we want! LOL. Anyway, there are several
"contractor" saws out there that are very good and less than $1,000. I own a
Powermatic 64A that I am more than pleased with. Jet, Delta and Grizzly also
make pretty good saws. The a side benefit is, at least when I bought mine,
that amazon.com sells them and had the cheapest price, plus shipping was
free.


--
San Diego Joe

"oboe" wrote in message
Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
"contractor saw"?

Either saw can work with a mobile base.

Cabinet saw is regarded as the "top of the line", most powerful, usually 3
hp. motors, three belt drive system. Called a cabinet saw as the base is
enclosed in a cabinet. Think Cadillac

Contractor's saw is a bit lighter. has a 1.5 to 2 hp motor with a 1 belt
drive. This is good service for 90% of us doing woodwork as a hobby. Think
Medium sized Buick

Benchtop saws, low end direct drive saws. Think Yugo.

Most every brand name has a series of these in their lineup. At $1000 or so,
you are going to get a good saw.

You do want to get a really good fence. If it comes with a Biesemeyer or
Unifence, it is top quality.

"oboe" wrote:


"Mike in Mystic" wrote in message
m...
go with a nice jet or delta contractor's saw with a 2 HP motor,
belt-drive
and probably a 30" fence and your husband will never stop thanking you
:-)

the Delta Unisaw or similar are the next step up, and you'll pay for
it -
they are heavier and have higher rated motors. Grizzly does make a
cabinet
saw that is liked by many, and I believe you can get for less than
$1000 if
you want to go that way.

Mike

Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
"contractor saw"?


I live in San Diego. That means no basement. I also only have a single car
garage, that I used top be able to actually put a car in. Portability was a
prime consideration for me. If I want to woodwork, I have to drag my stuff
into the driveway. So my powermatic contractors saw was perfect.

--
San Diego Joe

Mine did the same for me about 13 years ago (on my birthday!), went from a
Crapsman to a Powermatic contractors saw. She offered a Unisaw, and I just
couldn't bring myself to say yes for the extra $500. I've kicked myself for
the last 5 years, while my Powermatic is a great saw, I really wish I had
gone with a cabinet saw. If you can swing a cabinet saw, do it.

Phil

oboe wrote:

I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

Hi oboe,

My TS was sort of like your hubby's. I decided about a year
ago to replace it and set out to research as much as I could
on the best saw for me - a hobbyist with 16+ years
experience. I wanted to buy a saw that would never need
to be replaced. I would not say money was "no object", but
I did not what to spend money for a "production" type saw
like a Powermatic. I decided about $1K should get me a pretty
good saw for my needs.

After reading a lot and following the threads here on the wreck,
I decided on the Grizzly 1023SL. I have it now for about 3 months.
It is an awsome table saw. I cannot think that your husband would not
love it. The Shop Fox fence is first rate - on par with the Biesmeyer
(I checked the Sears cabinet saw too and personally, I don't think
that it compares that well to the Grizzly - opinions will vary).

It is a 3 HP saw so you might need to run a 220 outlet for it.

Once I ordered it, it took less than 3 days to get it. It does weigh
close to 500 pounds, but you can get a mobile base to move it
around if necessary.

Nice to treat your guy that way.

Lou

In article jqmZd.5408$mq2.96@trnddc08, oboe
wrote:

I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

"oboe" wrote in message
news:RjnZd.5231$b_6.3834@trnddc01...


Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
"contractor saw"?



Your choice really, but if you go with the cabinet saw then for under $50
you can also get a mobile base for it that will allow him to move it around
as needed. Go ahead and get him the best saw you can for your money and
since the mobility solution is so cheap, address it afterwards.

--

-Mike-

I have a Delta Unisaw. No complaints. At times I've thought that a sliding
table saw would be a vastly superior idea (certainly from the safety
standpoint) but the space they take-up is prohibitive for most garage shops.

The one nice thing I like about Unisaws is that most accesories out there
are designed to work with this machine first. Keep that in mind. At the
same time, lots of other saw clone the Unisaw.

In terms of space, there are neat things you can do. For example, you can
integrate your router table right into the saw table. Two machines in one
space.

With regards to mobility. I have the rolling base sold by delta. It it a
very simple matter to move the say anywhere within the garage or outside,
onto the driveway. No problems there. It all depends on frequency of use.
Some of us also develop a workplan in the shop, for example, if you are
working with 4x8 sheets frequently enough you may have a prefered layout so
that feed and output are ideal. You need to know a little more about his
typical utilization, but, in general, wheels are good. Everything in my
shop is on wheels, even the work tables.

If your husband does not mind getting a used machine I'd look into getting a
second hand Unisaw. You'd be amazed how many people barely touch their
table saws. I don't know if you could find one in a couple of weeks though.

-Martin

Get a cabinet saw. The dust collection alone will pay for itself over
a period of years. You want to protect your husband's health, don't
you? The $1000 limit is a bit short for a really good saw, but
perhaps you can find a used Powermatic 66? A saw is "central" to a
woodshop, and probably used for just about every project. Not a
cabinet saw, but take a look at General 50-185M1 for about $650. It
has a dust collector tray underneath. If he doesn't have a good DC,
consider getting one.

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 20:24:47 GMT, "oboe"
wrote:

I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?

For under $1000, I agree with many here. Go with the Grizzly. Can't
beat it for the money and you can't beat it for your price range.
Here's a link:

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...number=G1023SL

Neil

"Martin" wrote in message
If your husband does not mind getting a used machine I'd look into getting
a second hand Unisaw. You'd be amazed how many people barely touch their
table saws. I don't know if you could find one in a couple of weeks
though.

-Martin

In three years, I've found one. It was advertised three days after I bought
my contractor's saw, and it was close to list price. I see plenty of
Craftsman and Shopsmilth for sale though. I guess people in CT keep things
longer.

You will get a lot of negative opinions of Craftsman for sure. For years
their quality has suffered, but as stated in the other posts, it seems as
though they are trying to make a comeback... at least in the table saw
market. I recently purchased the step down from the "professional" which is
a hybrid of the cabinet and normal contractor's saw. I absolutely love it
and can't imagine getting a much better saw. The fence that came with mine
is definitely one of it's weaker points, but the beisemeyer that comes with
the "professional" is widely regared as one of the best money can buy. I
won't pretend to say it IS absolutely better than the Delta since I dont own
either of them, but in my research up to buying one last month I found no
advice pointing to the Delta over the beisemeyer, but plenty pointing to
both as great fences.

Good luck in your search.

Mike W.


"oboe" wrote in message
news:ZbnZd.3161$hA3.1951@trnddc09...

"Unquestionably Confused" wrote in message
m...
on 3/14/2005 2:24 PM oboe said the following:
I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of

If you're going to pay for it too, how about dumping him and marrying one
of us?g

Yes .... but he has a 21 year history of building things for me ... among
other things grin

snip
At the risk of being stoned for uttering the word "Craftsman" I would
suggest that you take a look at their "professional" 10" table saw
offered with the Beisenmeyer fence.


Wow, I didn't expect Sears to be one of the recommendations. Is the
Beisenmeyer fence the same as the one offered with the Delta?

On Mon, 14 Mar 2005 13:45:27 -0800, San Diego Joe
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:

remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Sure. Good of you to let him choose - you should always be careful about
buying tools for guys. We know what we want! LOL.


Reword that. We think we know what we atn, and if we make the choice,
you can't get blamed.

"oboe" writes:

Wow, I didn't expect Sears to be one of the recommendations. Is the
Beisenmeyer fence the same as the one offered with the Delta?

Delta bought the company in 1995, so I think Delta is the only one
that come with a real Biesemeyer fence. Other companies make copies,
and some say are equivalent quality. Or you can buy the add-on.

I'll talk a little about Jet. It's useful for price comparison of
different types.

Jet makes three types of fences:
They are called:
Micro-Glide Fence
XACTA II Fence
XACTA Fence II - with micro adjust

The XACTA Fence II is the Biesemeyer fence clone.
Jet uses "Homeshop" "Commercial" and "Premier". I think Homeshop is
for the contractor saw, and "Commercial" is for the cabinet saw.

For reference, the Jet JTAS Cabinet saw, which they claim is the best
selling saw in the US, goes for $1350 on Amazon. That's the cheapest
Jet Cabinet saw. I bought one with more features, see
http://tinyurl.com/5jxcn - I studied the reviews, and decided on this
one, which I ordered a few days ago. The Amazon sales rank is
currently #708, which is an indication of the popularity of the saw.

Instead of URL's, I'll use the Amazon description. You can search for
these saws.

Jet makes two other saw types cheaper than the JTAS, the SuperSaw, and
the Contractor's saw.

JET 708775K/JWSS-10PF 1-3/4HP Supersaw with 30" Fence

The SuperSaw price is $950 from Amazon. Delivered. This is called a
"Hybrid" - between a contractor's saw and a cabinet saw. It's like the
DeWalt I mention below. The Jet comes with the Micro-Glide fence.

The Contractor saw is

JET 708304K JWTS-10CW2-PF 10" Table Saw with Cast Wings and 30" Homeshop XACTA Fence

for $1050

or

JET 708300K / JWTS-10CW2-JF 10" Table Saw with 2 Cast Iron Wings and JETFence
for $750

Both come with cast iron wings. The $750 uses the low-end fence. $300
is a big jump, but a real biesemeyer fence is $300-$350 for the
add-on, so I suppose it's reasonable.

You can get a lower-cost JWTS saw with stamped metal wings instead of
cast iron:

JET JWTS-10JF / 708301K 10" Table Saw with JETFence

This is $650. (Micro-Glide Fence)

Most people will recommend the cast iron wings.

I don't know if this is valid, but I went to Amazon= Tools and
Hardware= Best Sellers-table saws, and found this info:

The best sellers are less than $400. But when we get to #16, we start
to see high-end saws:

#16 $1499 JET 708663MBK 3 HP Left Tilt Tablesaw with 50" Fence Premier Fence and Mobile Base
#17 $899 DEWALT DW746XB 10" Woodworker's Table Saw with 30" Fence
#18 $969 Delta 36-507X X5 Contractor's Saw with Biesemeyer
#19 $949 Delta 36-717 10" Hybrid Saw with 30" Biesemeyer Fence, Rail and Table Board
#28 $770 Powermatic 1791227K Model 64 10" Artisan Left Tilt Table Saw with 30" Accu-Fence System
#29 $2100 Powermatic 1660760K Model 66 3 HP Table Saw
#43 $1500 Delta 36-820 Special Edition 10" Tilting Arbor Unisaw with 52" Delta Unifence

If you go by popular choices, these saws may be the way to go.

If you order any major tool from Amazon by the end of March, you save
$25.

One thing to note is that if you order a Jet power tool and certain Jet
accessories from the same dealer by the end of March, you get a rebate
- $50 to $100. But the saw I ordered does not qualify. Dang! I suppose
that's because the JTAS Cabinet saw is a best seller.

go to http://www.jettools.com/ and look for promotions.



--
Sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to this account incurs a fee of
$500 per message, and acknowledges the legality of this contract.

"oboe" wrote in message
news:RjnZd.5231$b_6.3834@trnddc01...

"Mike in Mystic" wrote in message
m...
go with a nice jet or delta contractor's saw with a 2 HP motor,
belt-drive
and probably a 30" fence and your husband will never stop thanking you
:-)

the Delta Unisaw or similar are the next step up, and you'll pay for it -
they are heavier and have higher rated motors. Grizzly does make a
cabinet
saw that is liked by many, and I believe you can get for less than $1000
if
you want to go that way.

Mike

Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
"contractor saw"?


I have a Delta contractor saw. As far as I am concerned I will never need to
replace it. Sure a Delta Unisaw would be nice, but for the limited use I
give it, it does all I need, and you can buy one for under $1000.
Make sue it has a Unifence or a Biesemeyer fence.
http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=785
or
http://www.deltawoodworking.com/index.asp?e=136&p=788
Greg

Bruce Barnett wrote:
"oboe" writes:


Wow, I didn't expect Sears to be one of the recommendations. Is the
Beisenmeyer fence the same as the one offered with the Delta?


Delta bought the company in 1995, so I think Delta is the only one
that come with a real Biesemeyer fence. Other companies make copies,
and some say are equivalent quality. Or you can buy the add-on.

No apologist for Sears am I but since the fence I saw was marked
Biesemeyer do you think that perhaps you're wrong and that Delta sells
it to others? Sears included?

If not, perhaps Sears is just counterfeiting them and not worried about
a little upstart like Delta coming after them for trademark violations, etc.

Want to retrofit an older table saw? Just go to www.7corners.com and
take your pick of Biesemeyer fences.

So yes, Oboe, they are the same fences as will be found on the Delta.
You won't find the Biesemeyer fence on many Sears saws howeverg

"Bruce Barnett" wrote in message
...
"oboe" writes:

Wow, I didn't expect Sears to be one of the recommendations. Is the
Beisenmeyer fence the same as the one offered with the Delta?

Delta bought the company in 1995, so I think Delta is the only one
that come with a real Biesemeyer fence. Other companies make copies,
and some say are equivalent quality. Or you can buy the add-on.

Please check this out
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...cat=Table+Saws
The Sears saw has a genuine Biesemeyer fence. It is identical to the Bieses
on other saws and it have their name in big black letters. Others have
cloned the style but they still sell under their own names.

Hi, I've got the Griz 1023s, love the saw, no problems.

Tony


--
A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls.
George W. Bush


"Teamcasa" wrote in message
...

"oboe"
What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.
. Can I get something good for $1000 or less?

Oboe,
Do you play the oboe or just like the beautiful music it makes when played
properly?

As for the saw... If it stays put, the new Delta Hybrid (36-717) or the
Jet (JWSS-10PF) will fit the bill nicely. The new Craftsman Cabinet saw
(model #OR35504) is in the price range as well.

If he has to move it around frequently, say to God forbid, allow a car
into the shop, or just doesn't use it that often, then the Jet Contractor
saw (708300K) or the Delta Contractor (36-507X) will do nicely.

Dave


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I bought the 1023s a few months ago, no trouble what so ever......Have use
it pretty hard.

Tony


--
A fanatic is one who won't change his mind and won't change the subject.
Winston Churchill


"hikinandbikin" wrote in message
oups.com...
From what I have heard the Grizzly 1023 is a pretty good Tablesaw. It
seems sturdy and is less than a grand.
OTOH
I just bought a Powermatic 66 used. It is pretty old but is 5 HP and
still passes the nickel test. My saw was $1000 and it came with a dozen
blades, a 8x8ft outfeed table and a big crosscut sled. While this saw
didn't come with the joy of a new fancy box it is one of the best saws
available on the market and for the price the 1023 is not even close
quality wise.
Thats my $0.02
W

how much do you love him?....just kidding ....buy him a Delta
Unisaw...nothing says I love you more than a Delta Unisaw....friends
don't let friends buy anything else!

Mike

In article jqmZd.5408$mq2.96@trnddc08, oboe wrote:
I plan to buy my husband a new table saw for his birthday in a couple of
weeks. I'll let him pick it out himself (that's half the fun), but I
want to do a little research ahead of time. His current saw was one of
his first shop purchases 21 years ago. Over the years his shop has
grown in quantity and quality, but he still has the Craftsman Table Saw
he bought when we were newly married. The thing he complains about most
is the unsturdy table and crappy fence.

What would be a good step up for him? He likes to build things for us
around the house. Construction projects, closet storage, cabinets, and
occasionally furniture. He doesn't require top of the line professional
.... but wants something sturdy with a good accurate fence.

Looking through recent posts I see talk about a Delta cabinet saw ....
that looks more expensive than I was expecting. Can I get something
good for $1000 or less?



In your price range there are a number of 'quality' candidates.
"Contractor" saws by Delta, Powermatic, DeWalt, General
The _new_ Craftsman top-of-the-line "cabinet like" saws
There's a "Hybrid" by Jet
Grizzly has several models in your range, including a true cabinet saw
that is "just below" the top end

There are a number of technical differences in the construction of a 'cabinet'
saw, vs a "contractor" -- functionally, they boil down to the following:
1) the cabinet saw is somewhat easier to tweak for optimum performance
You can get very similar results with a contractor saw, you just have
to "work harder" to get the optimum set-up -- and it may fall 'out of
alignment' quicker than a cabinet saw will.
2) the contractor saw is a 'box on legs', while a cabinet saw has a fully-
enclosed base. EITHER ONE can be put on wheels, to move around, for
about the same cost. The enclosed cabinet does a better job of
containing the "mess" that any saw makes -- doesn't totally eliminate
the mess, but contains a _lot_ of it. Corollary: if you _don't_ have
a "dust collector" system you have to do "something" about cleaning
out the innards of a cabinet saw, on a fairly regular basis. The
contractor saw (mostly) just dumps stuff on the floor, where it's
easier to deal with.
3) The cabinet saws are heavier. which translates to somewhat smoother
cutting. Good "contractor' saws are usually 'heavy enough' that the
difference is not significant for the casual user.

"Hybrid" saws have some of the features of a 'cabinet' saw, and some of a
'contractor'.

Bruce Barnett wrote:
Delta bought the company in 1995, so I think Delta is the only one
that come with a real Biesemeyer fence. Other companies make copies,
and some say are equivalent quality. Or you can buy the add-on.


Powermatic had a Biesemeyer option once upon a time and I
know Sears has them now. If it says Biesemeyer it's a
Biesemeyer.

UA100

Unisaw A-100 writes:

Powermatic had a Biesemeyer option once upon a time and I
know Sears has them now. If it says Biesemeyer it's a
Biesemeyer.

Okay. Thanks. I didn't know.


--
Sending unsolicited commercial e-mail to this account incurs a fee of
$500 per message, and acknowledges the legality of this contract.

"Teamcasa" wrote in message
...

Oboe,
Do you play the oboe or just like the beautiful music it makes when
played properly?

I play and enjoy!

Thanks for the advice --- Everyone! I will print this thread and let
him read all of your comments. Lot's of good info here.

We live in the Seattle area. Does anyone have suggestions for stores
that will have a good variety of brands in stock that he can check out
in person?

--- oboe

On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 00:32:55 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:


"Martin" wrote in message
If your husband does not mind getting a used machine I'd look into getting
a second hand Unisaw. You'd be amazed how many people barely touch their
table saws. I don't know if you could find one in a couple of weeks
though.

-Martin
=======================
Honestly I do NOT see ANY Tablesaws being advertized in The
Classifieds... Ed saw one in 3 years,...lol Boy Those Damn Yankees
(not meant seriously) must buy and sell a lot more then the rest of
us...

BUT ...I would advise the OP to look at top of the line Contractors
saws... My main TS is a Jet Cabinet saw...now close to 15 years
old...but I still have, and still use, my Rockwell/Delta Contractors
saw that is now.pushing 35-40 years old... It can do 99.95 percent
of the things I do my my Cabinet Saw...

Major difference is the Delta still has its stock Fence..and I ordered
the Jet direct from the factory with a real Biesmeyer....AND the fence
is most likely what I like about the Cabinet saw...

A Good contractors saw with a good fence will make any ex-craftsman TS
owner/user smile so much his jaws will hurt for days...

Bob Griffiths

"Bob G." wrote in message ...
On Tue, 15 Mar 2005 00:32:55 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski"
wrote:

A Good contractors saw with a good fence will make any ex-craftsman TS
owner/user smile so much his jaws will hurt for days...

Bob Griffiths


Hey!! I resemble that remarkg.

I dumped my craftsman for a 10" Delta contractor's saw w/52" Biesemeyer fence about 2 years ago and have no regrets.

--
Al

Please check this out
http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...cat=Table+Saws
The Sears saw has a genuine Biesemeyer fence. It is identical to the Bieses
on other saws and it have their name in big black letters. Others have
cloned the style but they still sell under their own names.

==============
I just was over at Sears and I looked at that Fence....up close and
personal...

Now I have owned a 50 in Biesmeyer "Homeshop" fence for a good 15
years ordered it direct from jet when I ordered my cabinet saw...

The Sears fence IS...it realy IS the Biesmeyer Homeshop Fence...

Rails are slightly smaller then the Commercial Version and the Fence
itself is "only" 36 inches long... the Comercial version is 40 inches
long...since most Tablesaws have 27 in long tables...the 36 inch fence
still hangs off the end...

BTW after 15 years "my" Bies now required 3 ounces of downforce to
lock the fence down dead solid....15 years ago it only required 2.5
Ounces of force... damn cam is showing signs of wear...do not know how
long I will be able to exert that extra ounce of force ..

That said...... I would pass on the saw....

Bob Griffiths

Bob Griffiths

on 3/15/2005 12:29 PM Bob G. said the following:
BTW after 15 years "my" Bies now required 3 ounces of downforce to
lock the fence down dead solid....15 years ago it only required 2.5
Ounces of force... damn cam is showing signs of wear...do not know how
long I will be able to exert that extra ounce of force ..

Get some braces. You wouldn't want to develop carpal tunnel syndrome. g

That said...... I would pass on the saw....

Thanks for the info. Any particular things jump out at you with regard
to quality issues on the saw?

I took a look at it when was in there for something else and it looked
pretty decent to me and, as someone else commented a couple weeks ago,
the fence and the blade are worth an easy $300 so that makes the "bare"
right now worth about $550 since the combo is on sale right now.

oboe wrote:


: Cabinet saw vs. Contractor saw? What is the difference/preference.
: Portability? Our shop area is not large. My husband often moves his
: equipment around for better access. Would he be better off with the
: "contractor saw"?


A contractor's saw is lighter than a cabinet saw, but they're both too
heavy to lift, and neither is too heavy to mover around on a mobile base.

A cabinet saw takes up less floorspace than a contractor's saw (with an
equivalent length fence rail). (This is because the
contractor's saw has the motor hanging out the back).

A cabinet saw can be hooked up to a dust collector easily.
A contractor's is open at the back (because the motor hangs out there), so
some rigging is needed to make dust collection effective.

A cabinet saw has the motor mounted independently of the table, so it's
easier to align the top and the blade.

All that said, fine work can be done on a contractor's saw, but if you can
afford it, the cabinet saw is an intrinsically better design.


-- Andy Barss

I just bought the $650 version of the Sears saw. It was on sale for $600. I
got another 10% off for being a Craftsman Club member. Sears had also sent
me a flyer for 10% off during a preview day. They honored that also. total
price ended up being $485 plus tax. There was also a mail in rebate included
for a 60 tooth blade, a dado blade, and a dado insert. Haven't seen those
yet, but they are on order. That seems like on hell of adeal to me!

After using the saw for a bit, I really like it.It's not a Unisaw, but it's
plenty good enough for me. I've added a Incra TSIII system from my old saw
and a thin kerf Forrest WWII. With this setup it cuts smooth as glass and is
very accurate. I tested it on some old 2" white oak and had no problems with
power.

In my opinion this is definately the best "hybrid" saw on the market and
well worth considering.

On Wed, 16 Mar 2005 01:23:11 GMT, "VirgilJ" wrote:

If it's Crapsman I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole!

I just bought the $650 version of the Sears saw. It was on sale for $600. I
got another 10% off for being a Craftsman Club member. Sears had also sent
me a flyer for 10% off during a preview day. They honored that also. total
price ended up being $485 plus tax. There was also a mail in rebate included
for a 60 tooth blade, a dado blade, and a dado insert. Haven't seen those
yet, but they are on order. That seems like on hell of adeal to me!

After using the saw for a bit, I really like it.It's not a Unisaw, but it's
plenty good enough for me. I've added a Incra TSIII system from my old saw
and a thin kerf Forrest WWII. With this setup it cuts smooth as glass and is
very accurate. I tested it on some old 2" white oak and had no problems with
power.

In my opinion this is definately the best "hybrid" saw on the market and
well worth considering.

I was on the hunt for 4 months in OH and saw nothing. Had a few teasers
then found out what was listed as 'Professional TS' in classifieds was
really something like a Skil Saw. The market around here seemed too dry to
wait.

I guess a drive to NE would have been worth it. :-)

Mike W.


"Patriarch" wrote in message
. 97.136...
Bob G. wrote in
:
snip
Honestly I do NOT see ANY Tablesaws being advertized in The
Classifieds... Ed saw one in 3 years,...lol Boy Those Damn Yankees
(not meant seriously) must buy and sell a lot more then the rest of
us...

But, strangely enough, three good cabinet saws were posted on the Bay Area
clubs' shared tools for sale email list in the last 45 days. Sadly, two
of
these were posted due to the passing of their most recent owners. One of
them had that familiar, El Guapo look about its lower portions. (There
was
a huge Aggazanni band saw, too.)

It caught my attention, but I believe only Mr. Eisan of Kanuckistan has
worked out a means of accomodating multiple Unisaws in a hobby workshop,
and he stretches the limits of the definition of 'hobby'. There is no
room
in my garage/shop/studio for another large purchase, unless I can find a
new home for something a lot less useful. Certain tools are cowering in
hiding, fearing I may find the killer deal on a 'good lathe'.

Sometimes, the hunting is good. In New England, you can probably find old
hand tools that never were in great abundance elsewhere.

Patriarch